The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1921-09-27
PICRlC ACID FOR
= FARMERS CHEAP
GOVERNMENT OFFERS HIGH
EXPLOSIVE FOR STUMP
ING AND DITCHING.

sive, left over from the war, which ii
is distributing to the farmers of the
various states for use in stumping land
ditching, etc. The cost to farmers is
much lower than other explosives, ii
is said. Georgia has been allotted L.
080,000 pounds, which is expected to
be ample for all needs in this state.
i Terrell county can get its share.
All farmers and land owners desir-
ing picric acid will consolidate their
orders through their local banks, which
must underwrite all orders, collecting
lseven cents per pound therefor at the
time order is taken. They will in addi-
ton to this collect freight charges,
which will be determined later.
The picric acid will be distributed
only through the county agents OF the
state and the farmers who are inter
ested are asked to communicate as
quickly as possible with the agents, as
| it is not known how long the supply
allotted to this state will last. Farmers
living in counties not having county
agents may write direct to the EXten-
sion Division, State College Of Agri-
culture, Athens, Georgia.
WQdI is R1CTIC AClu.
The following bulletin by the u. S.
department of agriculture tells about
picric acid, its properties, uses, ETC.:
What picric acid is. Picric acid is
high explosive which was used in
large quantities by this and other
countries during the war Because OF
| its high cost of manufacture, its in
sensitiveness and its rapidity of deto-
nation it cannot be classed as an agri-
cultural explosive; but as salvaged
war material its use is recommended
to those farmers who can obtain it at
cost less than that of commercial
explosives. Some 12,500,000 pounds OF
salvaged picric acid is to be distribut-
ed to land owners by the U. S. depart
ment of agriculture for the purpose OF
stimulating land clearing activities. 1t
has been prepared for distribution by
drying and packing in double dipped
parafined cartridges weighing SIX
ounces The cartridges are packed III
wooden boxes each containing 100
pounds of picric acid.
1t is a safe explosive. Picric acid is
ia comparatively safe high explosive.
| 1t is more insensitive to shock or i'm
pact and to friction than are the COM
mercial explosives, but it is slightly
more sensitive to shock than INT.
Picric acid is difficult to ignite and
will burn, at least in small quantities,
without exploding. Theoretically picric
acid in the presence OF certain metals
will form dangerous compounds, but
cooperative tests carried on by the u.
S. bureau of mines, the University of
Wisconsin, and the u. s. department
of agriculture indicate that no danger
will be involved in using picric acid
in soils containing lime or iron. How
ever, picric acid is a high explosive,
and as such should be treated with
great respect. 1t should not be ex-
posed to fire of fame and no metals
should be allowed to come in contact
with it.
No Poisonous Effects.
Toxic effects. So far as ordinary
handling is concerned picric acid has
no toxic effects. 1t can be used in any
open air blasting operations and will
not cause headaches or other i'll eff
Ifects.
Strength. A cartridge of picric acid,
as it has been prepared for distribu-
ton, weighs about six ounces and is
about equal to an eight-ounce car
fridge of the commercial dynamite used
for agricultural blasting. That is, six
ounces of picric acid will do approx
mately the same amount of work as
eight ounces of commercial dynamite.
Temperature effects. Picric acid is
not affected by the ordinary tempera-
lures which will be encountered in
agricultural blasting. In the tests made
comparatively by the agencies men
toned above cartridges of picric acid
were placed in a freezing mixture of
ice and salt. The cartridges were left
in this mixture for about six hours,
at the end of which time a thermome-
ter in the mixture registered six de-
grees Fair These cartridges were
then Immediately fired, and were APP
parently as completely detonated with
a No. 8 detonator as was the case at
normal temperature.
Moisture effect. The sensitivenesS
OF picric acid decreases with increaS
ed moisture content, so that care
should be taken to store the p1crlc
acid in a dry place. However, the car
tridges of picric acid as prepared for
distribution can be left in moist earth
for several hours without loss OF sem
sitiveness or strength. 1t can be stor-
ed for long periods in dry places with
out deterioration.
Dynamite Caps Used.
Decorators. Picric acid should be
detonated with what is known as a
mo. 8" decorator or cap. Dynamite
and farm powders are usually fired
by mo. O. caps, but because OF its
insensitiveness the stronger No. 8 caps
should be used with picric acid. There
are two kinds of caps, one fired by a
safety fuse and the other by an cleo
trio current. The No. 8 size Of both
kinds are of the same strength and
either may be used with picric acid:
The caps are placed in the picric acid
cartridges and fired in the same way
as in the case of dynamite. Both types
OF caps are loaded with charge OF
highly sensitive and violent explosive.
| The caps must be handled carefully
and should not be stored or carried
with picric acid or any other high ex-
plosive.
How picric acid is used. For stump
and rock blasting picric acid can be
fused in exactly the same way as dy-
Mantle is used The cartridges should
be placed in the same manner and the
same number of cartridges should be
used in the charge as in the case OF