Year: 1859




mining districts We read the mournfal intelli
genee, that some unlucky person has come to
an untimely death by the premature explo-
sion OF blast 1t is singular circumstance
and much to be deplored, that persons will
be SO fool hardy as to undertake to meddle
with gun powder without knowing its pow
err its constituents, or the mode of operation
in applying it to use. ...


For the benefit of those who read will
make an explanation of the mode that should
be adopted in blasting In attempting TO
blast rock or log that is detached or above
ground, the hole should be bored in the
soundest part and to n depth that will put
the center Of the charge in the center of the
rock or log, as may be- In rocks that are
imbedded in the ground, the hole in no case
should be made at right angle to the face
Of the rock, but should be bored in q direc
ton that will allow the powder to lift that
portion of the rock that is desired TO be re-
moved. In putting in the charge, fill the
hole one.third of its depth with powder, put
ting in one half of the intended quantity first
next put in the fuse, and be sure that the
end hits the powder next put in the other
half OF the charge, leaving the powder as
loose and free as possible next procure some
dry sand, or the material that has been taken
from the hole by boring. and allow it to run
slowly into the hole until 1t Is quite full, and
10 make sure, take hammer and strike once
or twice on the rock near the hole, after which
II any deficiency happens, fill as before-leav
ing the end Of the fuse protruding about one
inch, or III proportion as you have farther to
60 to secure yourself from the explosion The
more free and loose the powder is in the hole
when it ignites, the greater is the explosive
force. The act of tamring the charge COM
pact in the hole is a mistaken theory, much
impairing the explosive force of the charge,
besides being dangerous TO the operator cx-
pensiye and inconvenient. All the mple-
ments that should be used in blasting are a
hammer common blaelsmith's) to be used in
one hand, drill, coil Of fuse, 4 keg Of
, powder, sack of dry sand, seraper, and {
I box of matches. Thus prepared, man thai
understands the use of a hammer-his ham
'ner in one hand and drill in the other
) without water,) can bore greater depth O.
hole and blow TO fragments more rock in q
given time, than any two men can when one
d. holds the drill and the other strikes with O
sledge, (as the custom is) and stamping tn,
charge, and that too without the possiLiit,
Of an explosion IN the event Of a fuse failing
to ignite the charge, (as viii happen some
> timcsl The sand can easily be withdraw


by means Of n wooden or copper scraper i
an easy and gentle manner, without the lea:
possible danger to the operator. The adyar
tages TO be attained by boring with one han
are as follows: The operator has the perfet
control of his business; be applies thrC
strokes of the hammer for one of the sledge /
given time. The drill is IN de square 0
the edge and much thinner than when use
with sledge; peculiar motion impaired t
the drill ut each successive stroke of the ham
mer, causes the abraded matter in the ho
to discharge itself without resortiug to thu
use of scraper. At every stroke of tn
i, hammer the drill should be lifted from on,
to two inches, and made to descend nearly t,
D the bottom of the fole when the hamme
! ! comes in contact with it. BY little prac
tiee, man can bore in this manner in am
ordinary rock, one inch per minute.


Theory of using the sand without stamp
ing: ltisa well established fact that charge
Of powder if put into gun and a wad pu. in
so as not to touch the powder; and hollow
cavity left between the powder and the wad.
and the powder being gnited-tho gun,
whether a musket or piece of Ordnance, is
sure to be burst into fragments. Whenever it
is desired to blast under water, the same
thing is easily performed by using tin
charger, partially filled with powder, with Il
email tube attached and the fuze inserted in
the tube, and extending down to the powde'.
In this case, it is only necessary to put tn,
tin charger to the bottom of the hole; th,
water supplies the place Of the sand.


Any communications on the sui ject vii
be responded to. A MINER.
II