The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1922-09-18
WAR EXPLOSIVES
ARE DISTRIBUTED
TO L. ). FARMERS
More than -Four Millions OF Pounds Of
Explosive Distributed to Farm.
ers For Use on Their
Farms.

|
/ Washington. II. c. - More than A.
100000 pounds of picric acid, prepared
in cartridge form for blasting pur-
poses. had been distributed by the Blu
reau of Public Roads, u. S. Depart
ment of Agriculture, to farmers In
many states in every section of the
country up to September l last. This
explosive is part of millions of pounds
of picric acid left over from the war,
and is being distributed to farmers
throughout the country by the Federal
Government at a nominal charge of
seven cents pound, which expense is
solely for the purpose of covering the
cost of drying, cartridging, an ddistri-
button. Freight charges, however, are
added.
Uncle Sam is giving away this ma
terial to farmers, under an Act of
Congress. All the farmers pay is the
small charge above noted. Stump and
rock blasting will be much cheaper to
the farmer, as n consequence. Farm
ers should place their orders quickly,
as the supply will not last forever. In
order to obtain a necessary quantity
of picric acid cartridges, farmers are
advised by the Bureau of Public Roads
to make application to the Extension
Service of their state agricultural col
| lege. Farmers will be supplied either
through the activities fthe college.
or its extension service, or they will
be advised what steps to take to OBJ
tain the necessary supplies, if they
will write to the Drainage Division,
| Bureau of Public Roads. Washington.
n. c.
Among the states which received
this explosive up to September 1, and
| some of the amounts each state re-
ceived, are; California, 72,400 pounds:
Connecticut, 20,40O pounds; Georgia,
$1,000 pounds; Idaho, 135.10O pounds;
Indiana, $4,000 pounds; Iowa, $1,000
pounds; Kansas, 5000 pounds; Lou
isiana, $1,000 pounds; Michigan, s04.-
500 pounds; Minnesota, 1,1SS,SO0
pounds; Ohio, $4,000 pounds; Tennes-
see, S4,1OO pounds; and Wisconsin, l.
$4,000 pounds.
From Wisconsing, farmer at Irma
reports: "Picric acid is better than
twice the same number of sticks OF
| forty per cent. dynamite" From an
other at Gleason, Wisconsin, comes the
report: Three sticks of picric acid
will do more mork than four sticks OF
forty per cent. dynamite" By tele-
graph from a county agen in Mime
sofa comes the report: "Picric acid
explosive giving excellent satisfaction.
| Farmers report does work of sixty per
cent dynamite on stumping and rock
blasting. Demand much greater than
our county allotment. Picric a boon
TO our farmers, mainly of limited
means, who are struggling to clear up
farms"
All reports on the use of picric acid
as an explosive, received by the Bu-
reau of Public Roads from county
agents and others throughout the
country. highly praise its use in the
removal of stumps from farm lands
and for other blasting purposes 1t is
stated unreservedly in these reports
that picric acid has proven to be far
better and more efficient explosive for
blasting than dynamite.
Picric acid is a comparatively safe
high explosive and farmers who avail
themselves of the privilege offered by
the government to obtain it for blast
ing purposes will find it it more in
sensitive to shock or impact and to
friction than are the commercial ex-
plosives. 1t is difficult to ignite; and
it will burn, at least in small quanti-
ties, without exploding. 1t has been
prepared for distribution in cartfrdes
weighing about Six ounces, this
amount being approximately equal in
sertngth to an eight-ouncc cartridge |
of commercial dynamite used for sim
liar purposes. In recent government |
tests it has been proven that picric |
acid keeps indefinitely and is not af-
fected by either heat or cold.