Charlevoix county herald., 1912-03-16

adoption of those instruments
which accomplish its purpose
with as little risk to the users
as possible. This is eXempllhed
somewhat in the use OF smokeless
powder, the manufacture of which is
attended with much less danger, and
it's transfer from place to place re-
suits in fewer accidents as compared
with the production of gunpowder. IL
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
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 25 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 a large area,
being about 400 feet apart. Explosions
will sometimes occur no matter no"
great the precautions used, for the
materials which go to make up the
manufacture of powder are necessarl'
! ly combustible so the wisdom or 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 or the
powder factory are constantly directed
toward the improvement OF the quail
ty of the output, and recently two spe-
cial points have been aimed at: First,
to insure the chemical stability OF the
powder for as long a period as pos
sible; second, to secure degree OF
uniformity which will insure what is
called "ballastic stability" Of the pow
der-that is to say, permanence oil
yelocities 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 II
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 dozen expert chemists
are always at work and through theil
experiments a new stabilizer has beer
recently introduced into the powder
making formula, and from the report:
of the officers Of our battleships In va
} rious parts of the world the results
} have been most satisfactory. The
whole powder making plant is wonder
fully interesting even to a layman
Few people, however. are permitted
to see its workings, for powder max
ing, like gun testing. is conductet
) away from the public gaze.
, Smoking Is not permitted on tn
grounds, and so carefully do the au
} thorities guard against accidents tha
} the workmen are not even permitte'
to carry matches. All the buildings ar
l we'll ventilated, as the fumes of tn
chemicals used are apt to bring o
: heart trouble. Chimneys are arrange
TO carry off the poisonous gases, cor
seauently there is little illness anon
the men. There are facilities for
rapid output In case Of necessity
3 matter which would be of vital In
! portance in time of war. There
. also a reserve supply which is COL
a stantly on the increase as our nav
grows larger.
The cotton used is shipped to Il
dian Head In large bales and store
a I'm a building erected for that purpos
II is purchased In large quantities an
must be of a special grade. The Sc
}. end stage OF the work begins whe
the cotton goes TO the picking roor
Here colored men open UP the bale
and pick the fibers apart. After I'll
fibers are separated the cotton
e ready for the drying room, where It
kent for "a hours. The temperatul
of the drying room Is 212 degrees du
ing the entire time and the workmt
can only remain a few minutes at
;" time. After this process the cotte