The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-08-24
Dynamiting Stumps and Stones.

"a subscriber wants me to tell him
how to use dynamite to get out stumps
and stones, and wants TO know how
dangerous is its use," writes j. s.
Woodland in Practical Farmer. 81
don't know of any better way-in fact,
not one 80 good, easy and cheap to rid
q field of stumps or stones as the use of
dynamite. 1t costs from 10 to ID cents
per pound by the box, and it should be
got in sticks of 2 inch in diameter,
weighing about IL ounces each. He
may use only part of stick, or more,
as needed, by the size OF stump or
stones, but which can only be told by
q little practice on the particular lot.
1t Is not as dangerous as common black
powder, as it will not explode by con-
TACT with fire, and can only be set off
by caps or exploders made for the pur-
pose. In purchasing be sure to see
that it has no free nitro-glycerine; in
other words, that any of the sticks are
not leaking, for this is the explosive
principle, and when 1t shows free 1t is
very dangerous, as sudden stamp of
the foot might explode it. What the
effect of the dynamite will be on any
particular lOb VI btOu6h VI bbuuupb uO
one can tell. 1t will be necessary to
do little experimenting, and only use
just enough when blasting stumps, as
the larger the charge the more it will
be torn.
When one is thrown out entire, if
too large to be easily handled, it can be
easily split by boring hole into it on
The side he desires it to split and in
sorting quarter to full stick. To
use the dynamite on stumps, dig down
on one side 80 hole can be made with
an iron bar under the main part, close
to the tap root if it has one, and close
up 80 the dynamite will be in close
contact with the stump. Take stick
of dynamite and undo one end, with a
lead pencil or small stick make hole
in the dynamite an inch or more deep.
Now take piece of fuse of suitable
length 80 you can get to safe distance
while burning; slip cap or exploder
on to the fresh cut end of the fuse far
enough 80 that the powder in cut end
shall rest on the fulminth at the bot
tom and crimp the sides down on the
fuse 30 as to hold it firm, then push the
cap down into the hole made in dyna-
mite and pack it firmly about the fuse
and replace the paper and it is well to
tie it with a string. To make every
thing sure smear all about the end and
over the fuse with the wagon grease or
tallow, 80 as to make it water tight. I
recommend this because it is better to
use water in the hole when blasting
with dynamite, it will give so much
better execution.
"You can use any portion of stick
or any number of them as necessary
and when more than one is used be
sure to have them in contact and one
cap will send them all off. The same
directions will apply for blasting stones.
Get the charges under the stone, or as
near as possible, and in all cases with
stumps or stones be sure that the dyna-
mite is in close contact with the thing
to be moved. Pack it up then with
sticks, stones or dirt, anything, and
when all is completed, pour in enough
water to fill the space or hole, but OF
course the fuse must be waterproof
or coated with grease and the end be
kept out of the water; when all il
ready fire the fuse and 'git;' 60 to 6
safe distance and see the stump gel
out as quickly and easily as the small
lest. l have seen them cavortine
over the tops of the highest trees like
flying Dutchman. It's just fun"