96 
MINUTES OF PilOCEEJblEGS OF 
Abbey did it show itself, but in nearly all the powder sent in by the merchants 
by contract. Lot after lot manufactured by Messrs. Curtis and Harvey, and 
by the Karnes Company especially, showed the same failing; and the ques¬ 
tion of the manufacture of pebble began to look serious. 
The new year, however, introduced a new era. A sudden fit of inspiration 
seized Colonel Younghusband, and he ordered two samples to be re-stoved. 
Behold the result!— 
Stoving. 
Density. 
Experiment. 
M. Y. 
Pressures. 
Date. 
No. 
A. 
B. 
C. 
10. 1. 72 
1-765 
21. 1. 72 
605 
1398 
15-8 
15-5 
14-8 
Do. re-dried 
■ — 
31. 1. 72 
677 
1455 
20-9 
20-3 
18-5 
12. 1. 72 
1-763 
21. 1. 72 
606 
1367 
13-8 
13-8 
13-8 
Do. re-dried 
• — 
31. 1. 72 
678 
1418 
15‘6 
13 6 
11-6 
It was a great relief to have discovered the reason at last. Doubtless the 
reader will think it was very foolish not to have discovered it sooner; but he 
should suspend his judgment till he has heard the whole state of the case. 
Meanwhile it may be observed that the cause had been suspected, and, as has 
‘been stated, a sample sent to the Chemical Department for analysis showed a 
very small loss of moisture. The powder had received the usual amount of 
stoving. But, what is of more importance is, that when the discovery was 
communicated to the merchants, with a view to assist them out of their diffi¬ 
culties, one and all refused to believe it. 
At Karnes an experiment was made to test the matter roughly, by weighing 
a large sample before re-stoving, and weighing it again afterwards, and, as 
only a slight difference of weight was detected, it was concluded that the fault 
of Karnes* powder did not lie in its insufficient drying. An experiment was 
afterwards made at Waltham Abbey with some of Karnes* pebble, which 
partly bears out the result. Two samples were re-stoved, and fired as 
follows:— 
Brand of 
powder. 
Density. 
Moisture. 
Experiment. 
M. Y. 
l 
Pressures. 
Date. 
No. 
A. 
B. 
C. 
Lot 66 . 
1-772 
M7 
21. 5. 72 
964 
1338 
16-1 
16-1 
14-8 
Do., re-dried. 
— V- 
•808 
7. 6. 72 
1030 
1394 
19-3 
17-6 
17-0 
Lot 97 . 
1755 
1-14 
21. 5. 72 
968 
1336 
16-2 
164 
15‘0 
Do., re-dried. 
— 
•816 
7. 6. 72- 
1031 
1379 
18 2 
18 5 
15-8 
It will be observed that in the original samples there is no excessive amount 
of moisture, but rather under the normal amount, if anything, and the re-dried 
samples may be considered over-dried. 
The discovery of the great effect of moisture on velocity and pressure opened 
up a very large question, and threw discredit to some extent on all the experi¬ 
ments which had hitherto been made, seeing that it could not be told to what 
extent all the results had been vitiated by an unknown amount of moisture 
which existed in the samples fired. It at once explained why there had been 
so much low-velocity powder a year before, and there can be no doubt that, 
had the reason been known in time, it would have been better to have re-dried 
some of the powder which had been mixed. 
The manufacture continued as before, with varying results; sometimes the 
