The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-30

being separated from the fiber BY
specially-built machines, and after
treatment TO prevent rotting and COM
bustion is packed in the cofferdams,
mixed with enough fiber TO hold ii to-
gether. An American product manu-
featured from the pith of cornstalks OF
Indian maize, under the Marsden pat
enfs, Is superior 70 the cocoa cellulose.
Rs Is shown by the following tests made
by the navy department:
Two cofferdams. feet high, feet
wide and feet thick. were constructed.
In one was placed sS21s pounds of cocoa
eellulose and fiber, with a density OF
1T pounds per cubic foot; in the other
ZOE pounds of corn cellulose. CORR
spending 10 density of 6.5 pounds De,
cubic foot.
A 6-iDch shot having velocity of
1000 feet per second was fired into the
cocoa cellulose with gun al distance
of 314 feet The hole at the point Of
entry was the size of the shot. and the
point of exit, an irregular. jagged hole,
was made IA inches by S1s inches. The
passage of shot caused quantity OF
cellulose TO be projected in the FROM
and about q quart TO be thrown out &c
the rear. Water was now applied to thS
cofferdam. the level being feet above
the hole. In ten minutes the fist drcF
of water appeared through the Golfer
dam through the hole. The fow stead,
lily increased to half gallon minuta
The cofferdam containing the corn eel,
lulose was fired upon under similar cor.
ditions.
Water was turned on as before and
left for 11s hours, during which time n:
water whatever appeared at the hole il
the rear, nor was it even damp in that
vicinity. Tests were then made with
larger proiectiles, with about the sans
results. To test the Washington ef.
feet OF the waves on the cellulose j
stream of water from a fire pump wa,
directed into the respective holes, tn;
1sozZle being held at IL feet from the
holes. At the end Of 80 seconds an elon,
gated cone had been washed out to Z
depth of Is inches in the case OF the
cocoa cellulose and Ii inches in the
case o. the corn cellulose. There is thus
no danger from the action of the sea
To test for combustion n 3-pound shell
containing one-tenth pound of powder
and 1-pound bag OF powder were ex,
ploded in the midst of each material;
the cocoa. ccllulose ignited; the corn eel.
lulose did not, but was greatly charred
\ cubic foot of each material waI
packed in an iron box with two galloni
of fresh water and allowed TO remair
for a month. 1t was found that the
cocoa cellulose, which had been in con,
tact with the iron, had turned black
the iron showed corposion and wac
painted, the paint had softened under
the action of the cellulose. The corr
'cellulose had practically no effect. Tn,
superiority of corn cellulose was thu
demonstrated, and has been adopted
by the navy department. The new bat.
tie ships Kentucky and Kearsarge am
to be lined with il, and il is recommend,
ed that all unarmored vessels should
have these belts without delay. Oul
cruisers of the Baltimore type, so lined
would be warranted in engaging many
OF the second-class ironclads of Other
powers. For keeping out water 3-fooi
lcellulose belt is said to be as efficient as
6-inch belt of steel; the former woull
weigh Jog tons, the latter 1000 tons.
Corn pith cellulose costs about two
thirds the amount Of cocoa cellulose
per cubic foot.-Journal of the Franklin
Institute