combustion is so slow as to in no way resemble or partake of the nature
of an explosion.

4th. It is perfectly stable, and will keep any length of time absolutely
without undergoing any change whatever, under all conditions of
temperature or exposure to which gunpowder would ever be subjected.

5th. It is not hygroscopic, and may be soaked in water without being at
all affected by it.

6th. It will not corrode the cartridge case.

7th. It will not foul the gun.

8th. It is sure of ignition with a good primer, and may be made to burn
as slowly as desired by varying the character and size of the grains.
Indeed, it may be made to burn so slowly as to fail of complete
combustion before the bullet leaves the gun, and after firing several
rounds, partly burned pieces of the powder may be picked up in front of
the gun.

9th. In a shoulder arm, a velocity of 2,000 feet per second may be
imparted to the bullet with this powder, and with a pressure in the
chamber of the gun of not more than fifteen English tons. This is, of
course, when the gun, cartridge case, primer, and projectile are adapted
to the use of smokeless powder, and the granulation of the powder is
adapted to them.

If what I have here claimed for the above smokeless powder be true, it
would appear that it may be taken as really an ideal smokeless powder.
Why, then, has it not already been universally adopted? Surely such a
powder is just what every government is seeking. In reply to this, let
me say that, in order for the above compound to be an effective and
successful smokeless powder, with the manifestation of the many
desirable qualities which I have recited, a great many other conditions
are necessary, some of which I will mention. To arrive at the knowledge
that this compound would constitute the best smokeless powder has
required a great deal of experimenting. It was first thought that
gun-cotton colloid, without any nitro-glycerine, that is, gun-cotton
dissolved and dried, would burn more slowly, keep better, and give
better ballistics than it would if combined with nitro-glycerine. It was
also thought that gun-cotton of a high degree of nitration when made
into colloidal form would even then burn too quickly to be suitable for
use in firearms. Consequently, the first experiments were with low grade
gun-cotton, what is called collodion cotton, such as is employed in the
manufacture of celluloid. But, as this would not explode without the
additio