Early last fall we described the building then erecting near the Gordon corral, a mile and a quarter west of Yale, to be used for the manufacture of chemicals. The main building is 110 by 30, two stories high, the first floor is 12 feet, and used for furnace, still, etc., and the upper floor is 25 feet, and holds two sulphuric acid chambers constructed of lead, air-tight, one 22 by 62 and the other 22 x 35, both 18 feet in height. At that time we stated that while Mr. Robert Piggot had charge of the carpenter work and was doing a substantial job, Mr. Daniel Ashworth, who came here from California on purpose, was Superintendent, and the Chemical Works would be pushed to completion as soon as possible. Some delay took place, in consequence of the difficulty of getting necessary supplies.
However, for some weeks past the works have been running, and supplying the chemicals necessary to manufacture Dominion Powder, now being used upon the Railway work along the line.
We yesterday visited the Chemical and Dominion Powder Works. We found Mr. Ashworth at his post, and business going on, furnace in operation, and still process turning out its fumes.
Sulphuric acid is defined by Webster as an acid formed by one equivalent of sulphur combined with three equivalents of oxygen — formerly called vitrolic acid, or oil of vitrol. Be this as it may, we found the sulphur in use had been imported from Japan (sometimes sulphur is brought from Sicilly, and it is stated that discoveries have been made in California and Nevada), and placed in three iron pans, about 6 feet long by 2 in. width each, and resting upon the brick furnace, with three fires burning beneath, the fumes of the burning sulphur pass up through pipes to the large lead chamber. Also the fumes from Nitrate of Soda (imported from Chile) take the same course to the lead chamber. Vitrol is, also, used, and decomposed Nitre, together with a given quantity of air and steam which likewise pass into the lead chamber, when a chemical action takes place, and the fumes are condensed into what is known as Sulphuric Acid.
This is boiled down in lead-lined tanks, and passed into the little platina still (that cost $6,000) to finish, and pass the yield into glass bottles or carboys prepared for its reception.
A second building stands some rods off, in size 50 by 30, where the Nitric acid is made. This article is defined by Webster as ‘powerful corrosive acid, containing five equivalents of oxygen and one of nitrogen. As to this we cannot say; we only give the description as we understood it from Mr. Ashworth. He has the appliances in the building last named, and takes Sulphuric acid and adds Nitrate of Soda with it in a large cast-iron retort, when a steady fire is kept up for 10 or 12 hours, and the sulphuric acid decomposes the nitrate of soda, and the nitric acid passes off in pipes in the nature of vapor into large stone jars prepared in regular order for the reception, which condenses the vapor and gradually fills the jars, when the process is discontinued for the time being. The sulphate of soda remains in the cylinder until cooled down and cleaned out.
The above process is the part the Chemical Works has to perform, and were we to judge by the order in which everything is placed, and regularity among the dozen men employed, we should incline to the opinion that Mr. Ashworth is thoroughly experienced in his part of the business. He assured us that no danger exists around the Chemical Works; yet it requires strict attention — and none but reliable men are kept about. Generally speaking there is nothing injurious to persons of good health, but from the odor, at times, especially in the nitric acid house, we should judge persons of weak lungs or sensitive in the nasal organs had better remain away.
In answer to a question as to capacity of the Works Mr. Ashworth informed us that at present he can turn out half a ton a day, and could, if necessary, with a little additional running expense, produce double that quantity. he thought it best while building to arrange for a large yield, not knowing the extent of the demand for Railway and other purposes.
A quarter of a mile further west, convenient to the Powder Magazine, brought us to a cluster of buildings upon the edge of the river bank and near to the Emory road. A close board fence is placed to prevent intruders, while signs are displayed ‘Positively no admittance,’ ‘No smoking allowed,’ etc. However, hitching our horse to the gate, we ushered in, and finding men to work, inquired for Mr. Wright, when we were politely directed to a building where he and Mr. Olsen were busy preparing for some work. We stated that in view of the late explosions, from the powder they were turning out, we desired to make some inquiry and see the premises. Both gentlemen regretted the full modus operandi of the Dominion Powder was not working that afternoon, in consequence of dressing the stones in the charcoal room, but they would take pleasure in imparting all the information in their power respecting the powder referred to, and expressed their surprise at both explosions, as ordinary care was only necessary, they felt satisfied, to prevent explosions. Mr. Olsen had been over 16 years and Mr. Wright over 4 in the handling of the same kind of powder, for they said, although now known as Dominion Powder, the same article has been manufactured for years under other names — therefore it was no experiment here, as was supposed.
The six buildings in the group are place in line a dozen or so yards apart. The principal one, in size, is the engine house: here we entered first and found a Prescott & Scott, of San Francisco, 12-horse power engine, with boiler, pump, and all complete, in the best of order. As all the buildings were by steam the necessary supply is produced at this point, and can be taken to the furthest building by the turning of a cock. Precaution is taken against accident by fire. We next passed to the small building to the east where a couple of hands were busy preparing covers for the cartridges. The building was erected for the manufacture of the Dean Safety Powder, and is only used temporarily for the present use. The system of pipes heated by steam from the engine house had the temperature regulated and work progressed accordingly.
