cclxvi GENERAL SUMMARY OF SCIENTIFIC AND 



fluid-compressed steel by the hydraulic method above al- 

 luded to. 



The fluid compression of steel is generally admitted to 

 have been first suggested by Mr. Bessemer, and Las been 

 very successfully in operation, with various modifications, in 

 France and Austria for a number of years, and of late in 

 England. 



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Another process for the direct production of iron from the 

 ore was published during the past year. It is a modification 

 of the Siemens process, the modification residing in the fact 

 that the ore is first melted before reduction with carbonic 

 oxide. The ore is first melted on the basin-shaped hearth of 

 a Siemens furnace, where it is heated to the highest temper- 

 ature attainable, and the reduction then effected by intro- 

 ducing carbonic oxide (or other reducing gases) at the work- 

 ing door through a hollow rabble which is moved about 



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through the bath. By this process it is claimed that the 

 precipitation of the iron is effected in a few minutes; and in- 

 asmuch as the gasification of carbon does not take place at 

 the moment of reduction, it renders possible the production 

 of a temperature sufficiently high to maintain the ore in the 

 molten state while the reduction is taking place. The proc- 

 ess is the invention of Director Kazetl, of the Neuberg Works, 

 in Styria. 



At the last session of Congress an appropriation was made, 

 at the instance of the American Society of Civil Engineers, 

 of a considerable sum, for the purpose of having a series of 

 tests made of the strength and other qualities of American 

 iron and steel. The commission appointed by the Secretary 

 of War to conduct these experiments comprises the names 

 of some of the most eminent mechanical engineers in the 



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country. A classification of the work as the commission 

 purposes to perform the duty assigned it has been issued; 

 and manufacturers and others throughout the country who 

 are interested have been invited to co-operate with the mem- 

 bers by sending samples of their products for examination, 

 and by imparting any information in their power. The re- 

 port of the commission will doubtless possess a permanent 

 value. 



In direct connection with the above, we may likewise add 

 that the Franklin Institute, at one of its recent meetings, ap- 





