The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-06-09
'SMOKELESS POWDER.
coRDITE THE MOST POTENT tx
PLOSlvE OF MODERN TIMES.
It Is Composed OF NitrogIycerin, Gun Cot
ton and vaseline-The Interesting Proc
ess by Which It's Dangerous Elements
Are Combined.

ess by Which It's Dangerous Elements
Are Combined.
Since the advent of the speedy torpe-
do boat and since rapid firing guns have
been placed on battleships and cruisers
an explosive that would allow to the
officers and gunners an unobstructed
view of an anemy under all conditions
has been sought, and thousands of dol
lars have been expended in the effort to
obtain a satisfactory substitute for black
gunpowder. Cordite, the latest explo-
sive is said to be the most satisfactory
propellant of modern times for naval
warfare, and the expert opinion seems
to be that in few years gunpowder as
now understood will have vanished
The earliest records of established
powder mills show that there was only
one in operation in 1890, this one being
in England. During the year 1887 the
Waltham Abbey Powder mills We're
purchased by the English government
They are still conducted by it. The Fa-
versham mills, which up to that date
were the largest in the world, passed
into the hands of private corporation
in 1915. The manufacture of powder
was continued without much improve
ment, except in the efficiency of the
grinding and mixing machinery, until
about 30 years ago, the formula for
black powder being saltpeter rs parts,
charcoal Is parts and sulphur 10 parts,
the whole forming mechanical mix
ture and not chemical compound.
Smokeless powder, however, became
absolutely a necessity, for the reason
that smoke producing powders masked
the object aimed at, and the torpedo
boat, which was becoming a recognized
feature of naval warfare, could dash up
and discharge one or more deadly mis-
siles under cover Of the smoke.
Smokeless powders were first pro-
duced in France, and for some time the
secret of the manufacture was guarded
jealousy. AS soon as the necessity for
this kind Of powder became apparent,
however, number of manufacturers
devoted attention to it, and as result
various brands of smokeless explosives
were placed on the market.
The most satisfactory results eventu-
ally made their appearance in cordite,
which was produced through expert
ments made by Professor Dewar and Sir
Frederick Abel. Cordite is composed Of
nitroglycerin 5S per cent, gun cotton 81
per cent and vaseline 5 per cent Nitro
glycerin is an oily, colorless liquid and
an active poison. 1t is produced by mix
ing a quantity Of sulphuric acid with
almost double the amount Of nitric acid
and allowing it to cool About one
eighth of the total weight of glycerin is
then added gradually, the mixture be-
ing kept below temperature of 70 de-
grees F. by passing air and cold water
through it. After the mixture has stood
a sufficient time the acids are drawn off,
and the residue (nitroglycerin) is wash
ed and altered.
NNitroglycerin cannot be ignited easily
byAa fame, and a lighted match or ia
perplunged into it would be extinguish
ed. It is sensitive to friction Or percus-
sion, either Of which will detonate it,
Another popularity is that the higher
the temperature the more sensitive it
becomes. IL VII, u, solidify at temper
azure OF 40 degrees, aud ,,s ''i'0
force is estimated to be about Twelve
times that Of gunpoWder. -
One Of the most approved methods
used in the manufacture Of gun cotton
is this: The raw cotton is to'--
shreds, dried am. di,>,,c' Il into
Of SI1lr>l> IN a 1,:vt,,re
~ nitric acids. 1t is then
1870 ~ a stream of running Sater and
Ns'S.ssd thoroughly. The cot eon is then
ch!ne - s4e'e|'- 49,
1t is afterward boile' dried, cut into
pulp and pressed into a;sss When tn,
gun cotton is fms . -; t,bo,la h
no trace of the 2 -,ee' Vase
line. the other ,citss remaining fass
dite IS the component part OF COZ
trolon,,, .. ell known extract from pe
lubricate I'd it's usefulness is chlen y,
lessen the bore of the gun ana th.
prof the friction between IL anu ". "
ma ,casse. 1T also has a tendency 10 Ii
70 xaaxptysreof nature to cordlte',
a color1ess lAlnid prepared IRON, az
,tfssa Of lime, CALLED acetone, IS usea as
= sosuont in the manufacture OF coralt
/, I,Tha method al preparing the explosl
If is The required proportion OF nv,
= .,,rerin lis poured over the gun coeso
. ,.na tie two, with the addition OF a. a.
rone are gneaded together into a ..
No. yaseline is then added, anu
w..oIe compound, after being .aor s,a !
at " mized, Is put into machine an ana -
:, ,oraite p--essed out and cut lneo iens1
tn sftsr " .ch it is dried. ,,
NJ IN the artillerist the nature OF corc
try il rerresented by a fraction whose S (,
er. merator gives in hundredsM q 8, an "a, 4
no the diameter of the die througn WI '
'ers the cordite has been pressed, nus ae =
;nator being the length OF the ss sn
inches. The cordite known az o . I:
to which is the size used LIS for tine .,
SEQ, m wick firing guns, iginfffass that its
the ameter is three-testths OF an men,
imp # is 10 inches lotig.
ons. is necessary to use hne :
but nowder to ignite a charge OF cor.u !.
,ker being secured in such manner u
sons aash from the tube firing the gun
canse the explosion Of the cnarge
All charge Of powder Tor ~ inCn