The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-16
PROGRESS MADE In
USE OF EXPLOSIVES
What Science Has Done In the Develop.
meat OF War.
AGENTS OF DESTRUCTION UNDER
GO A MATERIAL CHANGE AND BE-
COME FAR MORE DEADLY-GUN
COTTON AND ITS MANIFOLD USES.
From the Times-Herald.

From the Times-Herald.
The brief period from 1856 to 1898
will. perhaps, in coming ages, be best
framed for the extremely rapid ad-
vancement made in modern explosives.
This epoch making span of time may
perhaps be further expanded, for the
new science is yet in an experimental
stage. There may be discoveries In the
near future as remarkable and mo-
mentous as those of the past decade
and a half. If so, this period will be
doubly remembered. Explosives are
necessarily destructive. and their devel-
opment implies the acquisition of new
and terrible power. The application of
this science marks the border line be-
tween ancient and modern times.
Explosion has been defined as the ex
tremely rapid conversion of solid or
liquid substances into gas or vapor
occupying many times the volume of
the original body. This gas is further
expanded by the heat generated dur
ing the transformation. Any sub
stance that is capable of Underlying the
above metamorphosis is termed an ex-
plosive.
GERM OF THE DISCOVERY.
The germ of the science of explosives
lay in the accidental discovery of the
peculiar properties of saltpeter, which
is found plentifully scattered in nature
upon the surface of the plains of In
dia and of China. knowledge of its
defagrating qualities could not well be
avoided after the use of fire upon those
vast Asiatic stretches of land, for by
means of the charred embers of wood
fires used for cooking, the two most
important ingredients of gunpowder
could easily have been brought into
contact with each other. The acci-
dental dropping of crude saltpeter up
on Goals of fire would have been fol-
lowed by prolonged and accelerated
combustion. Without any known facts
TO rely upon, historians generally agree
that in some such way the beginnings
oe the history of explosives We're in
augurated. Sulphur was doubtless an
sfter addition, not necessary to cause
expo sion.
Black powder, from the time of its
Introduction into Europe, has always
consisted of saltpeter, charcoal and
sulphur in various proportions. An ex-
n,
an excess of saltpeter slackens it. The
propulsion force depends chiefly on the
rate of combustion and the volume of
gas produced, varying with the pro-
portions of the mixture Gunpowder gas
fills about 300 times the space occupied
by the solid powder.
A CENTURY AGO.
If the ingredients of black gunpow-
der have remained the same for many
centuries it is not because numerous
experiments were not made to improve
its composition by adding other sub
stances. In 1884 Barcelo made various
attempts to change the composition
and he had many followers. Inventors
are still working at tie problem.
The construction of modern guns has
madn imperative some notifications in
the form and effects of the explosive
used. \ slow-burning powder was
needed, which would burn in increasing
lHuoand develop its maximum strength
Just when the shot reached the muz-
Zle ot the gun Germany took the in.
itiative in this direction in 1882, when a
sloW-turninS powder was produced in
that country called cocoa powder be.
cause in color it resembled cake OF
chocolate. The method of manufac
ture was kept secret, hut other coun.
tries procured samples of the powder
analyzed it and soon learned to make
better substitute. This German co.
Goa powder differed from black gun.
powder mainly by changing the pro,
portions of the ingredients to 70 pei
cent. saltpeter, is per cent. charcoal
and per cent sulphur, and by using ar
underturnt charcoal, which gave it the
peculiar color. For this brown powder
charcoal made from rye straw was alsC
used.
Various shapes lave been adopted
for the brown powder, now used by al
countries for heavy ordnance. and ex
cellent results have followed the us,
of heNagonal prisnlatic grains pierced
by small holes through which tn,
flames pass, burning from the centel
outward and constantly evolving more
gas till combustion is completed.
FOR LARGE GUNS.
1t is we'll known that for many years
the improvement of powders for larg,
guns has not kept pace with the manu-
facture Of the gun itself. The secre
tary OF the United States navy tive
years ago called attention to the diff
Guilty of obtaining in sufficient quan
titles for actual service a high grad,
brown powder for large guns, nor wa
1t assured that these powders woulC
endure the test of long storage. 1t ha
been found that the efficiency of brown
powder varies regularly with tn
weather, requiring per cent. more il
midwinter and per cent. less in mid
summer than in spring or autumn.
1t is now quite generally believed h,
naval and military experts that gun
powder is rapidly passing away as a.
effective and standard explosive. 9th
er modern explosives have, during tn
past twelve years, heen substituted Il
such an extent that to return to gun
powder seems impossible. The su6sti
tutes have not passed the periods o
probation, but changes IN frearm
have compelled the revolution In cxplo
sives. The invention Of rapid-firinj
guns made necessary the use of
smokeless powder The rifle of smalle
cahber demanded an explosive o
greater force.
While these experiments were pro
crossing in England, France and Ger
many, Alfred Nobel formed the ide
of reducing the rate of combustion i
his blasting gelatin by increasing tn
percentage of gun cotton, in order tina
IL might be used as a substitute 70
gunpowder. This led to the patent
ing of a smolSeicss powder in 1856
called ballistite, which he introduce
IN the Italian army and which was ais
edopted by Germany. AS now manu-
featured ballistite consists of fifty part
soluble nitro cellulose ard fifty part
nitroQIvcarip ,sa hoo, dis