APPARATUS FOR BREAKING UP LOGS OF WOOD. $£ 



VI. 



Defcription and Account of a fimple Apparatus for breaking-up 

 Logs of Wood by the Explofton of Gunpowder, By Mr. 

 Richard Knight *. 

 S I R, 



1 HAVE frequently obferved the great difficulty, labour. Remarks on the 

 and lofs of time experienced in breaking-up logs of wood, KnLht's aaj 

 particularly for the purpofe of fuel ; fuch as the flumps and paratus. 

 roots of large trees, which remain after the felling of timber, 

 many of which, efpecially fuch as confift of the harder and 

 more knotty kind, as oaks, elms, yews, &c, are frequently 

 left to rot in the ground, in order to avoid the neceiTary ex- 

 pence of breaking them to pieces in the common way, which 

 is generally effected by the axe, and driving a fucceffion of 

 iron wedges with a fledge hammer ; a laborious and tedious 

 procefs. Sometimes gunpowder is ufed, by fetting a blaft 

 in a fimilar way to that in mines or ftone-quarries. This 

 method, though lefs laborious than the former, is tedious, is 

 attended with feveral difficulties, and requires confiderable 

 experience and dexterity, or the plug will be more frequently 

 blown out than the block rent by the explotion. With a 

 view, therefore, to obviate thefe difficulties, I have con- 

 structed an inftrument, a iketch and defcription of which I 

 now inclofe for your approbation. The fimplicity of its con- 

 struction and application is fuch as almoft to preclude an idea 

 of its originality ; but as it has hitherto appeared entirely new 

 to all my acquaintance, and as I do not know that any thing 

 of the kind has ever before been prefented to the public, I 

 am induced to think it may not be unacceptable ; and fhould 

 it appear to you an object worthy the attention of the Society 

 of Arts, I (hall be happy in making it public through a 

 channel fo highly refpe6bble ,* and will, immediately on being 

 favoured with )Our opinion, tranfmit fo the fociety a com- 

 plete inftrument with the neceiTary appendages, and a more 

 minute defcription of its mode of application. 



I am, Sir, Your obedient humble Servant, 

 RICHARD KNIGHT. 

 Fofter-lane, March 16, 1802. 



* Tranfaftions of the Society cf Arts, 1802. The Inventor re- 

 vived the Silver Medal. 



5 7 he 



