DYNAMITE.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 794, 28 March 1871, Page 3

DYNAMITE.

Everything that conduces to cheapen the cost of mining must of necessity increase the returns of our paying claims, and bring into the rank many which at present barely pay their way. In California, the use of "Dynamite," or giant powder, a recent German invention, in place of ordinary blasting powder, has been attended with both economy and success. We believe that a gentleman may shortly he expected to visit this colony and Victoria, as agent for the company manufacturing this giant powder in America, who will practically demonstrate its use and value. Eor mining purposes its economy is two-fold, being very much stronger than ordinary powder, and it is con-

sequently used in inueh smaller quantities, requiring smaller drill-holes. The holes need only be Bi'ngle ''and drilled; in this alone, a saving of fifty per cent, is effected. Then again, the hole is more quickly charged; mid tho giant powder requires no tamping, it being sufficient that the hole is filled with sand oi- water. In wet mines, the cartridges are simply pushed down through the water, which has no effect on the charge. There is also no danger in its use, for fire will not explode it, as it can be exploded only by the giant powder caps, and where common powder works only upwards, this powder directs its force equally on all sides. Thus it has been used for blasting submerged rocks by simply sinking cases filled with it on the rocks, putting a cap attached to a watertight fuse through a small gimblet hole into the powder, closing the hole with grease, and setting fire to the fuse before dropping the case into the water upon the rocks. At first, great objections were mado by the miners in California to the use of the new powder, as it necessitated a change in the mode of work, but of late it has superseded to a large extent the use of ordinary blasting powder, and has, we are told, rendered it profitable to work mining claims which otherwise would not have paid.