Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-04-07
MAKING HIGH EXPLOSIVES.
Factory on the Sand Dunes of West
Scotland

handmaids of the mining and engi-
Inccring industries the world owes q
ldcbt of gratitude to the late Alfred
Nobel the famous Swedish scientist
and chemist, since he was the first to
turn to practical purposes at his lab
oratory at HelenebOrg, near Stock
lholm, the powerful blasting agent
nitroglycerine, discovered by Sobriero
and colloqually known as blasting
Oil"
This compound, owing to its ex-
tremely dangerous nature and the
frequency of the accidents attending
its use, says an English correspondent
of the Scientific American, was pro-
hbited in many of the leading coun-
tries; and Nobel, realizing these num-
erous disadvantages concerted his en-
ergieS for a considerable time in the
quest for an agent with which while
not deteriorating in the slightest its
high explosive qualities would at the
same time enable it to be handled
with comparative impunity. In this
search he was ultimately successful
by mixing the nitroglycerine with an
absorbent earth called "kieselguhr"
and producing the compound now
known as dynamite. The result of this
sion in the employment of the explo-
sive for blasting purposes in all parts
of the world. After establishing fac
tories in Germany and France in 1871,
Nobel went to Great Britain.
Nobel himself selected the site for
his proposed factory, and his ultimate
choice fell upon Ardeer. on the west
coast of Scotland. A more suitable
spot for the prosecution Of a danger
Gus trade could scarcely have been
found, as the natural configuration of
the country is q series of waste sand
dunes, which lend themselves admir-
ably to the work in hand by serving
as natural barriers between the var
ious sections of the danger zone.
The factory covers an area of over
500 acres, occupied by more than
500 different buildings. The works are
entirely self contained, and thus a
number of different subsidiary indus
tries are embraced in the isolated
colony established at barren spot on
| the shores of the Atlantic.
| NitrOglycerine, as it is we'll known,
is a combination of glycerine and a
mixture of sulphuric and nitric acids.
| The former is brought from all parts
of the world and upon arrival is sub
jected to a rectifying process by
which the various impurities suspen-
ded in the fluid are removed. The nj
trio acid is prepared in large build
| ingS i'm which are ranged long rows
of retOrts bricked up like ovens.
| These retOrtS are charged with sui
phuric acid and nitrate of soda, and
| Immediately the two compounds
come into contact chemical action
commences, the nitric acid being re-
leased as a corrosive gas.
The latter is carried through pipes
on TO a series of earthenware jars
and other condensing apparatus, in
to which the gas is discharged and
condensed. The nitric acid thus OBJ
tanned is further mixed with sulphur
| ic acid, also produced in extensive
works on the spot, and conveyed in
steel cars hauled by ponies to a sta
ton at the foot of one of the nitro
glycerine hills" as the mounds in
which this powerful explosive liquid
is prepared are called. There are five
of these "hills," comprising lofty
earth embankmcnts within which
are located the buildings in which the
manufacture is carried out.
The provision of the surrounding
mounds covered with tall rank grass
serves to arrest the flight of frag-
ments of the structure within and the
conclusion 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 communication with the
secluded buildings is maintained.
| When the cars filled 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
discipline is maintained. All entran-
ces are carefully guarded by search
erS who vigorously examine every in
dividual that desires to enter, re-
lieving him of any metallic objects
| that may be carried upon his person,
together with matches and other sus-
picious objects which upon coming
into contact with the dangerous
chemicals used in this zone might
provoke trouble. No matter how often
an employee engaged within the hill
may pass in and out, every time he
enters he must submit to this prelim-
mary operation.
There are also some 500 girls en-
| plOycd, and these are under the
charge of matrOns. Hairpins, ordinary
pins, shoe buttons, metal pegs within
the soles Of the shoes, knitting and
other needles are all religiously bar
red. Their hair is tied with braid or
ribbon and as with the male employ
eeS every time they enter the danger
area they are searched by the ma
| irons.
Within the danger area the various
employees engaged in the different
departments or phases of work are
garbed in special on-inflammable
working suits, varying in color ac-
cOrdng to their respective occupa-
| tiOnS.
The mixing is done by women, who
knead the ingredients with their
hands as if it were dough, the oper-
alton being carried out with complete
thOrOughneSs. The mixture is then
picked up by big wooden scoop and
dumped into sieve with brass
meshes. The dynamite is rubbed
through the orifices in small particles.
As it passes through the sieve it re-
sembleS Il greasy coffee col0red earth