Essay on Dynamite Invention Industrial Revolution

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Abstract

The Industrial Revolution saw the rise of a great many inventions. They aimed at giving better living spaces to people. Some of these inventions directly dealt with this situation whereas some worked through various means. The invention of the Dynamite is one such occurrence that changed the course of history. It sped up the progression of the explosive as well as the arms industry. Yet, dynamite played an important role in advancing the construction industry as well. The construction involved setting up the foundation of various spaces. These spaces were made through mining, tunneling, and excavating.

During this period, many transportation systems began to expand. These places needed spaces for vehicles and people alike. The use of dynamite sped up the construction rates of these spaces. They were used to transport objects and as a means of commuting for people.

The essay will focus on the use of dynamite in the area of transportation and its impact on the Industrial Revolution. It will help to determine how the construction of these spaces was dependent on explosives and how the spaces made were affected as well. The essay will be focusing on 3 case studies to explain how the transportation sector was able to advance under the presence of dynamite.

Introduction

During the 1800s the mining community worked at a constant rate. Quarrying required the use of blasting agents alongside drilling and manpower. Black powder was the common, inefficient agent then easily available. Then during the 1850s, nitro-glycerine came in the market. It was unstable, and difficult to use and transport. It also killed many people in many accidents after which it received a ban on use and production (Nagendrappa, 2013).

Alfred Nobel, a Swedish chemist, had a brother killed in a nitro-glycerine blast at their factory. After which to make a safer explosive, in 1866, Alfred Nobel invented Dynamite. His invention of dynamite changed the pace of many construction processes. Although his invention helped in some areas, its biggest impact was in the arms areas. He later established the Nobel Prizes (Nagendrappa, 2013).

It was the first explosive, whose power and impact could be measured since it was a stabilized form of nitro-glycerine. Its use increased, complimented by the arrival of the Machine Drill. The miners now worked faster. Limestone quarries increased production which led to an increase in the production of cement and concrete. These materials were used in the construction of many built spaces. Stronger buildings could now be made with ease. The popularity of this particular blasting agent was that it had a sensitive reaction to the blasting cap. This allowed the explosive to be used safely within a measurable controlled environment.

Even though dynamite was an important asset, its transportation was an issue. The nitro-glycerine accidents had left a lasting impact on the workers. They were afraid to transport it anywhere much less use it. Nitroglycerin was viewed as an unsafe substance, not to be used in any construction activity. After a few years, dynamite began slowly to make peace with the people; it was sent to various places as a blasting agent (Hughes, 1963). The use of this explosive has helped build many important structures.

The Need for Transportation

The time of the industrial revolution had seen an increase in the employment and the number of people living in the cities. The transportation sector had an opportunity to grow in a new direction. Dynamite not only helped in increasing material retrieval but also in setting up the foundation for many transportation services. These services allowed people to commute faster. In many regions, they required the use of tunnels or needed to dig out large quantities of earth. The excavation process was in demand and with increased power it helped build numerous pathways.

In 1872, the Musconetcong Tunnel in Pennsylvania, America was one of the first major construction sites where Dynamite was used. Nearly 17,000 pounds/per month were used for excavating at a rate of 135 feet/per month. The tunnel was nearly a mile long. Similar tunnels for vehicular transport and even to lay down pipelines (Hughes, 1963).

The below case studies show how dynamite was used to build spaces for transportation purposes. They also tell the process through which the tasks for building these spaces were done. It highlights how dynamite alongside other machines created a smooth functioning for the workers.

Case Study 01 – The Alpine Tunnel, Swiss Alps

The construction began in 1857 but did not finish till 1871. The excavations for the tunnel were initially made using Gunpowder. However, with the arrival of dynamite in 1866-1867, the process changed. Dynamite allowed the construction process to speed up. It was used along with the machine drill. The holes for the charges were laid out and then the blasts were done. The drilling lasted for 4 hours after which the machine was moved. The dynamite then was laid out and blasted. This process took around 8 hours and dug out 3 feet of rock. The uneven terrain was blasted to create the tunnels required to allow trains to pass through. The tunnel construction was at the time one of the largest and helped connect France and Italy.

Case Study 02 – East River Channel, New York

The project was approved by the congress in 1852. The channel connected the Long Island Sound with the Upper New York Bay. A large number of rocks and reefs were also demolished for the project. These reefs were dangerous for the vessels going through, they would wreck quite often. Hence the channel needed to be cleared to allow these vessels safe passage. This area was called the Hell’s Gate, it had many smaller targeted sub-parts as well (Hughes, 1963).

At the time the cost for clearing out the reefs was steep. After some time, the surface blasting method was accepted. The rocks were drilled and blasted, and then the debris was removed. The work started at Hallet’s Point in 1869. The shafts were completed in 1870 after delays and were hand-drilled. The major progress in the work was made in 1871-72 with the arrival of machine drills (Harcourt, 1886).

During this time a large amount of dynamite was used to form cartridges. General Newton, the Supervisor, developed a method for simultaneous blasting. A conception of connecting lead wires, brass pins, zinc, mercury, and dynamite cartridges was largely used (Harcourt, 1886).

After achieving success here, the blasting spread to other parts such as Flood Rock. The work started there in June 1875. The shafts and galleries were made to allow the workers and machinery to go through. Again the work slowed down during the start of the 1880s due to “deficiencies of appropriations granted”. The drilling for the holes started in 1882. During 1883 – 84 the gallery extensions were more focused on (Harcourt, 1886).

Since the blasting was done in deeper waters, another cheaper blasting agent called Rackarock was also added. It was used in nearly a 1:2 proportion with dynamite. A single cartridge had 6lb of Rockarock whereas only 3lb dynamite was added. The blasts had more impact in this manner (Harcourt, 1886).

On 10 October 1885 at 11:13 AM, the blasts were successfully carried out. The impact was enough to knock out a few glass panes in the city. The Hell’s Gate blasting is one of the biggest construction-related blasting to occur (Hughes, 1963).

Case Study 03 – Panama Canal, Panama

The Panama Canal was built on at least 60 – 75 million pounds of dynamite. A large amount of the sticks were used to excavate the ground. The part of the canal, known as the Galliard Cut was the most difficult to excavate. It was nearly 120 feet deep and 300 feet wide with varying sizes at different points. Nearly 600 holes were fired for months at a time to keep on track (Hughes, 1963). Many people were employed to carry these sticks and place them in the drilled holes. Although the use of dynamite sped up the process, a large number of people lost their lives every year and a majority of workers were badly injured. The canal was opened on August 15, 1914 (Hughes, 1963).

Conclusion

The arrival of dynamite was complemented by the arrival of machine drill. The benefits of using a better blasting agent are seen. Yet, Dynamite has killed an even larger number of people than it has helped. The process, though faster, could have possibly been achieved over some time. The time invested in developing this explosive and its associates could also have been invested in making better and safer the Safety Measures. The progress of the transportation sector should not be only associated with the use of explosive agents and could have a wider horizon.

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