The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1921-05-13

aJ Il A disastrous explosion In corn
starch factory OF the Middle West
In May. 1919, caused the loss of
43 lives and property damage
amounting to S3,OOO.OOO
In August. 1919, one of the Canadian govern
hent's grain elevators was badly damaged by
dust explosion in which ten persons lost their
lives and ten injured
February &c, 1920, aluminium dust exploded In
Wisconsin factory, causing the deaths Of six
girls and many injuries
Literally hundreds of threshing machines have
been wrecked in the wheat fields by explosion and
the resultant fire
Coal dust has played the ma Tor part in unnum
bered mine explosions.
The fiat truth is that many kinds Of dust are
like so much powder-only more powerful In ex
plOsive force. Scores of substances quite HARM
less in the mass become highly DANGEROUS when
pulverzed and blown into the air, with each par
flcle surrounded by sufficient oxygen TO burn It,
Combustion, under these circumstances. takes
place with explosive violence and destroys lives
and property as effectively as dynamite or INT
II takes very little to set Off of these ire
mendous explosions. An electric friction spark
a lighted match flame of any kind-and an
atmosphere full of powdered dust. Usually
the primary explosion Is slight. But this slight
primary explosion shakes loose the accumulated
dust from beam and sill and crevice. Then comes
the big explosion The little local explosion has
aided as sort Of printing charge for the detona-
ton that kills and wrecks.
In the bureau of chemistry of the United States
Department of Agriculture at Washington is n
great album. 1t Is filled with photographs of dust
explosion wrecks of many kinds. You'd think you
were looking at photographs of ruins In northern
France and Belgium-crumped buildings. broken
masonry twisted steel And the more solid the
construction the worse the destruction
So. you see, your dust literally means your dust
II the grain elevator blows up and burns, it's
ola of hop tnn't 81,
elevator. Let us hope the explosion does not kill
you yours Let hope IL does not throw you
yours out of a job. Even n II doesn't 4,
throws Just much more productive property
the junk heap 1t may burn up enough wheat
30 feed 100000 men. women and children long
time 1t adds to the price of flour and of bread.
It Increases the H. c. l.. So 1t Is your dust, any
way you may look at 1t, for you the ultimate
consumer and In the end you pay directly or
: Indirectly.
There are not many dust explosions now
adays as there used TO be- THE bureau of chem
istry of the Department OF Agriculture In CO.
operation with the United States Grain corpora
fion undertook an extensive campaign for check
ing this serious destruction. The result the
evolving of inexpensive sdeyices now recommended
nv the government: and In the mills protected ny
these devices there was no loss OF life from
blossoms and only a very small amount OF damage
to property.
How the United States Grim corporation han
died the entire wheat supply OF this country dur.
ing the past year with only one disastrous explo-
sion in n grain elevator where Its stocks were
stored and an actual loss limited 70 s25 900 Is
told in a 2Spage booklet issued on the grain dust
explosion prevention campaign which has recently
been concluded under the direction Of the United
States Grain corporation by experts NJ the bureau
Of chemistry. Department OF Agriculture.
The campaign was instituted In July. 1910 A,
the suggestion Of Juiins II. Barnes United States
wheat director Fifty thousand dollars was ap-
proprIated for the work by the grain corporation
In the booklet Is described fully the educational
work of the campaign. which was carried hy
means of pledge cards meetings In various grain
centers and through cooperation with the Cana.
dian government: improvements brought about In
the condition % plants the literature and posters
distributed in the interests of the work results
~ rho caynpairn: disastrous explosions which
occurred during the past year due 10 grain dust
accumulation and experimental work and tests
,,,ae In the interests Of the milling and grain
ulsn.
ASS result, of a campaign Of education in grain
tus. exnInsion prevention the grain corporation
entered eo extensive losses from fires eyrlo-
s,o, dpring It's existence 81 almost three years.
RI. ,r,,,,r,ance of this record Is emphasized by
.h fac, that the corporation had NJ all times In
.,orays Grain and flour stocks worth SfOopsp
sns M certain times approximately SDo.Upop
Tha success II this FIRE prevention crusade Is
-,nhssized nv comparison with the losses suffered
nv other industries during the special campaign
period. :.
f,oopsratfon on the pan of the ~orSnen W
Gre prevention work Is Invaluable ACCORDING 10
the grain corporation booklet. The proof OF tais
4. the fact that during the 10 months betwe~n
m