The Washington herald., 1908-06-07
HIGH EXPLOSIVES
VERY DANGEROUS
Their Manufacture Is a Most
PerilOuS Occupation.
FACTORY IN WEST SCOTLAND
1t Stands Remote from other Build
ings on the Sand Dunes-HOw the
Danger Area Is FREDERICKSBURG
Women Do Much of the Work
Where Mistakes Cost Life.

For the discovery Of dynamite and other
cognate powerful explosives the world
owes a debt Of gratitude to the late AL
fred Nobel. the famous Swedish scientist
and chemist. He was the first to turn to
practical purpose, in his laboratory at
Helensborg near Stockholm, the power
ful blasting agent nitrogiycerin, which,
with other explosives Of high power. be-
come inseparable agents of the mining
and engineering industries.
Nitroglycerin was discovered by So
briero, and colloquially known as blast
ing OIL" This compound owing to its
extremely dangerous nature and the fire.
quency of accidents attending its use,
says an English correspondent Of the
Scientific American, was prohibited in
many Of the leading countries. Nobel.
realizing these numerous disadvantages.
concerted his energies for a considerable
time in the quest OF an agent with which
the nitroglycerin could be combined, and
which. while not deteriorating in the
slightest its high explosive qualities.
would at the same time enable IL to be
handled with comparative impunity. In
this search he was ultimately successful
by mixing the nitroglycerin with an alb
sorbent earth called ''kieselguhr'' and
producing the compound now known as
dynamite. The result OF this discovery
was an immediate expansion in the en-
ployment of the explosive for blasting
purposes in all parts of the world. After
establishing factories in Germany and
France in 1878. Nobel went to Great
Britain.
stands on the Sand Dunes.
Nobel himself selected the site for his
proposed factory, and his ultimate choice
fell upon Ardeer. on the west coast of
Scotland more suitable spot for the
prosecution Of a dangerous trade could
scarcely have been found, as the natural
confguration Of the country is a series
of waste sand dunes. which lend them
selves admirably 20 the work in hand by
serving as natural barriers between the
various sections Of the danger zone.
The factory covers an area OF over 500
acres. occupied by more than $50 different
buildings. The works are entirely self
contained. and thus number of different
subsidiary industries are embraced in the
isolated colony established at a barren
spot on the shores OF the Atlantic.
Ntroglycerin. as Is well known. is
combination Of glycerin and a mixture OF
sulphuric and nitric acids. The former is
brought from all parts Of the world, and
upon arrival is subjected 20 a rectifying
process by which the various impurities
suspended in the fluid are removed. The
nitric acid is prepared in large buildings
in which are ranged long rows OF retOrts
bricked up like ovens. These retOrts are
charged with sulphuric acid and nitrate
of soda, and Immediately the two COM
pounds come into contact a chemical ac-
ton commences. the nitric acid being re-
leased as a corrosive gas.
The latter is carried through pipes on
TO a series OF earthenware airs and other
condensing apparatus, into which the gas
is discharged and condensed. The nitric
acid thus obtained is further mixed with
sulphuric acid. also produced In extensive
works on the spot. and conveyed in steel
cars. hauled by ponies. TO a station at
the foot Of one OF the nitroglycerin
hills" as the mounds in which this
powerful explosive liquid is prepared are
called. There are five Of these hills.
comprising lofty earth embankments,
within which are located the buildings in
which the manufacture is carried out.
Danger Area Protected.
The provision Of the surrounding
mounds covered with tall. rank grass
serves 20 arrest the flight OF fragments
of the structure within and the concus-
sion produced by an explosion should the
building within from any cause blow up.
The hills are pierced in all directions
with tunnels. by which means commmi-
cation with the secluded buildings is
maintained. When the cars filed with
acids reach the foot Of one Of the hills
they are thence transported to the top
by cable haulage.
In the danger area" the severest dis
cipline is maintained All entrances are
carefully guarded by searchers. who rig
Orously examine every individual that
desires to enter relieving him Of any me-
tallic objects that may be carried upon
his person. together with matches and
other suspicious objects, which, upon
coming into contact with the dangerous
chemicals used in this zone, might pro-
woke trouble. No matter how often an
employee engaged within the hill may pass
IN and out, every time ne enters he must
submit TO this preliminary operation.
There are also some 500 girls employed,
and these are under the charge Of ma
irons. Hairpins. ordinary pins, shoe but
tons, metal pegs within the soles Of the
shoes. knitting and other needles are all
religiously barred. Their hair is tied
with braid or ribbon and. as with the
male employees, every time they enter the
danger area they are searched by the ma
irons.
Within the danger area the various en-
ployes engaged IN the different depart
ments or phases Of work are CARRIED in
special nOnlnfammable working suits,
varying in color according 10 their re-
spective occupations
Mixing Done by Women.
The mixing is done by women, who
knead the ingredients with their hands
as If it were dough. the operation being
carried out with complete tRoroughness
The mixture is then picked up by big
wooden scoop and dumped into a sieve
with brass meshes. The dynamite IS
rubbed through the orlfces in small par
ticles As il passes through the sieve IL
resembles a greasy. coffee-CoOred earth.
finely divided, and the combination of
the constituent parts being completely
accomplished. the product is ready for
the manufacture Of cartridges This work
is also carried out by female labor
The cartridge-houses are long rows OF
single cabins about ten feet in length.
and the same in width All the buildings
for the various phases of the wotk are
divided into small units, accommodating
from four to six persons. In the cor
tridge-house the machines are attached
TO the two side walls. They comprise
a cOnical hopper. into which the dyna-
mite is placed and a small vertical brass
rod or piston. actuated by a lever resem-
bling pump handle.
At the base Of the hopper Is a small
brass tube. in which the plunger slides.
As the piston descends into the mass OF
dynamite contained In the hopper IL
forces the requisite quantity through the