{"newspaper_name": "Mobile register and journal.", "edition": "01", "page": "p2", "byline": ""}
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SALTPETRE.-At the great fire in 1885, the store of Joseph Howard & Son. contained quantity O salipetre. Also, some sulphur, duck, &c. An ex plosion took place, which demolished an adjoining store.

 So in the store of Crocker & Warren, in Broad street, at the recent fire, there quantity of salt petre. This being heated to rednesss, "gives out, J says Ure, "a great deal of pretty pure oxygen gas. The melting or bursting of the gas pipes may have supplied the requisite proportion of hydrogen gas Hydrogen, says BIande, "when mixed with three or four times it's volume of air, with half its Dolu,nt of pure orygen, and n1amed, burns rapidly, and in the latter uath pioient erplosion Here, then we have the materials Tor ''a violent explosions, with out the aid of charcoal al all. But if this were ne- csssary, might have been supplied by the coals o ihe burning building or it's contents.

 Although it is true, therefore, that salipeire by it- self. will produce explosion, when heated, yet liable is the oxygen gass evolves, to obtain the requisite hy rogen, either as in the case above sup posed, or possibly by the decomposition of water rash say that "saltpetre cannot produce expo. sion." For all practical purposes, it can.

 Win these authorities and illustrations in view, it seems to us most uncharltable. after the solemn denial of Crocker & Warren that there was any powder their store, still to insist that there must have been powder, because otherwise the explosion could not have taken place. This is begging the whole question. Besides, we understand the inves- tigation going on before committee of the Common Council, has thus far elicited not particle of evi dence that there was powder in the store.

 If satpetre, b, contract with other substances, if liable to produce such explosions, it should be sub iected to such restrictions will prevent it's being deposited in the compact part of the city.