BLASTING BY ELECTRICITY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 90, 10 July 1908, Page 5

BLASTING BY ELECTRICITY.

Messrs John Wilson and Co. have just introduced blasting by electricity into their quarries at Te Kuiti, and intend shortly to instal the rock drills. The intention is not only to ease labour, but to make it 'safe for the workers. The electric method is not only effective and economical, but far surpasses any other with regard to safty of the workers. The machine is a dynamo electric one of small isize, occupying' about half a cubic foot and weighing less than twenty pounds. It is considered by all those who have given the given the subject the most careful consideration, that electrical blasting is the most effective and economical method surpassing any other for safety and certainty of action. By the electric firing the entire strength of the explosive is developed at the same instant, less explosives being used than if each hole had been fired separately, with a consequent materia] reduction in the cost of blasting. This saving applies both to the cost of explosives and of drilling, as fewer holes are required. In these times of almost constant advance in the price of material this should be an important feature in mining and other kindred industries. By electric blasting all are exploded simultaneously, and if the connections are properly made, there is no possibility of a second explosion, which is is frequently seen with safety fuse. If a misfire occurs by reason of improper. connections, or some other carelessness on the part of operator, such missed hole Will not hang fire and explode unexpectedly, as frequently happens with the old nVethod. With a careful selection of caps, which will produce complete detonation, and a good grade of nitro-ex-pi.isives, exploded by the means of electricity operated by fairly intelligent workmen, a great economy in labour would be the result. Less boring would be required, and as labour in this country is the greatest expense in blasting; the saving in that alone would be considerable.