The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-09-27

Nothing less than a detonating cap buried in one end of the stick, and set off by a special kind of flse.'
 Y How about a sudden jar?' was ask ed. In reply he raised the stick with which he had been emphasizing his re-. marks and hurled it to the floor with all his strength. The visitor restrained with great difficulty an impulse to shatter the international record for the standing high jump and prepared to continue the study of high explosives in such a manner as to preclude forciz ble demonstrations. .., No danger from that source,' con- tinued the informant, "as long as your powder remains in it's normal condi- ton. When partially frozen, however some dyrtanites. may be exploded by violent concussion; it depends great deal upon the composition of the dope, :,
 The dope?" T' % &2
 Yes, You see, all dynamites consist in general of nitroglycerin mixed with q more or less complex absorbent called the dope Two elements universally used in the dope are sawdust or wood pulp and nitrate of soda. They are non-explosive, but both especially the latter, when ignited, give off a large volume of gas which expands and adds considerably to the force of the nitro glpecrir explosion. The nitrate of soda Is imported by thousands of tons from Chile and other South Apienican re- gions, where it is found in vast natural beds and known as Chile saltpeter. You remember the dispute over the ownership of these deposits was the casus belli in the late Chile Colombia affair" ..: ,.
 ''Yes," the visitor responded, remi- niscently; "and the other ingredients of the dope?'
 Well, you sec" he replied, after a momentss hesitation, "it would be a hard matter to explain to you in twen- ty minutes all that has been discovered and utilized in twenty years of re- search. Over there is the laboratory building" pointing to small red build- ing at some distance where could be seen an occasional figure moving around amid a labyrinth of retorts, glass tubes what not. we employ an an experienced chemist to conduct con stant experiments with view to hit ting upon some new active absorbent which shall be cheaper, safer and more effective than that now in use,''
 Accepting the hint the visitor paus- ed to sum up. rThen dynamite con. sists in nitroglycerin mixed with a number of non-explosive substances, which together act as an absorbent ?''
 Exactly"
 "And the nitroglycerin? What is that made of and how do you make it?" VI "Nftroglycerin is formed when pure glycerin is agitated with mixture oi nitric and sulfuric, acids. Come along --T'll show you how it is done.''
 Leaving the office we struck out to. | ward a large frame building high ur on the bluff and f1anked on either side at wide intervals by other houses oi the plant. On our way to the nitro. glycerin houses or 'nitrater'' we passed some long rambling buildings from which issued dense white and rec fumes which set us coughing and gasp. | ing at a great rate. Here's where wt make the acids for the nitroglycerin, was the explanation, "and over there, pointing to a huge tank of boiler-like appearance, ''is where the acids are mixed and whence they are driven ir suitable quantities by compressed ail to the nitrater."
 Arrived at the last mentioned build ing and having accustomed our eyes tC the semi-darkness. which appeared Stygian after the glare of the midday sun, we saw 0 series of large leader
 tanks set in tiers, to the highest O which my courteous guide led me Ii
 looked like churn of herculean pro portions, the agitator being driven bS
 0 powerful steam engine. Into this re ceptacle, which was already charged
 with a weighted amount of the mixed
 acids, there flowed a tiny stream o1
 pure golden glycerin. An attendan
 seated on a stool gazed steadily at 2
 large thermometer, the lower end O
 which projected into the swirling liquit
 within the tank. l8g