Job Description:

• 1) Tends machines that dry, grind, and screen materials, such as sodium nitrate, apricot pits, sulfur, and clay for use in making dynamite: Shovels or dumps materials into drier hopper and adjusts temperature of steam-heated drier to specified reading.

• 2) Starts conveyors and elevators that convey materials through drier and grinder.

• 3) Starts grinder and sifting screens that grind and screen materials and deposit them in bins.

• 4) May drive scoop tractor to fill drier hopper.

• 5) May test moisture content of ingredients, using carbide-filled jar and gauge that registers gas produced.

• 6) May weigh out dried ingredients according to formula, to prepare batches for mixing with nitroglycerin.

• 7) May be designated according to ingredient treated as Soda-Dry-House Operator.