The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-12-15
A DANGEROUS TRADE.
PERILs THAT BESgT THE MAKING OF
| HiTROGLYcERiN.

hiTRoGLYcERiN.
Methods Used I'm the Manufacture of
This Dangerous Explosive - The
Care That Has to BE Exercised In
the Factories.
Nitroglycerin and its peculiaritfes
are little known, even in localities
where it is made. People generally
give it q wide berth, and even a less
number know how 1t is manufactured.
Probably in NO place in the United
States is there such q great amount of
the explosive used as in the Indiana
oilfieIds. Indiana has four nitroglycerin
factories, and they are seldom visited
by curious people.
The explosive is made from a compo-
sition Of acids and glycerin. 1t is gener-
ally pale yellow In color, and quite col
orless when pure. 1t Is odorless, and
has n sweet, pungent, aromatic favor.
II touched by ones tongue, or even
brought into contact with the skin, it
will produce a severe headache. A
large tank, called an agltator, is where
the fluid Is mixed, and the mixture is
composed of equal parts of nitric and
sulphuric acids. Inside the tank are
several paddles, like those Of a churn,
and 1t is here that the real danger In
the manufacture exists. The paddles
are put in operation and steady
stream of sweet glycerin is turned into
q vat until go pounds are thoroughly
mixed with the 1.5OO pounds of acid.
The chemicals coming in contact pro-
duce an intense heat, and in order to
Obviate the danger cold water Is run
through pipes encircling and running
through the vat. At So degrees f. 4
red vapor, almost like fire, arises. II
cutting off the supply of glycerin in the
agitator does not lower the temper
ature. it is time to say farewell. Before
30 degrees are reached nothing but
atoms of the structure and its contents
are left.
In its manufacture water is used to
flood the workroom. since Il drop fall
ing on the floor might lead to an eXplo-
sion. Not Il nail is to be found in the
floor of the factory. and the visitor IS
cautioned not to drag his feet Those
who make the dangerous fluid say that
a jar will not cause an explosion; that
friction and fire are the only agencies
by which it can be discharged. One
may pour q barrel Of nitroglycerin
from a high building to a cement walk
below and it will not explode, but 4
small quantity CT it dropped from the
same height in n can will blow the
building down. A sharp conclusion in
stantly touches it of. Factories be-
come useless after a few years opera
ton and have to be destroyed The
timber becomes saturated with nitro
glycerin and an explosion is imminent
at any time.
The average production of nitroglyc-
erin from 1900 pounds Of acid and go
pounds of glycerin Is about $50 quarts.
About 16o quarts constitute IN average
shot for an Indiana oil we'll. While
magazine explosions are not rare, the
real cause of the blowing up never be-
comes known. Those who are close
enough to see the cause always go up
with the building. The average time
for shooter or nitroglycerin maker to
remain in the business does not exceed
five years. Death Is instant. and nc
one has ever recovered from a nitro
glycerin accident. Bodies are torn to
atoms no larger than bits Of sausage.
The wages of employees of the fac.
tories range from $125 to $3.50 month
Colonel William A. Myers Of Bolivar
N. Y, was the man who made and ex.
ploded the first pound of nitroglycerin
In an oil we'll. He built the first fac.
tory in the United States near Titus.
vile. Pa. in 1868. Up to that time
powder had been used to torpedo oil
wells. 1t was then that an explosive
that could be discharged under water
was found in nitroglycerin. Colonel
Myers father was Philadelphia
chemist and taught his son how to
make II.
The first well torpedoed was on Colo
nel Mills lease, near Titusville, and the
charge consisted Of only two pounds
OIL was worth 50 q barrel then. and O
torpedo that would double the produc
ton of well was worth almost what
the maker chose to ask for it. Colonel
Myers built II different factories IL
different parts Of the oil regions from
1868 to 1885, when he retired from the
business. Only one of the original fac
tories stands intact today. Myers nadI
several fortunes and spent his money
like prince, but. fortunately for him
he still has snug sum laid by.
Well shooters spin great yarns Il
their experiences. aud the stories are
of the hair raising order. Wei! sheet
ers generally are fatalists to n c0nsid
cradle degree in their belief. and ii Is
probably one reason why they do uot
fear the fluid. They state that whcE
one would think it was The most Gan
gerous the explosive is Tie safest
The smallest drop can he p.acpd CA 4:
anvil and struck by TIE ncgVsys
sledge hammer. and the iiamlncr vi!
bound back over the shoulder of TIC
striker, no matter how mug,i he nay
try to hold it. Some claim that it -.
tear the arm Off. but this is cXag@2ga
ton. Transporting the explosive To"
a magazine to Il well is not as danger
GUS as timid people tiii@k. according Il
the shooters. 1t is transported il
square cans such as are used for var
nish. In preparing for shooting Il well
a long tin shell is suspended in the tE:3
Ing, and the shooter pours the fGit
IN as IL 1t was water. 1t is not tn
usual for 200 quarts to be in vel
shooters wagon on one trip. A Sigh
leak in can may be touched Off D,
friction and explode the entire load
II it should explode in the center of {
town. every building would be reduced
Instantly to acknowledgements Jour
nal.