porters and distributors maintain proper and adequate storage facilities. The necessity therefore arises of having properly constructed magazines in which may be stored large quantities of explosives.

High explosives should be stored in dry, well-ventilated magazines located in isolated spots and surrounded by high banks, if possible. These magazines should be both bullet and fireproof, and the temperature in them should not exceed 80 degrees F. Brush, weeds and high grass should be trimmed back as far as practicable from the magazine.

A bullet-proof magazine and the construction thereof depend largely on the calibre and power of the rifles used in that particular locality.

A cheap dynamite magazine for contracting or temporary trade may be built of one-inch boards nailed to studding. The inside. of the building should be lined with one-inch boards forming a space from six to eight inches between the inner and outer boards, this space to be filled from the sill to the plate with coarse sand. The outside of the magazine should be covered with No. 24 or 26 black iron or galvanized iron. Good ventilation should be provided.

Portable magazines can be bullet-proofed by laying one course of brick in cement mortar inside the magazine, or putting a wooden lining of seven-eighths-inch matched boards nailed to studding about four inches to eight inches from the inside of the magazine and filling this space (four inches to eight inches) from the floor to the plate with coarse sand.

When smokeless powder is used in high power rifles such as the government Springfield, it takes eleven inches of dry sand to absolutely bullet-proof a sand-filled magazine.

When the 30-30 Winchester, or equivalent, is the strongest rifle in common local use, eight inches of sand filling is sufficient. When the rifle ordinarily used is not heavier than the .32 calibre, six inches of sand will bullet proof the magazine.

Permanent magazines for dynamite storage should be built of brick or concrete.

Never under any circumstances store detonators and explosives in the same magazine.

The keys of a magazine should be in charge of one man who alone should be responsible for the proper disposition of the explosives.

THAWING.

One of the most prolific sources of trouble with high explosives is the attempt to use them when they are frozen or chilled.

Nearly all of our high explosives, with few exceptions, may freeze and become insensitive at temperatures between 45 and 50 degrees F., but if the proper detonator is used with them they can be completely detonated even when frozen.

When high explosives are completely frozen they are hard and rigid - -a condition easily recognized, but it requires a careful examination to determine whether or not they are partially frozen or chilled. They will not, with the above exceptions, do good work even if chilled, and great care should be taken to see that they are in a thoroughly thawed condition when used. Frozen dynamite will thaw out completely in a comparatively short time if it is subjected to a temperature of 80 degrees F., and the cartridges so arranged that the heat can reach them on every side.

Dynamite freezes at temperatures higher than those which freeze water and therefore provides arrangements for thawing it. Frequently, however, especially in the spring and fall when the days are warm and the nights cool, the necessary care and attention are not given to this very important matter. Only by careful inspection at all times and by the adoption of the best thawing methods can the use of properly thawed dynamite be insured.

In adopting a proper thawing device, it is necessary to consider safety, efficiency and its applicability to the work in hand. Stationary thaw houses may be heated by exhaust steam, hot water or manure. These are considered by the Department improved if made both bullet and fireproof. Fresh manure as a thawing agent is inexpensive and convenient but is efficient only when plenty of time can be given to thawing, as the dynamite cartridges must not be exposed directly to it, but the closed cases buried in it or the walls of a specially designed box or magazine be lined with it.

I trust that the danger of the thawing devices both from the

crude as well as the more improved methods may be greatly modified if not practically eliminated in the near future.

A manufacturer of explosives has recently demonstrated with marked success a high explosive, which, having been chemically treated is rendered impervious to cold and can be used with equal effectiveness in a freezing temperature. If found by further demonstration to be effective in practical use in the extremely cold northern climate, will do away with a large portion of the danger as no thawing devices will then be necessary.

The most important consideration of the storage of explosives is the prevention of explosions. If this is accomplished no damage to life and property can result. Since absolute prevention is impossible, certain precautions must be taken to prevent damage should an explosion occur. When it is necessary to make repairs or alterations in a magazine, all explosives should be carefully removed and the magazine thoroughly washed.

All tools used in repairs should be of wood or brass. The driving of nails into the floors of old buildings that have been used in the manufacture of explosives has resulted in serious accidents.

Magazines should be kept absolutely clean and the floors free from grit and dirt. The ground around the magazine should be kept free from rubbish, leaves and dead grass, and other material liable to become inflammable.

Artificial heat of any kind should not be introduced into the magazine. Each magazine, regardless of size, should be marked in legible letters on the exterior of the building six inches or more in height: DYNAMITE - EXPLOSIVES DANGEROUS.

Section 359 provides the quantity that may be lawfully kept or stored with reference to distances from nearest highway or inhabited building. It also provides that where same are protected by either natural or artificial barricade, the distance may be reduced one-half.

By natural barricade is meant an elevation protecting the magazine in such manner that any straight line drawn from the top of any side wall of the factory building or magazine to any part of the building to be protected will pass through such intervening natural or efficient artificial barricade, and any straight line drawn from the top of any side wall of the factory building or

magazine to any point twelve feet above the center of the highway to be protected will pass through such intervening natural or efficient artificial barricade, the applicable distance given in section 359 may be reduced one-half.

An efficient artificial barricade is generally constructed of earth or sand, and in the construction care should be taken not to use large stones or other material that might be projected in large masses in the event of an explosion. The earth or sand is usually held in place by heavy studding and braced and clamped by heavy iron bands or rods.

The barricade should be not less than three feet wide on the top with a natural slope on both sides, the inner slope reaching within a few feet of the magazine; the bottom not less than six feet.

TRANSPORTATION.

Whenever explosives are not hauled in a covered wagon, they must at all times be covered with a tarpaulin. Section 364 provides that every vehicle while carrying explosives shall display upon an erect pole on the front end of such vehicle and at such height that it shall be visible from all directions, a red flag with the word "DANGER" printed, stamped or sewed thereon in white letters. Such flag shall be at least eighteen inches by thirty inches in size, and the letters thereon shall be at least twelve inches in height.

a. It shall be unlawful for any person in charge of a vehicle containing explosives to smoke in or upon such vehicle, to drive the vehicle while intoxicated, to drive the vehicle or to conduct himself in a careless or reckless manner, or to load or unload such vehicle in a careless or reckless manner or while smoking or intoxicated.

b. It shall be unlawful for any person to place or carry, or cause to be placed or carried, in or upon any vehicle containing explosives any metal tool or other piece of metal.

c. It shall be unlawful for any person to place or carry in or upon a vehicle containing explosives any exploders, detonators, blasting caps, or other explosive material, or to carry in or upon any such vehicle any matches or any mechanical device for producing spark, flame or heat.

Nothing contained in this article shall apply to explosives while being transported upon vessels or railroad cars in conformity with the regulations adopted by the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Covering the inspection of the State, the Fire Marshal has been appalled at the careless manner in which high explosives are handled and stored. Tons of dynamite have been stored in the heart of our most beautiful and flourishing cities, and which by a mere accident might be exploded any moment, wrecking blocks and thus damaging millions of dollars in property, to say nothing of countless precious lives. He has caused to be removed these dangerous explosives to a safe distance from both dwelling and highway.

Illustrating the total disregard of the public welfare, out of a total of 4,000 reported dealers only about 10 per cent. were storing in proper and safe magazines; the balance were storing in sheds, barns, dwelling houses, in fact any convenient place to the user, with total disregard to life and property. Many disastrous explosions have thus occurred.