We retraced our steps and entered the grind house, which adjoins the engine house, to the west. As the stones had been taken out to ‘pick’ the machinery was idle; however, we beheld the pulverising machine, where the charcoal is reduce to ‘a fine thing,’ and observed the furnace, where sulphur, nitrate of soda, and charcoal are prepared, and saw some of the product, which did not in the least unsteady our nerves. It will be recollected that the yield of the Chemical Works is drawn over to the Powder Works to be utilized. The process at the grinding house is called calcining defined by Webster, ‘to reduce to powder, or to a friable state, by the action of heat, to expel some volatile matter from.’
Next apartment is that of nitro-glycerine, where are placed in a row 10 iron agitators holding 120 lbs. each, into which is placed the required proportion of the product of the previous operation in the grinding house, and now added thereto in the agitators, a portion of sweet glycerine (imported from California) and, after the application of steam to cause the necessary agitation, the preparation is run by means of pipes into a large wooden tank, with a capacity of 700 gallons of water, a quantity of which is in tank in readiness to receive the contents of the agitators.
After a little cooling off, there being no affinity between oil and water the latter is run off and the oil carried in pails made of paper to the wash room close by, where 15 lukewarm water washings take place and 5 soda washings to thoroughly take out the acid; the appearance now is of a light, yellow oil, with some body to it.
We next passed to the Mixing house, some rods away, and here is a strong wooded trough about 8 by 4 and 6 inches deep. Into this a man was carefully weighing magnesia, and portions of the ground charcoal, and the oil alluded to carried in the paper pails, after being heated by placing near the steam pipes to a certain temperature were added to what had already been placed in the trough. now the mixing process with a sort of wooden hoe commences and lasts a couple of hours.
In a short time the charcoal gives the compound the look of fine powder, somewhat damp. It is next carried in small boxes to the last building to the west where we found two persons engaged in the business of filling the papers, as prepared at the first building to the east by pasting and dipping into paraffine, making it appear kind of greasy. A quantity of powder is places in a wooden receiver, with contracted lower end, and the cartridge paper being put in position, below a rest for the funnel, a small stick about the size of an ordinary candle is used in forcing and gently pressing down the powder into its receptacle, which is quickly filled, the end fastened in a way to hold, and now piles of the cartridges are upon the bench where the men work; they look about the size of common candles, and are dark looking. There are two sizes some 5/8 of an inch, and other an inch, and from 6 to 8 inches in length.
The powder as it goes into the cartridge case is somewhat moist, but squeezing it in the hand no oil nor liquid of any kind is left upon the hand. The cartridges are placed in boxes about the size of cracker boxes: first a quantity of saw dust, when it is covered with cartridges carefully placed in, and saw dust spread over; another layer of cartridges, saw dust again, and so on until the box is nearly full, when balance of space is taken up with saw dust, and cover put on, and marked ‘Dominion Powder Works, 50 lbs.,’ etc. boxes removed to magazine and ready for up the line to 15 mile camp or wherever required.
Both Mr. Olsen and Mr. Wright expressed themselves confident that no alarm need be had with proper care. For the purpose of explaining its nature a quantity was taken out of the box the men were using and some put into one of the cases being filled loose; Mr. O. went outside a short distance from the building and applied a match, only resulting in a burning out of the case, held for a while in his hand, as a fuse or Chinese fire works, with the sissing sound but no explosion. Next, Mr. W. placed some of the same powder upon a piece of board and struck it with a mallet, only flattening it. But when he placed a piece the size of a pea upon an iron vice and used an iron hammer the report was sharp. Thus will be seen the nature of Dominion Powder.
One of the buildings is fitted up with furnace and iron kettles for the manufacture of the Dean Safety Powder, but as navigation closed before some of the ingredients of that article could arrive none can be turned out before spring. At present the building is occupied as a place to store away some articles, and a portion as a bed-room for Mr. Wright.
As we have said every building is supplied with steam pipes and every other thing done to give comfort and facility to business. Every apartment has a convenient supply of water, from the large tank upon the hill side. This is, we believe, the fourth Powder Works of the kind Mr. Wright has superintended the construction of, and he is evidently master of his occupation. Notwithstanding the lateness of the season when he commenced, he pushed ahead, regardless of the weather, and all was ready for use. Of course, this part of the business like the Chemical Works, has been somewhat expensive; and it is satisfactory to know both give good satisfaction. Mr. Wright is about leaving for California to erect works of a similar character there, and we are sure he carries with him the good wishes of his dozen workmen here, together with a host of acquaintances made in this country. Mr. Olsen remains and will attend to all the business in detail, let us hope free from accidents of any kind. In conclusion we may add that the Dominion Powder Works has not only a capacity for Railway purposes, but could supply the British Columbia market, for mining purposes, or anything in that line.
