218 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



few bushels to the ton of iron. It is then placed in thin 

 sheet-iron canisters of any convenient, portable size, holding, 

 each, say from 100 to 200 pounds. Many of these, to the ex- 

 tent of several tons, are subjected to the proper degree of 

 heat in a peculiar but inexpensive furnace, where in a short 

 time the operation is completed. After reduction, which is 

 the first stage, the iron is left in a porous, cellular condition, 

 by the exit of its oxygen. The increasing heat then gradu- 

 ally softens it to the pasty state, when by its own weight it 

 settles and consolidates, thereby not only closing its cells or 

 spaces from the inroad of furnace gases, but pressing out 

 much of its impurities, which have become liquefied, and flow 

 away from the metal. It is well known that in a few hours, 

 by properly proportioning the carbon, rich ore may be re- 

 duced either to the malleable state for forging, or to cast 

 iron, at pleasure, in an ordinary covered clay crucible, and 

 nearly all the metal may be saved. This new process simply 

 substitutes sheet iron for the clay crucible. The sheet-iron 

 crucible protects the metal equally well in its transition state, 

 and has the advantage of being; homogeneous with the mass, 

 and finally is worked up with it. As the iron comes from 

 the fire surrounded with its incasement, it is found to have 

 lost by deoxidization more than one third of its original 

 weight, while it is only about one quarter of its original bulk. 

 In this condensed, solidified condition it is well fitted for 

 economical transportation to distant points, there to be forged 

 for iron or melted for steel. 



The small cost for plant warrants the production of this 

 metal wherever the crude materials may be cheapest collect- 

 ed, but where the erection and operation of extensive ma- 

 chinery for after-working is necessary, may be inconvenient 

 and inadmissible. The asserted superior quality of this char- 

 coal malleable iron over northern blooms, for forging or for 

 steel, added to its more economical consumption of fuel, ore, 

 and labor, seems to commend it. 



