Manual for submarine mining

by United States. War Department

It is important that dynamite cartridges be kept dry. If exposed to a moist atmosphere, there is a tendency of the water, condensed from the air on all exposed surfaces, to displace the nitroglycerin.

The cases should be raised from the floor on skids and the floor underneath covered with clean sawdust. The sawdust should be removed from time to time, the old sawdust being burned in the open air.

Rubber gloves should be worn in handling this explosive, or in the absence of rubber gloves cover the hands with grease and wear cotton gloves. This is for the protection of the skin from the injurious effect of nitroglycerin.

Dynamite may be stored with wet guncotton, explosive D, and trotol.

Date of receipt at post shall be marked on each box.

The priming charge for dynamite is a pound of loose dynamite contained in a small bag which fits easily into the fuse can. In filling the bag rubber gloves must be worn. To insert the fuses the bag is opened and the fuses embedded in the explosive, the choke being tied around the fuse wires.

At the monthly inspection all boxes shall be examined to see if they are dry. If not dry, all shall be exposed to the dry air out of the direct rays of the sun.

The principal source of danger from dynamite is in the exudation of the nitroglycerin. Exudation is indicated by the presence of small white, oily, lustrous globules of liquid, either among the particles of dynamite or on the packages. If such globules are discovered, they may be identified positively as nitroglycerin by absorbing a drop in a piece of unglazed paper, which should be placed on an anvil or other piece of metal, and striking it a sharp blow with a hammer. If it be nitroglycerin, an explosion will occur. Another test is to set fire to the paper, and if the liquid be nitroglycerin it will burn with a crackling noise and a greenish-yellow flame.

If exuded nitroglycerin has stained floors or other material not readily destroyed, the nitroglycerin may be decomposed and rendered harmless by washing with “sulphur solution.” This solution may be made by boiling 50 pounds of lime in a barrel of water and adding powdered sulphur until the solution will take up no more. This will require about 20 pounds of sulphur. The resulting bright orange-colored solution should be filtered and only the filtrate used. A suitable filter for this purpose is a piece of thin cheese-cloth. Sodium carbonate may be used in the place of lime.

Dynamite may be destroyed by burning in small quantities at a time. Slit the cartridge with a knife, spread out the contents over some straw or shavings, and ignite carefully. Do not attempt to burn frozen dynamite.