The Ordway new era., 1912-02-23

[" HE tendency OF modern war
fare has been toward the
adoption Of those instruments
which accomplish its purpose
with as little risk to the users
as possible. This Is exemplihed
somewhat In the use Of smokeless
powder. the manufacture Of which Is
attended with much less danger. and
its transfer from place to place re-
suits In fewer accidents as compared
with the production Of gunpowder. 1t
can be handled with perfect safety
and even set on fire In the open air
without causing an explosion or oc-
casioning the least anxiety.
At Indian Head, which Is also the
navy proving ground. there is plant
for the manufacture OF this powder
which Is owned and operated by the
United States government and the en-.
tire output of the factory. which last
year amounted to over million and a
half pounds. is used by our navy.
Should occasion ever require. the pow
der Will also be used at Uncle Sans
many big Notifications. the accom-
panying Illustration. showing por-
ton OF one. Fort Wadsworth. near
New York city.
About rs buildings are used in the
process Of its manufacture. They are
situated In that portion Of the govern
ment reservation farther from the
river and scattered over large area.
being about 400 feet apart. Explosions
will sometimes occur no matter how
great the precautions used. for the
materials which go to make up the
manufacture Of powder are necessari'
ly .combustible. SO the wisdom OF this
provision on the part OF the govern
ment may be understood. for II one
building should accidentally be blown
up the others would not suffer there
by. The greatest secrecy Is maintain
ed as to some parts OF the chemical
process, and few Of the three or four
hundred men employed really know
the entire combination Of the chemical
ingredients used in the smokeless pow.
der making. The efforts OF the pow
der board and the directors Of the
powder factory are constantly directed
toward the improvement Of the quail
ty OF the output. and recently two spe-
cial points have besnI aimed at: First.
to insure the chemical stability OF the
powder for as long period as pos
sible; second. to secure a degree OF
uniformity which will insure what Is
called "ballastic stability" Of the pow
der-that is to say. a permanence OF
velocities and pressure throughout
prolonged periods under varying con-
ditions of temperature. moisture. etc.
In short, to have the powder work as
we'll in any part OF the world as 1t
does on the proving grounds.
There is a big laboratory attached
to the factory standing some distance
away from the other buildings. and
here at least a dozen expert chemists
are always at work and through their
experiments n new stabilizer has been
recently introduced into the powder.
making formula, and from the reports
of the officers Of our battleships in va
rous parts of the world the results
have been most satisfactory. The
whole powder making plant Is wonder
fully interesting even to n layman.
Few people, however. are permitted
to see its workings, for powder max
ing. like gun testing. Is conducted
away from the public gaze.
Smoking is not permitted on the
grounds. and so carefully do the au-
thorities guard against accidents that
the workmen are not even permitted
to carry matches. All the buildings are
we'll ventilated. as the fumes OF the
chemicals used are apt to bring on
heart trouble. Chimneys are arranged
to carry off the poisonous gases. con-
sequently there is little Illness among
the men. There are facilities for u
rapid output in case Of necessity-a
matter which would be OF vital i'm
portance in time Of war There is
also a reserve supply which is con-
stantly on the increase as our navy
grows larger.
The cotton used is shipped to In
dian Head in large bales and stored
in building erected for that purpose.
1t is purchased in large quantities and
must be OF n special grade. The sec
end stage Of the work begins when
the cotton goes to the picking room.
and pick the fibers apart. After the
f1bers are separated the cotton Is
ready for the drying room. where 1t is
kept for "a hours. The temperature
of the drying room Is 2l2 degrees dur
Ing the entire time and the workmen
can only remain a few minutes at a
time. After this process the cotton