Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 February 1893 — UNCLE SAM NOT ASLEEP. [ARTICLE]

UNCLE SAM NOT ASLEEP.

He Lends Military-UlJiJen Europe in the 51 ieular-tnre of Kxploaivee. While the United States Government holds alouf fr iu foreign contentions au. I marches steadily onward on the road o. prosperity, wiihout a thought of b,&nd:ng armies, it is interesting to note that it is alive to preparations for defense in time of war, and has modest.y folio od out that idea to complete succe j in a least ono particular. The European powers have been far ahead of tii in tue manufacture of gunpowder ant! gun cotun, particularly of smokeicss poweie , which iu warfare i romises to be of great utility on aoeount of its . u abd.ty, lightness and power. But they will le much surprised to learn that i. ncle Sam is in possession of their se rets and has gieatly improved upon them. A little over two years ago, by dir ct on of the War Department,, Prof. Charles E. Monroe. chemist at the torpedo sta ion at Newport, R. 1., began expe iments in gun cotton, and as a result the Dupont Powder Company has a thoroughly equipped plant at Wilmington, Dei., for the manufacture of the cotton, which is the basis of smokeless p w.ler. Tliat this is not a mere experiment is proved by the faot that ;• ,0! U pounds of gun cotton have recently been received at Newport fr m. Wilmington. Both the cotton and the smote ess powder are claimed to be far supe.ior to the European articles, and, besides, are manufactured much cheaper. Experiments prove that the powdor is most satisfactory for small bore and involving and rapid lire guns up to what are kuonnas six-pounders. It is more s able than any used abroad. The powder is not suitable for use in musKets, but this is a possibility of the future, To a large extent it is now used on our war vessels and is adapted to the nm’n and secondary batteries. Greater 1 erection will come in time.