THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
23 
REPORT OE TRIAL 
OP 
“FIRE-PROOF GUNPOWDER MAGAZINES.” 
BY 
MAJOR Y. D. MAJENDIE, R.A. 
H.M.’S INSPECTOR OP GUNPOWDER WORKS. 
(Communicated by permission of the Some Secretary). 
23 Victoria Road, Old Charlton, S.E., 
30tli November, 1872. 
Sir, 
I Rave the honour to report that, in accordance with the 
authority conveyed to me in your letter of 21st August, 1872, 
No. 14,819, I carried out, on the 9th and 10th October last, a 
series of experiments with some small fire-proof gunpowder maga¬ 
zines designed by Messrs. Milner and Co., of Liverpool. 
The object with which these experiments were instituted is 
explained in my letter to you of 29th July, 1872, in which I 
recommended that the experiments might be made. As this 
letter fully describes the circumstances under which this enquiry 
arose, I have thought it desirable to append a copy of it to this 
Report. (See Appendix A.) It will be observed that the use of 
these fire-proof magazines is suggested in the case of retail 
dealers—or persons who, having no well-isolated store, are com¬ 
pelled to keep their powder in, or in the immediate vicinity of, 
their dwelling-houses, where, unless the magazine be fire-proof, 
the gunpowder is exposed to the risk of being exploded by a fire 
which may occur in or extend to the immediate neighbourhood of 
the magazine. 
In the course of my inspections, I have come across many 
instances in which the powder is so stored in dwelling-houses, 
warehouses, &c., that it would be almost impossible to rescue it 
from explosion in the event of a fire breaking out on the premises 
or in contiguous buildings. 
It is a very common practice to store gunpowder in a room or 
cupboard near the top of a house, with the idea that if it does 
explode there it will do comparatively little damage. 
Object of 
experiments. 
Necessity for 
providing 
against explo¬ 
sion of powder 
in retail 
dealers’ and 
consumers’ 
stores in tbe 
event of fire. 
