As in the fabrication of matches, every room must be isolated, indeed each one be a small building composed of a single room, without stairs, and of wood.

The room in which the fulminate is prepared must not only bo isolated, but also situated at a great distance from the others, so that the ethereal products, in case they take fire, cannot communicate it to the other parts of the establishment.

The barrels of alcohol must be kept separate. The magazine is constructed as far as possible from the shop. The dryer and the room for sieving are the parts of the establishment which require the most complete isolation. Above all things the factory must be distant from any other buildings.

It is very important to have no fire in the rooms, and the light must be good enough not to bo under the necessity of using any artificial light.

Oven

It is necessary to have the shelves, which receive the powder very slightly elevated, so that the boxes can be taken with the hand without using a ladder. No work must be done in the oven; the papers used to cover the boxes are thrown into water acidulated with hydrochloric acid, in case it be needed to collect the mercury.

Sifting

It is dangerous to use metallic sieves, and they must be covered with a lead band on their lower edge.

Magazine

This part of the establishment must have a double door with an interval between, and it must be provided with a lightning rod.

The powder contained in the magazine is kept in wood or leather bottles, but green glass bottles are better if they are surrounded by cane braids, which present resistance enough not to break in case of receiving a fall. The rule must be established that one person alone has admittance into the magazine.

Decantatton

This is one of the operations which require the most care, and it must be done far from the magazine and in the open air.

With the precautions above indicated it is easy to prevent those accidents which occur during the different operations, principally the grinding, sifting, and decantation.

The face of the man must be covered with a light shield to prevent its being hurt in case of explosions.

Transportation Of Percussion Powder

It is very important to have the percussion powder prepared near the cap factory, because with all precautions, the damp fulminate may produce very violent explosions, and be the cause of serious accidents. Then we insist on this point, that the percussion powder ought to be manufactured near to the factory where it is to be used.

We have said above that some manufacturers have tried to utilize the volatile product resulting from the preparation of the fulminate. This alcohol docs not contain hydrocyanic acid, but it requires great care and attention to have none pass at the distillation.

This alcohol, according to Mr. Gaulthier de Claubry, can be used over again in the preparation of the fulminates for making varnishes and a few chemicals, but it is dangerous to to use it to manufacture liquors, for without doubt it acts as a deadly poison.

Packing Of Friction Primers For Cannon

The tubes are first put up in bundles of ten each, wrapped in water-proof paper; ten bundles arc packed in a tin box painted or japanned. 100 tin boxes are packed in a box made of 1 inch white pine boards, dovetailed.

The contents of the tin box, place and year of fabrication, are stamped on the lid, and the number of the box marked on the front side. The contents of the wooden box are marked on each end.

Dimensions of the tin box, length 4.5 inches, width 2.35 inches, depth 2.35 inches.

Dimensions (interior) wooden box, length 20.5 inches, width 12.00 inches, depth 9.5 inches.

Weight of the box containing 100 primers, .8347 pound.

Weight of wooden box containing 10,000 primers, 105 pounds.

Packing Of Percussion Caps

The caps are put into bags of strong cotton duck, 10,000 in a bag, and ten bags are packed in a wooden box. The box is lined with thick paper, the bags are packed in tow, and the cover is fastened with six 2 inch wood screws.

Bags And Packing Boxes

The bags are 6 inches in diameter, and 13.5 inches deep. They are made with circular buttons, like cartridge bags for field service.

They are marked with the number of the bag, the contents, the place, and date of fabrication.

The packing boxes arc made of 1 inch white pine, dovetailed; they have brackets for rope handles on the ends, are painted olive color, and marked on the ends with the number and kinds of contents, and on the inside of the corner with the place and date of fabrication.

Interior Dimensions

Length 28.75 inches, width 12 inches, depth 8.5 inches.

Weights of 1,000,000 caps, 944 lbs.; bags with 10,000 caps, 9.625 lbs; packing box, 25 lbs; box packed with 100,000 caps, 127 lbs.

Transportation Of Caps

The boxes are carried into the store room, and from there distributed for the consumption. The transport from the shop to the store docs not present much danger. It is a well known fact, that in a box a cap may ex-20 plode without communicating fire to the others. But, if the accidents are rare, this transport must be done carefully, and all we have said about matches can be applied in this case.

The avoidance of accidents in their preservation is worthy of much serious attention, and the retailer must act with them, at least, as carefully as with gunpowder. They must be kept separate, and in places where there is no danger of their falling down.