roofing from Mobile; the
larger steam pipes from Hight's Foundry, in Augusta, and the smaller
from New Orleans; iron and coal for castings were had from North Georgia
and Alabama, and copper from Ducktown, in Tennessee.

Thus material was gathered from all the Southern States to unite with
the resources of the City of Augusta, to construct the largest and
finest Gunpowder Factory to be found in any country.

On the 20th of July, 1861, I examined the Augusta Canal and resources of
the city, and later selected the location of the Powder Works,
beginning at the site of the United States old Magazine, half a mile
from the western city limit. Land adjacent was purchased, and also that
between the canal and the river for a distance of two miles, so that the
different buildings required, might be separated by intervals of at
least one thousand feet for safety in case any one of them should have
an explosion.

It was remarkable that the most favorable conditions required in the
erection of an extensive Powder manufactory, were all met at this
location, and nowhere else attainable. These are:

1. A central point of the country, for obvious reasons.

2. On a main line of railroad communication, to distribute the products
to all parts of the country.

3. On a canal or river, which could afford a safe and economical means
of transportation of the pulverized materials in process of manufacture,
at the same time affording the necessary water-power to the different
buildings.

4. In the neighborhood of a town or city, from which mechanics and
employees, as well as necessary articles, could be obtained.

5. A location near which the best building materials could be procured
for permanent structures.

6. A temperate climate, where operations could be continued throughout
the year without obstructions from ice, and to avoid the hazard and
expense of warming the building.

7. A district of country free from lime and earthy salts, so that the
large amount of water required in the operations of the Saltpetre
Refinery should be as nearly pure as possible.

8. A location which would insure an abundant and cheap supply of the
proper kind of wood required in the making of gunpowder.

9. A situation which, whilst sufficiently near a town to procure readily
supplies and workmen, should, at the same time, be removed so far off
that the dangerous structures, should an explosion occur, would cause no
damage to the nearest inhabitant.