The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1904-08-06
remitting attention to duty and thereby
preclude disasters, which generally are
traceable to somebody's negligence.

preclude disasters, WHICH BencIdiiy uho
traceable to somebody's negligence.
That Japan now produces her own
saltpeter In artificial plantations In
sufficient quantities for her needs Is
well known. Sulphur Is found In abun-
dance, as in any volcanic region, and
the material for charcoal is also provid-
ed for. Guaiacum, which yields the
best charcoal for powder purposes,
does not thrive in Japan, but there are
plenty of alders, which furnish the
next best grade. Large groves Of this
tree cover the old lava beds on the
slopes of the Fujiyama. The logs were
treated according to all the rules of the
art but the wood was of so great a
density, and its fibrous construction so
intricate, owing to the extremely slow
growth in the unyielding soil, that the
charcoal made from 1t could be dis
integrated and reduced to granular
powder only with the utmost difficulty
and with but Indifferent success. No
sooner had the government been In
formed of this fact than search was
made throughout the land for some
thing better than the alders of Full
san. and 1t was discovered that on the
islands Of Oki on the northern shore
OF Dali Nippon, in the sea Of Japan,
there fourished splendid alders, Of
rapid growth and finely fbered. porous
wood. Experiments proved this vari-
ETY. to yield an ideally good charcoal
for the manufacture of powder, I'M
mediately forestry station was es-
tablished on the islands to take care
that the supply of this wood should
never be exhausted. Here then, we
have the three chief ingredients of
black and brown gunpowder-saltpeter,
sulphur and overwhelmingly pro-
duced In the country.
The powder factory at Iwahana.
which lies in the direction of Nikko,
was built by the Japanese, without as
sistance from foreigners. after the
model of Meguro, but on larger scale
1t is also well equipped with all the
apparatus and machinery for the elab-
Grafton Of the raw materials and the
manufacture OF ordnance powder, as
well as all kinds of blasting powder
for engineering and mining purposes.
1t supplies the Hokkaido--i e., the
northern provinces Of Dai Nippon and
the islands lying in that direction.
Udji, the powder works of the south,
where the speciality is smokeless pow
der, has the very finest distillery for
the alcohol required IN the manufac-
turing process, have. without any ez-
ception, seen anywhere. Here, also, Is
a. complete plant for the manufacture
OF guncotton. where the raw material
Of domestic or imported growth is pick
ed, cleaned, dried and passed through
the various complicated, and in many !
stages rather perilous, manipulations
Of nitration. The army of workmen
move about with the precision of clock
work, under the eyes of numerous fore
men, inspectors and superintendent,
and accidents are almost and fatalities |
entirely unknown
Three million yen> about $1,5O0,0OO) |
have been expended In the construc-
ton and equipment Of this plant. In
times Of peace about 400 men and 200 |
girls find here steady employment All
OF the buildings are Of framework. |
with cement hoorings The alcohol. by |
the way, is made from grain, corn,
rye. wheat and barley, raised on the
numerous agricultural experiment sta
lions, after American patterns, which
are scattered over the fertile Hokkaido.
in which the Japanese husbandman
obtains valuable instruction In modern
methods of farming In every direo,
ton is manifested the ambition Tn
make Japan Independent of the outside
world
by far the most important of all es-
adjustments of this kind As the i'm
perial powder plant at Itabashi. which
Is again located in close proximity to
the capital. This is practically an ex-
pertinent station where the merits OF
new inventions and discoveries are In
Vestigated and put to a practical test
Il Us of all plants the most complete
making every kind Of ordnance pow
black, brown and smokeless
grains, leaflets, tube or macaroni
,ordite, etc. firearms of all sizes
up to the largest. Its chemical labora.
ories and the apparatus for the pumer.
'us auxiliary processes and manipula-
Ions are most complete, practical and
AS a matter of course. II Is
seldom that foreigner is admitted
within the high gate. All the officials
rom the director down, are natives.
ind concerning them l want TO saw
hat not only the chiefs of the various
departments, but their assistants az
ven, are highly trained experts. each
4 whom has spent several years at
european and American universities
cquiring thorough mastery OF his
peciaity and getting his mental hori.
ON widened to the farthest extent. 50
hat he might return to his country
exceptionally well fitted for the posi.
Ion he was to Ill. Scientists OF the
ret rank who auvtUbo-o -. -..l