The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-11-26
WAS WITHINTHELAW
ALDERMAN DIXON WILLING FOR A
THOROUGH INVESTIGATION.
NO DOCKET CASE MADE.
FIRE CHIEF TOLD MAYOR OF sPAT
WITH ALDERMAN.

Supt. Mcguire Did Not Enter Case
Against Aid. Dixon and said His
Report TO the Mayor Covered the
GrOund-Mr. Myers Would Not Dis
cuss the Matter-Insurance Poll
cies Permit Mr.. Dixon TO Carry
Fifty Pounds of GunpOwder and
Including SmOkeIess He Says He
Had Less Than That Amount-The
Dupont Powder, the Alderman
Says, 1t Does Not Contain a Single
ingredient of GunpOwder, Which
Is Alone Mentioned in the Ordi-
nance.
No docket case was made against
Alderman James NJ. Dixon yesterday
for having more gunpowder in his
place of business than is allowed I'M
der the city ordinance. Superintendent
Mcguire of the Fire Department had
announced his intention during the fire
of docketing the alderman, but salts
fed himself instead by reporting the
matter to Mayor Myers.
superintendent Mcguire said that he
had done his duty by reporting the
matter to the Mayor. The Mayor re-
fused to have anything to say on the
subject. Alderman Dixon in the mean
time was not in the slightest degree
worried. He was perfectly willing to
have the case docketed and he said he
was ready to show that he had not vio-
lated any ordinance. Alderman Dixon
says that the figures furnished by Su-
perintendent Mcguire are all wrong,
and that even though they were cor
rect he would still be within the or
dinance
Does Not Mention SmOkeIess Powder.
The ordinance referred to by the fire
chief covers the handling of gunpowder
and makes no reference to smokeless
powder. Alderman Dixon says that the
can of gunpowder figured at five
pounds by the fire chief really con-
tanned six and one-quarter pounds. and
that it was the only gunpowder in his
place of business. Then, too, a ten
pound can of smokeless powder only
weighs five pounds, the powder being
very much lighter than ordinary gun
powder.
My insurance policies permit me to
carry fifty pounds of gunpowder," said
Mr.. Dixon to a representative of the
Morning News, "and 1 only had six
and one-fourth pounds on hand. In
Guiding the smokeless powder, which
cannot be considered in the question, I
had a total of only forty-siX and sew
en-eighths pounds. 1 still insist that
the smokeless powder is not explosive.
i demonstrated this fact to several fire.
men, and to others during the day.
Il had some hay set on fire and,
standing over the flames. sprinkied the
smokeless powder on them. OF course
there was no explosion. The powder
burned as any ordinary stuff and there
was absolutely no danger l could not
have done the same thing with gum
powder, however. A lighted match can
be thrown into a quantity of smokaless
powder without doing any damage.
There is not a single ingredient in
smokeless powder that is III gunDcw-
der"
Nothing Further Looked for.
1t is believed that the report of the
incident as made by Supt Mcguire TO
the Mayor closes the case. The only
manner in which the question can be
again brought up, would be by maxi
ing docket case against Alderman
Dixon. Supt. Mcguire stated that
with his report to Mayor Myers. the
matter is ended so far rs he is con-
cerned- He said he had lone his d,:ty.
Inasmuch as Alderman Dixon had less
than fifty pounds of smokaless rs well
as gunpowder there can be no uues-
ton from the insurance companies that
permit him to carry fifty pounds of
gunpowcer.
1t is believed that the loss on Mr..
Dixon's stock will be at least 80 per
cent. of the total vaIuc. The Office
fixtures were only damag I'd by smoke
and water, and business whs conducted
as usual yesterday. While the fire in
convenienced the firm considerably
business has already been resumed and