Show electricity and explosive no stronger evidence of the safety of electric lighting installations can be afforded than the fact that a great many explosives factories are now being lit by electricity it ij i j obvious that in a building where the preparation of inflammable or highly substances ia carried on very special care should be taken in order to avoid even the smallest risk and powder manufacturers now fiad that the electric light adds a considerable percentage over gas to the chances of safe operation while electricity increases the safety of this branch of industry in ona way it lessens it in another there is a great deal of free electricity thrown off in various stages of manufacture and the disposition of this so far as it can be removed out of harms way ia a serious question the charge of a powder cake press with ebonite plates may practically be considered as an electric pile and a large amount of friction or electric influence from outside may cause a chent electric charge to give off sparks several undisputed cases of this kind have been known another source of danger from friction occurs ng the glazing rounding ronn ding and sieving of gunpowder the powder is subjected to a constant rubbing of its particles against each other and dvong the glazing especially ally there is danger dt electricity accumulating therefore precautions should be taken in order to convey away any charge that may accumulate in the glazing barrels new york telegram |