White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1913-09-07
POWDER MAKING
A BIG INDUSTRY
MANUFACTURE OF EXPLOSIVES
SHOWS STEADY INCREASE IN
UNITED STATES AND GIVES
EMPLOYMENT TO MANY.

tail In a bulletin soon to be issued by
Director Harris of the Bureau of the
census, department of commerce. 1t
was prepared under the direction of
w. M. Steuart, chief statitician for
manufactures.
The statistics for the manufacture
of explosives cover the operations of
commecial establishments engaged
primarily in the manufacture of gum
powder and blasting powder, nitro
glycerin, dynamite, g%uncotton. nitro
substitution compounds and the ex-
plosiyes of which they are compo-
nents, smokeless powder, and fulmi-
mates. Statistics for governmental
establishments are not included ex-
cept as specially noted. Establish
ments engaged primarily in the
manufacture of cartridges. detona-
tors and fuses, and other devices
containing explosives are assigned b.
the census to the industry bearing
the designation firearms and am
munition," while those making color
ed fires. rockets, railroad t%orpedoes.
signal lights. and similar products.
are included under fireworks"
In the year 1909 there were re-
ported in the United States Sc es-
adjustments engaged in the manu-
~facture of explosives. The number
Of persons in the industry was 1858.
including SPA wage earners. The
capital invested was s50,167 .976
and the value of products was s40..-
139,661. New Jersey was the lead
ing state.
The value of products reported for
1909 was more than nine times the
value of products in 1869, the decade
1S99-1909 showing the most rapid
increase. The decrease between 1904
and 1909 in the number of establish
ments is due to the fact that a larger
number of individual plants operated
under a common ownership we're
combined and reported as single es-
Establishments in 1909 than in 1904.
In 1909 there were "a plants. located
in Il states, which were reported as
IS establishments.
At the census of 1853. 5S es-
adjustments, with TAI wage earners
and products valued at s3,223, 900.
were reported as engaged in the
manufacture of explosives. and at
the census of 1S49. 54 establish
ments, with 579 wage earners and
products valued at s1.590,332.
Including the product of the es-
Establishments operated by the federal
government and the explosives made
as secondary product by establish
ments not engaged primarily in the
manufacture of explosives, the total
production IN 1909 was 4~S9.171,650
pounds, and in 1904. So. 0s5,s16
pounds.
The total production of smokeless
powder by all classes of establish
ments in 1909 was 6.315.167 pounds.
valued at s4.292.ss4. as compared
with 7,009.720 pounds. valued at So
406,477, in 1904. and ~S,053,126
rounds. valued at $1.716.101, in
1893. During the decade 1s99-1s09
the production of explosives by es-
Establishments engaged chiefly in their
manufacture increased 271, 1913
pounds, or 1851 per cent, in quantity
and se1,O32,S $50. or 124.1 per cent,
in value. OF the total increase in
output, blasting powder and gun
powder contributed 123,025,77 -
pounds, and dynamite. including
permissible explosives 1895
S43 pounds.
The production OF guneotton in
1908 by all establishments was 257.-
PIP pounds. valued at S124.66O. a
compared with 3S3.162 pounds, valu-
ed at s226.6S7, in 1904. and S4S,-
81 DOuHuSs faiu'd at "
1899.
From 1904 TO 1909 the production
of the ni%troglycerin manufactured
2O,977,317 pounds. or 264.S per cent,
in quantity. and s1.542,317, or 95.2
per cent, in value. The larger par;
of the nitroglycerin manufactured
however, was used in the manufao-
ture of dynamite and similar ex-
plosives in the establishments where
IL was produced. 70.9 per cent being
so used in 1909 and SAT- per cent in
1904.
Explosives which are intended foi
use in coal mines where there are in
lammable gases and which have
passed the prescribed tests of the
United States bureau OF mines are
designated as permissible ex'
plosives." These explosives were re