G08 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



showing that, while the production of iron rails was decreased 

 by 134,628 tons, that of Bessemer rails increased 19,708 tons. 

 The total rail production of 1877 was less than that of 1876 

 by 114,920 tons, a decline of 13 per cent. The production of 

 Bessemer rails, which lias been gradually gaining upon that 

 of iron, not only overtook, but considerably surpassed that 

 of iron rails in 1877 by about 100,000 tons. 



THE BESSEMER-STEEL INDUSTRY. 



The number of Bessemer-steel establishments in the coun- 

 try at the close of 1877 was 11, showing therefore no increase 

 during that year. The same remark will apply to the year 

 1878, for which year, however, no reliable statistics of pro- 

 duction can at this time be given. The total productive ca- 

 pacity of the existing w r orks may be estimated approximately 

 at about 700,000 gross tons yearly, a quantity which, from 

 the present business outlook, will be sufficient to meet the 

 demands of the country for some time to come. 



The Association's figures show that the quantity of pig- 

 iron and spiegel converted by the Bessemer process in the 

 country during 1877 was 562,227 net tons, as compared with 

 539,474 tons in 1876, and 395,956 tons in 1875. The amount 

 of spiegeleisen used in 1877 was 48,229 tons, against 45,980 

 tons in 1876, and 33,245 tons in 1875. Net tons of Bessemer 

 ingots produced in 1877, 560,587, against 525,996 in 1876, 

 and 375.517 in 1875 ; net tons of rails in 1877, 432,169, against 

 412,461 in 1876, and 290,863 in 1875. The Bessemer indus- 

 try has had an active existence in tins country of eleven 

 years, during which period there have been produced 1,595,- 

 197 net tons of rails. All of the eleven establishments in the 

 country, with 22 converters, were active during the whole, 

 or part, of the year 1877. As noted in last year's Record, 

 the use of Bessemer metal as a substitute for wrought iron 

 and other kinds of steel for miscellaneous uses continues to 

 increase steadily. The details of production in net tons will 

 appear from the subjoined table: 



I reme. 



Pig-iron and spiegel converted. 



Ingots produced 



Rails produced 



1ST4. 



Net Tons. 



204,352 

 191,933 

 144,944 



187.\ 



Net Tons. 



395,956 



37r,r>i7 



L". K), 803 



1S70. 



Net Tons. 



539,474 

 :.L\~>,99G 

 412,4G1 



1S7T. 



Net Tone. 



562,227 



r)Go,r>87 



432,169 



