The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-08

vrs-r n. cleared a safe channel 30 fes.
wide and LOO feet long over which our
warships may safely steam This SUD
marine p.owiag, by the way, costs Ss.vv
d mile The terrible guns OF the sesaVius
can moreover drop a Iutpouno charge
OF gun cotton into fort TWO and one-haIf
miles away. or a compound charge the dis
lance of one mile.
The submarine boat Holland has given
satisfactory tests and will probably prove
a dangerous antagonist in sea ngal.
Our latest purchase Is what the British
ers cali a torpedo chaser, OF the larrow
type. named the Marley. She is butt
more for speed than destructiveness. her
rate being 3 knots per hour. Her length
is "a feet, beam s.3 feel, and her draft
asterr IS feet. She does not run entirely
under water. but SO low that her decks
VIII be awash. She is painted a duh lead
color, and when tearing through the Wa
ter at her maxinuna speed il will be "a
most impossible for foe TO put shot
into her.
In striking contrast to these vessels IS
the great ram Katahdin. which has been
compared to a bee. as il is said she viii
Immediately lose her own life after in
sorting her sting. Then there is our little
fleet of torpedo boats. These are in great
ar danger of destruction than any craft
on the sea. and the most of them. if they
should De forced into an open battle by
day, will 81 fortunate to get out alive.
During attacks under cover of the dark
ness there will Of course be less danger
but in al their hostile movements their
Only safety will lie in the avoidance Of the
rap!d-iire guns of the battleships whica
at the time they may happen TO be hunt
ing 10 the DEATH
AT the present time, when the subject
Of dynamite is interesting almost every
person who has spark OF martial feel
ing in his soul, il may not be amIss TO
explain its appearance and process OF
manufacture. Dynamite. or giant powder,
the invention Of Alfred Nobel, of Swe-
den. can be made into cakes, or 1t may be
converted into sticky paste called 'exp,o-
siye gum" or developed in cases of pa
per, paSteboard, or metal to form cart
ridges. Ii is a desiccated mixture of
three liquid inSredients-n.tric acid, sui
phuric acid and glyeerln--combined with
sawdust or some similar substance. the
compound constituting q mass resembling
damp graham -four or pale cocoa. To
some II appears like coarse brown sugar.
Explosive gum is of pure nitroslycerin
and gun cotton more highly charged with
nitrate.
The pulyerized form prevents the trans
mission OF ordinary shocks except under
pressure in a confined space. The pressure
of the inert mineral constituents serves
likewise TO absorb heat, and consequent
iy high temperature cannot be readily
impaired to the whole, but when impart-
ed this temperature effects great expan-
sion of the gases and increased effective
ness OF explosion.
Ignited IN the open air. dynamite burns
quietly with nitrous fumes. Exploded.
usually by means of a Illuminating fuse
or cap. ii gives off carbonic acid, nitro
gen and hydrogen. with little or no smoke.
-r,f,- p ,-,, -r3A
able conditions the effectiveness OF dyna-
mite is always at least equal and fire.
Quent.y superior 10 that of nitrog,ycerir,
for the latter is liable to scatter unex-
ploded drops by reason of the maximum
rapsdity of its ignition.
Dynamite Is now recognized as the safest
OF all high explosives. II Is not affected
By a prolonged temperature OF 100 degrees
rentigrade. nor is 4 as dangerous as nitro
glycerine when II solidifes at degrees
cnntigfade. Neither light, electricity nor
ordinary shocks, contrary to the popular
faiiacy. cause IL To aecompose or explode.
The principal dangers connected with its
use are those arising from the strong full
minating powders used In the percussion
fuses 10 explode IL. II is also possible that
II dynamite Is carelessly made it may con-
tam an excess of nitro-glycerine. which,
overcoming the capillary force OF the min-
eral particles. may collect in drops and set
tie from the mass becoming a source OF
serious accidents. Moreover, IL may DO
that freezing. or thawing after freezing.
has a tendency TO segregate the oil.
In the pine woods OF Southern New Jer-
sey. far from any human habita'ion there
are several dynamite factories. which are
Misunderstanding structures, as they are
scattered frame buildings. generally one
story high and remote from one another
In Europe there are many notable facto-
ries. but Ire most famous one IL at Tsleten.
in Switzerland. The work there IS prinei-
pally performed by women and girls
In the retail stores OF the United States
where dynamite is for sale there Is no
unusual precaution taken In the storing
or IT.
II is the cap and the cartridge used in
connection with dynamite that are so often