The times., 1898-06-12
MODERN EXPLOSIVES.
Uses and Possibilities of Gunpovv-
der. n Subtle FxpIOsive


! The contingency Of 100 tons being blown
/ into air by means OF a cast-Of undershirc
| is one of the possibilities Of modern war
| fare.
The discarded copy paper. on which
some editor has written of the advan-
| tages Of peace. may be made the basis
| of a deadly explosive. which may cause
| the deaths Of a dozen soldiers
Gun cotton and dynamite render these
seeming absurdities possible today, in
mines and torpedoes.
The manufacture of these explosives
has long been kept secret by the makers.
but much has leaked cut concerning
them. Workmen assert that the dis
carded shirt, having served its purpose
and passed from the domestic rag-bag to
the ragman, and thence through the
channels Of trade TO the pulp maker. is
the best basis for the making of gun
powdes that can be found.
Gunc0ct0n is the most widely used of all
the explosives. Oil cloth is taken 70 the
mill. shredded and boiled until it IS
changed into a fossy downy stun. mora
like the pith Of a plant than original cot
ton. The cotton or wood pulp serves for
the c0mous-ible. or fuel element. and IS
termed the OXygelatOr or carblnifsr5us
element. By special processes this is
treated with nitrogen and passes from the
stage when II IS the harmless c0II1d0n
| Of photography and chemistry 10 the per-
fected explosive. 10 be used with COM
parative safety by the men who handle
y, and with awful results for those suf-
tering the effects OF its discharge.
The materials used are paper pulp. wood
pulp, cellulose from plants. exc.
Dynamite IS manufactured like guuc9t-
ton The former has for j base oil. gIyc-
crime or grease; the latter has pulp and
fiber.
Dynamite used in special guns in tests
has worked satisfactorily but on shin
board the vessel is apt TO be blown up
by Wee bit of a shell or hard bump.
Guncotton is now used on the Detroit and
others of the United States cruisers
The reasons are plain Dynamite ex-
plOdes on a jar of only slight vibration.
A rise in the temperature of the masa-
zine may cause an explosion and all in
all. 1t IS very dangerous explosive 10
have around.
Guncotton. however, is safe and easily
handled and can be placed in the open air.
When light is applied. it only bIazes up
like so much grease and burns out
Confu-ed in a vacuum. that is, in a
gunchamber, is more powerful than gun
torpedo. 80 pounds of it win destroy a
ship GuncOttOn is very sensitive TO an
electric spark, and there is an instance
of when a mOuse's tail brushed against
pile of this explosive and caused i ter
rfble explosion.
Gun cotton is put up in blocks, the
largest being about the size of an egg
and octagOnal in shape When gun cotton
in this form is placed in the cartridge Of
a prOjectile. the shape leaves spaces be-
tween the blocks. when the powder IS
exploded, gas generates in these cham
bers and thus creates the mighty power
that will throw 1000 pounds of steel ten
miles or more The gas generates 50
quickly that the charge Is simultaneous
with the fall of the hammer and the
powder is STYLED SLOW burning" though
the cubes of guncotton are consumed in
a fraction of a second.
While the term gun cotton implies that
all the finished product has the appear
ance Of the cotton of ordinary commerce,
this is not strictly true The material
used TO pack the torpedoes appears much
like cotton floss. but that made INTO pow
der for guns is of all sorts of shapes and
sizes.
Dynamite has the appearance of an old
and badly discOlOred candle. being made
Of grease, molasses or some homogeneous
material and when frozen, can be cut into
pieces.
An ordinary warship can now carry in
its magazine a supply of explosives in
one-thrd the space which would have
been necessary fifty years ago. and it VIII
do ten times the amount of damage.