Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1923-11-16
ROAD
BUILDING
EAsa ~
Surplus War Explosive
for Highway Building

| Of AsricultureD
hlghteen million pounds Of sodatol
surplus war explosive, is to be dis
triDuted by the bureau Of public roads
Oh the United States Department Of
Agriculture for road building and land
clearing purposes. The new supply of
explosive is very similar to dynamite
and picric acid, 1Z.OOO,OOO pounds of
the latter having already been distrib-
uted to road builders and farmers. The
only charge maue will be for cartridg-
ing and freight.
Sodatol is d high explosive made
by mixing INT and nitrate of soda.
The cartridges are packed in wooden
boxes eacn containing 90 pounds of
sodatol. Sodatol is a comparatively
sale explosive. While 1t is more sensi-
tive than INT or picric acid, there is
no danger whatever in handling it pro-
ylded the ordinary care used in han.
ding dynamite or other explosive is ex-
erclsed. 1t will burn without explod-
ing, at least in small quantities, and
-%CN ~ "a POoNA ~ AAAC VI AdAlCs
1t can be used in any open-air blast
Ing operations and will not cause
headaches, stain the hands, or cause
other Ill effects. A cartridge Of soda
tol, as it has been prepared for dis
tribution, weighs about seven ounces
and is equal In strength for agricul-
tural blasting to the usual cartridge
of dynamite which weighs eight
ounces. That is, in 50-pound box of
dynamite there are 100 cartridges while
in a 50pound box of sodatol there are
about 120 cartridges, each one of which
is equal in strength to a cartridge of
40 per cent dynamite.
Sodatol will not freeze and will give
good results at all ordinary tempera-
lures. 1t should be stored in dry
place The cartridges, as prepared for
distribution, can be left in wet holes
for several hours without being dam
aged by the moisture In such wet
holes the opening in the cartridge shell
which is made TO admit a primer
should be covered with soft soap, axle
grease, or other water-proofing mate
rial, after the primer has been put in
place.
Sodatol can be completely exploded
by a No. cap of either the electric
or the fuse type. The department will
furnish No. blasting caps at the rate
of approximately one cap for each
pound Of sodatol so long as the supply
lasts. These will be furnished without
cost except for the freight charges
On account of the high freight
charges on explosives in small lots, ship
ments of sodatol cannot be made by
the department in less than carload
lots. TO prevent this material from
falling into the hands Of spectators,
no individual landowner is permitted
TO secure more than 1000 pounds. In !
each state. where there is sufficient de- /
mand to warrant it, some state agency |
usually the state agricultural col
lege-handIes the distribution within |
the state. The same agency handles |
the distributing Of the blasting caps. |
Information as to what agency Is
handling the distribution in any state
can be obtained from county agrlcul-
tural agents or from the state agrlcul-
tural college. The Department OF AZ
riculture cannot accept individual Or
ders for either sodatol or caps.
Sodatol is made from surplus war
materials which have been made avail
able by congress for distribution TO the
farmers of the country. There is no
charge for the explosive itself put tne
cost OF preparation and the freight
charges must be paid by the con
SINNER. These costs are necessarily
d,nerent in various parts OF the coun-
try but. in general, they amount 10
about one-third the cost OF an equlFa-
len, amount Of dynamite Full ihlor-
pat,on as TO the costs in any state may
no secured from the state distributing
aoancv For road building purposes
d,stribution will be made through INC
various state highway departments
For stump and rock basins soua-
col con he used in exactly the saine
nav as dynamite is used. The charges
should be placed in the same ma ,,ea
and the same number of cartridges
snor,d no used In the charges as IN lne
.asa n, dynamite. For blasting di'enes'
the electric method Of firing must 's
used. .o the use
Detailed instructions as 70 sns a~s
-, exnlosiyes in stump blasting ars
VI in Department Circular Isl.
.srhe Use Of Explosives ID Di s'' as
stumps,' which can be secured .,',,.s ~ ;,o ~
nl,estion 70 the Office Of puD .,.,,.,.,
psns,.tment Of Agriculture Nasn'Hs