The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-11-22
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Surplus War Explosive
for Highway Building
prepared by the United States Department
of


Eighteen million pounds of Sodatol,
u surplus war explosive. is to be dis
tributed BY the bureau OF public roads
of the United States Department OF
Agriculture Tor road building and land
Clearing purposes. The new supply of
explosive Is very similar ~ dynamite
AMI plcric acId, 1Z,UVO,UOO pounds OF
the latter having already been distrib-
uted 10 road builders and farmers. The
Ing ana freight.
SOdatOl 10 high explosive made
by mixing INT and nitrate of soda.
The cartridges are packed in wooden
boxes eacn containing % pounds Of
sodatol. SodatOl is comparatively
sale explosive. While it is more sensi-
tive than INT or pIcric acid, there is
no danger whatever in handling ii pro-
vtded the ordinary care used in nam
ding dynamite or other explosive is ex-
erciSed. 1t will burn without explOd-
ing, ut least in small quantities, and
should not be exposed to lire or flame.
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 50-pound box of sodatol there are
about 120 cartridges, each one of which
is equal in strength to u cartridge of
40 per cent dynamite.
SOdatOl will not freeze and Will give
good results ut 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 primer
should be covered with soft soap, axle
grease, or other interpreting mate
rial, after the primer has been put in
place.
SOdatol can be completely exploded
or the fuse type. The department will
furnish No. q 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-handles 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 agricul-
tural agents or from the state agricul-
tural college. The Department of Ag-
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 but the
cost of preparation and the freight
charges must be paid by the con-
sumner. These costs are necessarily
different in various parts Of the coun-
try, but, in general, they amount to
lent amount Of dynamite Full infor-
nation as to the costs in any state may
be secured from the state distributing
agency. For road building purposes
distribution will be made through the
various state highway departments.
For stump and rock blasting, soda
toll can be used In exactly the same
way as dynamite is used. The charges
should be placed in the same manner
and the same number of cartridges
should be used in the charges as in the
case Of dynamite For blasting bitches.
the electric method of firing must be
used.
Detailed instructions as to the use
OF explosives in stump blasting are
contained in Department Circular 101,
"The Use Of Explosives in Blasting
Stumps," which can be secured by APP
plication to the office Of publications,
Department OF Agriculture, Washing
ton, d. G.