Tri-nitro-glycerine, as Applied in the Hoosac Tunnel, Submarine Blasting, etc. ebook

Tri-nitro-glycerine, as Applied in the Hoosac Tunnel, Submarine Blasting, etc. is a comprehensive and detailed exploration of the revolutionary use of nitroglycerine in large-scale engineering and construction projects during the 19th century. The book delves into the chemical properties, manufacturing processes, and handling precautions of tri-nitro-glycerine, a powerful and volatile explosive that transformed the fields of mining, tunneling, and demolition. Focusing particularly on its application in the monumental Hoosac Tunnel project—a massive undertaking to bore through the Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts—the text provides firsthand accounts, technical data, and practical insights into the challenges and triumphs of using this new technology. The narrative extends beyond the Hoosac Tunnel, examining the use of nitroglycerine in submarine blasting and other civil engineering feats, highlighting its advantages over traditional black powder and the innovations it spurred in blasting techniques. The book discusses the development of specialized equipment, safety protocols, and the evolution of blasting practices, offering a window into the ingenuity and risk-taking spirit of the era’s engineers and chemists. Richly illustrated with diagrams and case studies, Tri-nitro-glycerine, as Applied in the Hoosac Tunnel, Submarine Blasting, etc. serves as both a historical document and a technical manual, capturing the excitement, danger, and progress of a pivotal moment in industrial history.