Year: 1871

A series of interesting experiments with a re-
Gently discovered explosive compound, called
" dualn," were recently made on a section Of
the New York and Boston Railroad, near larry
town, Westchester county. The various tests
instituted for the purpose Of evolving the prop
critics of this latest chemical achievement, and
its relative force as compared with gunpowder,
were conducted under the direction of Mr.. A. C.
Rand representing the Latin Rand Powder
Company, of New York;, in the presence of sew
eral gentlemen, who included among their num-
Der representatives from the iron mining districts
of Pennsylvania and some prominent railroad
contractors. AS a result of the numerous and
varied tests which were applied, it was apparent
that the blastinga agent named possesses all the
terrific force of nitro glycerine, while denuded
of the highly dangerous properties which have
rendered the latter so fearfully destructive to
human life.


In order to demonstrate the non-explosive na-
turc of the compound indicated, without the aid
of a fulminator, keg packed with the material
elevated by derrick TO hight of about
sixty feet, and then allowed to fall on rocky
surface. The coneussion produced no more effect
than would have followed had the keg been filed
with common earth. AS an evidence of its ex-
traordinory utility in submarine work, broken
package was thrown carclessly into pond of
water, and sunk with the aid Of large stone,
having first been connected by means of wire
with powerful electric battery On being fred
IL exnIo,lad with tremendous force almost com-
pletey lifting the entire body of water into the
air. and tearing away the earth for a distance Of
several :eet at the bottom, where the package
containing not more than half pound of the
dualin, " had been deposited. similar guam
tity, when placed on the surface of an immense
boulder, having been first covered with little
earth, was exploded with the Eliminating cap by
electricity, blowing the adamantine rock to
atoms. A moderate charge Of powder, tamped
into hole six inches deep had previously
blown out without affecting the solidity OF the
stone. Other satisfactory experiments resulted
in a similar manner. The effectiveness of the
"dualin," as compared with powder, was fully
proved by placing an ounce of the latter in
mortar loaded with ball weighing over fifty
pounds. On the charge being fired, the ball
rose azily in the air to hight of perhaps not
more than twenty-five feet. An ounce of " daa-
lin " was then carefully weighed and placed in
the mortar, underneath the ball. The battery
having been applied, the iron missile was sent
flying toward the clouds, reaching an altitude of
at least four hundred feet


The dualin " in appearance resembles pull
verized vegetable matter, and is Il remarkably


light substance Ga coming in contact with fire,
whether the quantity of " dualin " be large or
small, it burns rapidly, with a fierce flame,
evincing no explosive features whatever. A'box
filled with the compound was thrown into bon
fire. and, on being gnted, passed off in volume
OF flame, leaving the receptacle almost intact.


An object of much interest to those present
was a POWERFUL drill which can be driven either
by steam or compressed air This wonderful
machine is capable of drilling hole five inches


in diameter in the hardest rock at the rate Of
eight feet per hour. An important feature OF
this machine is the " air cushion y which takes
the recoil of the blow struck against the rock,
thus avoiding the terrible wear of the mechan-


ism developed in the of other percussion
drilling machines With such agents as " dua-
lin " and the drill alluded to, the removal of
rock cannot fail to be materially facilitated
NeD York Herald.