Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History
Posted: Sun May 30, 2021 8:45 am
GLASGOW HERALD
30 MAY 1872
A NEW INDUSTRY IN THE WEST OF SCOTLAND
Some time ago the British Dynamite Company Limited acquired about 50 acres of ground at Ardeer, near Stevenston, in Ayrshire, for the erection of works for the manufacture of dynamite – a blasting agent of greater mechanical power than gunpowder.
The works which consist of 25 neat wooden factories (an embankment formed of sand separating each factory), are now almost completed, and the manufacture of dynamite is expected to be commenced for the first time in Scotland about the middle of June.
The manufacture and importation of dynamite were interdicted by the Government in 1868, previous to which time large quantities were exported from Hamburg, but the Legislature some time ago sanctioned its manufacture, storage, sale, transport, and use in this country.
Dynamite has been carried for a number of years by the railways in Austria, France, Italy, Sweden, Norway, and the United States of America.
A committee of goods managers in England and Scotland was appointed to investigate as to its safety in transit in this country. Very decisive and exhaustive experiments were made at Glasgow by Professor Bischof on the 20th of November last before Mr Thomson of the Caledonian Railway, Mr Macpherson and Mr Rutherford of the North British Railway Company, and Mr Dickie of the Glasgow & South-Western Railway, who were unanimous in recommending its conveyance by railway under certain defined conditions.
During the late war with France the prohibition to export explosives from Prussia was withdrawn in favour of dynamite which was exempted on account of its great value and usefulness in mining.
About 20 tons of this blasting agent will be manufactured daily at Ardeer. The works will employ about 150 hands, who are coming from the dynamite factories in Norway and Sweden.
30 MAY 1872
A NEW INDUSTRY IN THE WEST OF SCOTLAND
Some time ago the British Dynamite Company Limited acquired about 50 acres of ground at Ardeer, near Stevenston, in Ayrshire, for the erection of works for the manufacture of dynamite – a blasting agent of greater mechanical power than gunpowder.
The works which consist of 25 neat wooden factories (an embankment formed of sand separating each factory), are now almost completed, and the manufacture of dynamite is expected to be commenced for the first time in Scotland about the middle of June.
The manufacture and importation of dynamite were interdicted by the Government in 1868, previous to which time large quantities were exported from Hamburg, but the Legislature some time ago sanctioned its manufacture, storage, sale, transport, and use in this country.
Dynamite has been carried for a number of years by the railways in Austria, France, Italy, Sweden, Norway, and the United States of America.
A committee of goods managers in England and Scotland was appointed to investigate as to its safety in transit in this country. Very decisive and exhaustive experiments were made at Glasgow by Professor Bischof on the 20th of November last before Mr Thomson of the Caledonian Railway, Mr Macpherson and Mr Rutherford of the North British Railway Company, and Mr Dickie of the Glasgow & South-Western Railway, who were unanimous in recommending its conveyance by railway under certain defined conditions.
During the late war with France the prohibition to export explosives from Prussia was withdrawn in favour of dynamite which was exempted on account of its great value and usefulness in mining.
About 20 tons of this blasting agent will be manufactured daily at Ardeer. The works will employ about 150 hands, who are coming from the dynamite factories in Norway and Sweden.