The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-05-23
DANGERS OF FACTORY DUST.
Unlocked for Explosions Are FIRE.
quentIy Reported.

Each development Of manufacturing pro-
cesses appears to augment the fire hazard,
not merely by reason of the dangers Incl
dent to the increased speed of operation,
and also to the concentration due to the
greater units of larger buildings. but more
especially to the greater amount of dust
thrown off by the more rapid manipulation
of the stock in the new methods of manu-
facture. The comparison of the readiness
of ignition Of the shaving to that of the
log holds good in all combustible material:
namely, the finer the SUBDIVISION. the great
er the facility Of ignition and the greater
the rapidity of combustion. The severe ac-
eldents occurring IN those lines OF special
manufacturing using powdered wood and
pulVerized cork, so that these substances
can be classed as explosives under such
conditions. illustrate the occurrences result
ing from such changed conditions.
1t would be trite 10 make any references
TO the explosives of grain dust in Touring
manufacture of malt; but there are con-
tinually occurring instances of the eXplO-
sion of materials not ordinarily included
in the list OF explosives. and which are
made so solely on account Of rapid combus-
tiblity entirely due 10 subdivision. A few
days ago an explosion occurred in that por-
ton of a print works where the cloth was
received into the establishment 'in the
gray directly from the mills without any
treatment. and was being wound into large
rolls preparatory to the processes carried
on in that establishment. The short, fine
cotton fibers were shaken out Of the cloth
as dust by the rapid winding TO such an
extent that IL became necessary TO put a
ventilating hood over the machine. An
electric spark at the belt ignited some Of
the dust and IL produced an explosion
which blew off the roof and wrecked the
contents of the building with such violence
as to seriously inJure five men at work in
With the old method Of opening and pick
ing cotton by which 1t was blown into a
"gauZe ROOM there were numerous in
stances Of explosions occurring in connec-
ton with such fires. but that class Of acct
dents has been very much reduced by the
faf.I IA
wind the cotton into a relatively compact
cylinder. The explosion of cotton fibers in
mapping rooms are stll of frequent occur
renee. Within recent years ire starting
in the card room OF a cotton mill produced
an explosion which was exceedingly violent
and spread the flames to an extent beyond
the scope of the fire apparatus and com
passed the destruction of the mill.
The explosion from dust in the various
forms OF continuous driers used I'm textile
mills have been such as TO require the
utmost precautions by way Of construction
and continuous cleanliness in order to Sc
cure conditions OF safety.
When the facing dust accommodating on
the truSSes OF a foundry was being washed
from the beams by a stream from fire hose
when the works were shut down during an
enforced vacation, such as has occurred
during recent times, the dust filled the
building and was ignited by the fire at the
portable forge, where repairs were under
5 But such fires are not by any means con-
fined 20 the dust of ordinarily recognized
combustibe materials Fires have been
known to occur in the dust OF iron thrown
out from the tumbling barrels used for
polishing lacks by their attrition on each
other. One form Of the well-known parlor
fireworks, which produces such a bright
fulguration, Is merely the combustion of
finely divided steel. whose temperature of
ignition Is so low that the hand can be
held. not only with IMMUNITY. but also
without any sensation OF heat directeiy in
the scintillation OF the fireworks.
The finely powdered zinc, known as zinc
auxiliary" which is used in connection
with the reiuvenation OF the indigo dye
watts In the colorlng OF cotton, is so rapidly
oxidized by a small amount OF moisture
that fires produced in that manner are of
frequent occurrence. and the danger Is
so well known that many lines of water
transportation refuse to take this material
under any condition whatsoever.
These instances illustrate the demands
which the present practice OF underwrit-
ing requires In connection with a technical
knowledge and practical experience upon
the fundamental principles connected with
nearly every branch OF manufacturing. and
OF the storage Of material contributing "a
such industries. The remsrk attributed 10
Lord Brougham. that a lawyer should know
something OF everything as a necessary
qualification for a practitioner at the bar.
might also be extended 10 essentials IN
the equipment OF an underWriter-N. y.
Journal of Commerce.