the royal artillery institution. 
39 
a magazine be able to resist fire for six hours, it will afford all the protection which 
is actually necessary; and the magazines have been constructed on this basis. 
The powder to be placed inside the magazines for the purpose of this experiment 
will be packed in the two ways in which it is generally stored by retail dealers and 
sportsmen—viz., some loose, and some in tin canisters—no greater quantity of 
powder being deposited in each magazine than is considered necessary to test 
satisfactorily the degree of protection afforded. 
Programme of Experiments. 
Experiment 1. Powder magazine large enough to hold 100 lbs. of gunpowder, 
loose or in canisters. 4-in. chambers, constructed to resist six hours in an 
ordinary fire. Only a few ounces of gunpowder, loose and in canisters, will be placed 
in this magazine. 
Experiment 2. Powder magazine of the same size and construction as No. 1. 
10 lbs. of powder in canisters will be placed in this magazine. 
Experiment 3. Powder magazine of the same size and construction as No. 1. 
25 lbs. of loose powder in a quarter barrel will be placed in this magazine. 
Experiment 4. Powder magazine of same size as No. 1, but with 6-in. 
chambers, and constructed to resist fire for from 8 to 9 hours. 5 lbs. of powder 
in canisters, and 5 lbs. loose, will be placed in this magazine. 
Materials have been provided to keep up the fires from 8 to 10 hours. 
The temperatures inside the safes will be registered by thermometers. 
Y. D. MAJENDIE, Major R.A., 
H.M. ’s Inspr . of Gunpr. Works. 
Home Office, Whitehall,-S.W., 
4th October, 1872. 
N.B ,—Visitors are earnestly 'requested not to attempt to approach the magazines during the 
progress of the experiments. 
c. 
SPECIFICATION OF GUNPOWDER MAGAZINES, AS TESTED AT 
WOOLWICH, OCTOBER 9th AND 10th, 1872. 
Body strongly constructed of 18 and 22 gauge charcoal sheet-iron, secured at 
corners with 1 i X angle-iron, the chambers being filled in the following 
manner:—First, or inner chamber, 1Jins. of hard wood sawdust and alum in 
equal proportions; second, or centre chamber, \ in. alum; third, or outer chamber, 
2 ins. of hard wood sawdust and alum in equal proportions, making 4 ins. thick in 
all. Door of magazine hung on strong wrought-iron hinges, and secured with 
spring latch and sliding bolts; the chambers being filled in the same manner as the 
body, but with an additional inner chamber of \ in. alum, making chambers 4-| ins. 
thick. (See sectional drawings.) 
