162 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



briefly alluded to the fact that the earliest known method of ob- 

 taining iron from its ores produced a forgeable and weldable 

 metal. We now purpose to describe more fully this primitive 

 process, and to illustrate some of the machinery by which the 

 iron produced was wrought * into bars of various sizes and forms. 

 The process illustrated by Fig. 1 (page 147) is with slight modi- 

 fications still in use in Africa, and from iron produced in this 

 rude way the native Kaffir blacksmiths forge the heads of such 

 " assagais " or spears as were used with deadly effect in the last 

 conflict of the Zulus with England. 



The quantity of iron that can be obtained by this simple pro- 

 cess as the result of a single operation is quite limited and only 

 sufficient for the forging of implements of very moderate size ; 

 but, as mankind gradually improved the conditions of life, the 

 necessity for larger masses of the most potential metallic factor 

 of civilization became more and more urgent, and to meet this 

 demand there was revealed to some receptive and executive intel- 

 ligence among men f the means by which such larger masses of iron 

 could be obtained, and the " Catalan forge " % or " blomary fire " # 

 supplied for a time the world's needs for an improved process of 

 manufacturing wrought iron. A section of one of these " forges " 

 or "blomary fires" is represented by Fig. 10. The cavity of the 

 hearth d, in the earlier forges, was lined with fire-resisting scone 

 (usually some variety of sandstone) ; but later, fire-bricks were 

 used, and still later, iron plates, which in the more recent " blom- 

 aries " have been made hollow and kept cool by a circulation of 

 water. The tuyere, b, was placed from seven to eight inches 

 above the bottom of the hearth, and was contrived so that its in- 

 clination could be varied at pleasure. The blast was produced 



" pigs " derive their name from being cast in the same " bed " with the " sow," in side- 

 channels communicating with the main trench. 



* The term wrought iron doubtless originated as a descriptive designation from the 

 necessity of distinguishing iron that could be readily " wrought " or shaped as desired from 

 " sowe " or other forms of " cast iron " which could not be " wrought '' under the hammer. 



f Such persons are in these days called " inventors," and are generally regarded as the 

 originators of the various ideas and devices which they urge upon the attention of mankind ; 

 but they are, strictly speaking, simply vehicles and avenues by and through which knowl- 

 edge continually comes into the world for the steady advancement of civilization. Columbus 

 did not " invent " America, and was no more responsible for its existence than the trumpet 

 for the note of command that issues from its resounding muzzle. This is not said in dis- 

 paragement of " inventors," but only in explanation of their true function and relation to 

 civilization. Certainly no more honorable fame, or honest wealth, can fall to any man than 

 that which comes from being the recognized means by which beneficent knowledge is dis- 

 covered ; therefore all honors and rewards to such " inventors," the true prophets of science 

 and human progress. 



\ Derives its name from the province of Catalonia, in the north of Spain, where it has 

 been used for many centuries. 



* From the Anglo-Saxon bloma, a mass or lump; iscnes bloma, a mass or lump of iron. 



