526 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



ing at the high temperature, and the method of mixing with 

 solid carbon ; and more experiment is needed to decide the 

 matter, since neither the present experience nor theory af- 

 fords sufficient grounds for calculating the commercially- 

 practical character of it. 14 (7, CCVII., 387. 



SIGNIFICANCE OF EXPORTING lEON TO GREAT BRITAIN. 



The alleged importation of one thousand tons of American 

 iron by an English firm has given rise to a great amount 

 of discussion both here and abroad ; but while many of our 

 home journals have been disposed to look upon the fact, if 

 really true, as the forerunner of an almost immediate and in- 

 creasing exporting trade in iron, the more thoughtful have 

 taken a difterent view of it. According to the latter, the 

 iron business of the country must first provide for its own 

 necessities before it can think of exporting in any quantity; 

 and to build works enough to cover the large margin between 

 the demand and supply of iron in this country will require 

 the investment of an amount of capital which will require 

 years for its collection. These assertions are substantiated 

 by a reference to the recent report of the Secretary of the 

 Iron and Steel Aissociation, in which it is shown that the con- 

 sumption of iron, exclusive of American scrap, was 3,654,618 

 tons, of which no less than 1,254,618 were imported. He cal- 

 culates, also, that the 109 new furnaces built last year could 

 produce no more than 327,000 tons, and the 39 others already 

 decided upon for 1873 might add 117,000 tons to the former 

 figures. Thus, allowing an increase of 654,000 in the domes- 

 tic production for 1872 and 1873, there is still left a margin 

 of 600,000 tons, which must be imported. Before thinking 

 to supply foreign nations, then, it behooves American cap- 

 italists to find the means for erecting the 200 furnaces and 

 numerous rolling-mills needed to supply and work uj^ the 

 600,000 tons which our home production fails to meet. 



PRESERVATION OF RAILROAD TIES. 



Treutlin, of Dresden, suggests the following plan for any 

 kind of wood firm enough for ties. They are first to be air- 

 dried as completely as possible, without consuming too much 

 time, and then placed in a chamber gradually warmed until 

 they become hot. They are then, while as hot as possible, 



