EXPERIMENTS WITH DYNAMITE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 172, 14 July 1876, Page 8

EXPERIMENTS WITH DYNAMITE.

— ++ — On Tuesday a series of experiments with dynamite, intended to illustrate the safety with which it may he carried by rail or at sea, was made at Stevenston, Scotland, in presence of a number of gentlemen connected with the railway and shipping interests. Mr. Macßoberts, the resident manager of the British Dynamite Company, conducted the company through the works and explained the nature of the various processes of manufacture. As an introduction to the experiments to follow, Mr. Macßoberts cut a dynamite cartridge in two, and, in order to show that it would not explode without being in contact with the detonator, he applied a light to one-half of it, which burned slowly away. To the other half he attached a fuse and percussion cap, when an explosion .of considerable force occurred. A tin case containing fully a pound of gunpowder was next placed on the top of a 51b. case of cartridges, and a fuse applied to it. This was followed by a Blight puff, the only other effect being the charring of the waterproof covering. Not satisfied with this result, it was suggested that some gunpowder should be placed among the cartridges in the inside of the case, and, this being done and the gunpowder fired, it only communicated the fire to the dynamite, which burnt slowly away without any explosion. This was regarded as affording conclusive proof of the safety with which dynamite may be carried over sea and land. Another experiment was the bieaking of a charcoal wire rope of one inch in diameter. This rope was suspended in the air. with fully half a pound of the explosive attached to it. When an explosion occurred the rope was found to be neatly and closely cut, a closer examination showing that the strands had been subjected to a process of straining before tha final separation occurred. As illustrating the useful adaptations of dynamite at sea, several, experiments were made to show its efficacy as a fog signal. It was further stated that the action of dynamite is extremely local, in' proof which Mr. Macßoberts caused two rafts to be moored 15ft. apart in a small pond. On one of these he placed a box containing 101 b. of dynamite, which, on explosion, completely smashed the raft, while the other remained untouched. The final experiment exhibited was intended to show the force of the explosion and the damage which may be caused by a small quantity of dynamite. A solid block of metal measuring 9$ by 12 $ inches and 10 inches deep was set on a piece of wood, and above it was placed a canister into which 15 pounds of dynamite had been packed. After the explosion the block was found to have been forced about two feet into the sand. On being got out and examined it was seen that the surface on which the canister was placed had suffered an indentation of one inch, and that the block was cracked in all directions, while a measurement disclosed the fact that it was now 10$ by 12$, and 9| inches deep, thus proving that the greatest force had been exerted on the upper surface of the block. This concluded the experiments, which were considered most satisfactory. — ' Mail.'