New York City Paper - The Use of High Explosives in the Blast Furnace and of a Water-Spray for Cooling in Blowing Down

FURNACE-MEN who have not taken advantage of the use of dynamite in certain blast-furnace troubles, as explained by Mr. Witherbee in his valuable papers read before the Institute some years since, cannot appreciate the quick relief and great advantage that may be derived at times from its judicious employment. Before giving my experience in the use of high explosives in blastfurnace troubles of certain kinds, I will record a method I have used with marked success in " blowing down." Had I not understood, however, the use of powder, I would have " salamandered " effectually the first time I tried it. Early in my straight-furnace experiments, last summer, at the Chester, N. J., Furnace, I wanted to blow down to within 3 or 4 feet of the tuyeres. To do this with a down-comer not lined, and without putting in any limestone to keep the gases cool enough to do no harm, was not an easy task. We could keep the bell and hopper cool by filling them with water, say 12 inches deep; but before we got the stock down 15 or 20 feet the pyrometer in the gas-flue on top mas up to 1300°, and the clowncomer was red-hot, with the heat still rising. In this emergency my assistant, Mr. N. M. Langdon, urged the trial of a plan lie had often advocated, viz., the introduction of water in some way under the bell in the proper quantity, in order that its evaporation might absorb and reduce the heat of the escaping gases to a point where it would not do any harm. He thought the bell