Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-02-13

the immediate supervision of Capt.
(now Lieut.. Col) Edwin NJ. Chance,
then connected with the ordnance de-
partment.
1t soon became quite evident that
more than one gas shell filling unit
would be required. 1t was also ap-
parent that experimental work neces-
sarily had to be carried on in connec-
ton with construction on a somewhat
elaborate scale in the first unit both
of which circumstances caused the
pressure on the entire situation to be
rapidly increased hence the contract
Or's organization. as well as the mill
tary personnel. began to increase rap.
idly early in the present year until ut
the height of its operation the con-
struction corporation had approximate
ly 5000 men in it's employ; new camp
buildings and mess halls We're con-
structed ut top speed.
When we saved salt last winter we
helped swell the amount needed for
the making of chlorine, of which 1t
is the foundation. This plant produced
100 tors of chlorine and 112 tons OF
fused cauSlic soda Il day, making one
of the largest single plants of it's kind
in the country. For the first time Wis
itors-a party of business men-were
allowed through the plant last week
and they saw one of the c0mmonest of
table supplies. salt, being made into
one of the most fatal posons. This
chlorc gas passes from 1852 electro
lytic cells, is dried by sulphuric acid
and pumped to the chemical plants.
Dry choric gas is buhbled into the
common sulphur in tanks and becomes
n basic ra"- material /. th' production
of mustaru Gas, which was one of the
deadliest weapons used to win the
war.
Making Of Phosgene.
Then there is the phosgene plant
Here coke is received by rail and
burned by Il common steam boiler.
Pure oxygen. obtained from liquid air
and carbon dioyide, are passed togeth-
cr through red-hot coke producing car
bon monoxide. Dry chlorine gas and
carbon monoXide are suitably mixed,
and by passing over catalyZer, con-
yertpd to form gaseous phoSgene. The
lioud phosgene is filled into one-ton
containers for overseas shipment ana
was the gas most largely used in the
war.
Chlorpgorin. one of the comlnOneSt
war gases is another product of Edge
wood and was produced at the rate OF
80 tons ii day.
Filing plants are another important
feature of the arsenal. Here shells
are received by rail and inspected.
Phosgene, chlorpgorin and mustard gas
are received from the chemical plant.
Other war gases are obtained from
outside plants by rail. The capacity
of these plants is more than 12o,ooo
containers day. The ventilation IS
such that men in direct contact with
the LIQUID gas are not required to wear
masks. The filled shells are returned
from filling machines and are classl-
fled by weight and stored one day as
test for leakage. They are then paint
ed gray and striped, the numbers ana
colors of the stripes indicating the ma
ture of the gas within the shell. Here
the drums, whose range is approXi-
mately LOO yards, are filled with the
fatal gases. The grenades are filed
by hand with stannic chloride and are
used especially in clearing dugouts.
Others are filled with white phosphor-
us and are used in the production OF
smoke screens in connection with the
cOncealment of troops.