The Washington times., 1919-12-31
WAR EXPLOSIVES
TO Be ESALVAGED
Experiments Prove That Vast
Surplus Stores Can Be Used
In Peace.

Interesting results from the expert
mentation on the war surplus ex-
plosives turned over by the War De-
partment to the Bureau of Mines for
disposition and for the purpose of
study. are announced.
At the signing OF the armistice
there were 42,3sL95s pounds Of sur
plus explosives on hand. This total
divided into the different kinds rs fol-
lows: OF T. n. 7. or trinitrotoIuene,
2S.e29.4s3; black gun powder. $780,
126 pounds; nitro starch, 3.25s.349
pounds; and detonators to tae amount
of T,ooo.0o0 pounds.
Feared Explosion.
Disposition OF this surplus present
ed problem to officials of the War
Department. Already the war and
naval magazines throughout the
country had been filled TO capacity,
for in reality 10000, 900 pounds of
war explosives were left over at the
found for about 10000, 900 pounds.
Moreover. the presence OF so dan
serous commodity, even in storage.
had begun to be viewed in the light
of q menace. Explosions were feared.
The citizens of New Jersey. remem-
bering the monster explosion at tho
Morgan plant, South Amboy, n. j.,
during the war, in which 100 lives
were lost, houses were shattered for
two miles around, and which lasted
three days, petitioned Senator Frey
linghuysen to have the T. n. T. stored
IN their State removed.
OffcialS had decided hsst
and safest way of disposition was to
dump the whole bulk into the sea
when suddenly IL was transferred to
the Bureau of Mines fer purpose Of
experimenting
After nine months OF intensive
study of the deadly explosives, the
Buresu of Mines has announced that
7 \ T, the largest percentage OF the
surplus, is excellent for the uses OF
blasting. 1t is not the best explosive
for blasting, IT was ssid, because Il is
so expensive, but 1t was q practical
way OF disposine of it. The discovery
will save the Government approx
mately $s.ooo,ooo. That is the value
OF the surplus.
In Charge Of Study.
So n T, the weapon OF the battle
field, is now being used for building
bridges. retaining lands for the oc-
cupation OF soldiers as farms, build
ing railroads. DIR. Charles Z. Munroe
consulting engineer of the Bureau OF
Mines, in charge of the explosive
study. stated that the T n T is being
used for blasting purposes by the fol-
lowing projects:
BY the Reclamation Service, for
blowing and blasting stumps in their
plans to reclaim land; by the En-.
gineering Commission OF Alaska.
which Is building a new railroad in
Alaska: the National Park Service Is
using y T for blasting in making
parks accessible. as we'll as new roads.
and a project located at Desert, Me-,
is making use OF il for excavation OF
rocks in the building of the new na-
tional park to be called Mt. Lafayette.
Interesting Faets.
Or. Munroc gave some interesting
facts about the explosives. There was
enough left over to have continued
the war two or three months, that is, |
d supply for that length OF time. The
423S795t pounds is sufficient to kill
1000. 900 men in battle, provided each
man on the offensive be equipped with
one pound each. II exploded en- masse
the violence would do more damage
and destruction that the famous
earthquake of San Francisco.
Or Munroe produced hSurcs shs~-
ing that 1,es3.ol7 rounds OF amnuni-
tion were expended in the battle Of
Saint Mihiel. In the battle OF Get !
tyshurg only S2.1sl rounds OF aH'nu- |
milton were charged. During the war
c647S2 shells were rlled a day"
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