DYNAMITE.
Persons who have had any dealing with dynamite had better make note of a peculiarity which it had been found to display. When it is placed m water it is decomposed, not chemically, but mechanically. Its sands falls to the bottom and its nitro-glycerine floats on the top. When this happens^&s^ifcfrequently must m wet holes, the miner has to deal not with dynamite but with nitroglycerine. Any slight elevation of temperature is then sufficient to cause an unexpected explosion. It follows that dynamite should never be employed where water is likely to reach it. Many unexplained accidents may thus be accounted for. The discovery of this property of dynamite was made by Major Ford, who has done good service m placing the miner on his guard against an unseen danger. The fact may be of use another way. If a little nitroglycerine is required for any special purpose it may be obtained from dynamite with less risk than m any other way. If any one is disposed >to try the experiment he must, however, do so at his own risk.
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Bibliographic details
Poverty Bay Herald, Volume 6, Issue 593, 7 January 1879, Page 2
Word Count
181DYNAMITE. Poverty Bay Herald, Volume 6, Issue 593, 7 January 1879, Page 2
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