S. F. Peckham—Mill Explosion at Minneapolis. 305 
mon spout or conduetor, through which a strong current of air 
1s being continually drawn and which is filled with a dense 
cloud of very fine particles of starch (chiefly) heated to a 
ecomes possible. 
It is urged that these conductors are damp from condensed 
4 ] s 
moisture, and also that a large amount of moisture escapt 
Complete solution of the vapor in the current of air. More- 
Over, the first fire in the Washburn A Mill was traced direct] 
8 set of stones which ground nothing but middlings, and all 
that is known concerning the origin of the fire that produced 
the explosion confirms the supposition that that fire originated 
im a set of stones on the opposite side of the mill. which was 
one of six sets, all of which were used exclusively for grinding 
middlings, discharging into a common spout or conductor 
Which communicated directly with a dust-house in which the 
* Experiments made by Professor L. W. Peck before the coroner’s jury. 
