Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1921-07-21
PICRIC ACID TO
COST II CENTS
EXPERTS SAY 1T
is STRONGER THAN THE
ORDINARY EXPLOSIVES
IT is ALSO SAFE TO USE
County Agents Must Know How Much
Farmers Plan To Use.

interested in knowing that r. N. Irv-
ing, who is acting county agent of this
county, is taking immediate steps ia
secure picric acid in sufficient quan-
tity for all. He is sending out aues-
tionnaires this week to all the farm
ers OF the county, so far as he has been
able to get their names, and he urges
that the farmers answer all questions
asked and return the questionnaires
promptly so that he may have a com
prehensive idea of the amount of pow
der needed
Mr.. Irving states that the picric acid
being furnished by the federal govern
ment will cost IL cents or less per
pound on the cars at Bonners Ferry.
he VIII arrange with the county com
missloners for sufficient sum of
money to be used as revolving fund
with which to finance the bringing
here of the picric acid.
1t has been estimated that the farm
ers of Boundary county will be able to
use about 100000 pounds of picric
acid
| The government has been conduct
ing many thorough experiments the
past year with picric acid and just
lately concise report was issued
This report contains valuable infor-
nation to those intending to use picric
acid and hence is printed below:
What Picric Acid Is.
Picric acid is high explosive which
was used in large quantities by this
and other countries during the world
war. Because of its high cost of man
ufacture, its insensitiveness, and its
rapidity of detonation it cannot be
classed as an agricultural explosive;
but as salvaged war material its use
is recommended to those farmers who
can obtain it at a cost less than that
of commercial explosives. Some 12,-
100000 pounds of salvaged picric acid
is to be distributed to landowners, by
the u. S. department Of agriculture
for the purpose of stimulating land
clearing activities. 1t has been pre-
pared for distribution by drying and
packing in double-dipped paraffined
cartridges weighing six ounces. The
cartridges are packed in wooden boxes
each containing 100 pounds of picric
acid.
1t Is a Safe Explosive.
Picric acid is a comparatively safe
high explosive. 1t is more insensitiye
to shock or impact and to friction than
are the commercial 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. Theo-
retically picric acid in the presence
of certain metals will form dangerous
compounds, but cooperative tests car
ried on by the u. S. bureau of mines,
the University of Wisconsin and the
U. S. department of agriculture indi-
cate that no danger will be involved
in using picric acid in soils containing
lime or iron. However picric acid is a
is high explosive and as such should
be treated with great respect. 1t
should not be exposed to fire or flame
and no metals should be allowed to
come in contact with it,
Toxic Effects.
So far as ordinary handling is con-
cerned, picric acid has no toxic eff
fects. 1t can be used in any open air
blasting operations and will not cause
headaches or other i'll effects
Strength.
A cartridge of picric acid, as it has
been prepared for distribution, weighs
about six ounces and is about equal in
strength to an eight-ounce cartridge
of the commercial dynamites 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 temperatures which will be
encountered in agricultural blasting.
In the tests made comparatively by the
agencies mentioned above cartridges
of picric acid were placed in freezing
of ice and salt The cart
ridges were left in this mixture for
about six hours, at the end of which !
time thermometer in the mixture
registered six degrees Fahr These
were then Immediately !
fired, and were apparently as COM
pletely detoned with a No. 8 detonator
as was the case at normal temperature. !
Moisture Effects.
The sensitiveness of picric acid de- |
creases moisture content, so that care
should be taken to store the picric acid |
in dry place. However, the car
tridges of picric acid as prepared for |
can be left in moist earth |
for several hours without loss of SEN
or strength. 1t can be
stored for long periods in dry places
without deterioration.
Detonat0rsx
Picric acid should be detoned with |
what is known as mo. s" detonator
or cap Dynamites and farm powders
are usually fired by mo. 6" 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 safety fuse and
the other by an electric 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 |