820 [Assembly 



in its dimensions, construction and general economy. A brief 

 description of this structure in the language of Mr. C. F. Ham- 

 mond, will present a distinct view of the plan and management 

 of similar works in this region. The-motive power of this furnace 

 is steam. 



Mr. Hammond says, '- our blast furnace is about 4i feet in height, 

 and about lOi feet in diameter across the boskers. It contains 

 three blowing arches. Tlie escape heat is taken from near the 

 funnel head, for generating steam, to create the power to bJow 

 our blast into the stack, at the three arches. The escape heat 

 after being used under the boilers, passes directly into the oven, 

 where the hot air pipes are placed for heating the blast. The 

 escape heat is used three times before it passes up the chimney, 

 viz : for reducing the ore, raisiiig steam, and heating the blast. 

 A large quantity of the escape heat that is not required for steam 

 or heating the blast, passes from the stack directly up the chim- 

 ney. Ten, is the average number of tons of pig metal made 

 every twenty-four hours. The consumption per day, is about 

 1400 bushels of charcoal, with one ton of good clay, one ton of 

 good limestone, and five hundred pounds slag as a tiux. Our ore 

 yields about 55 percent of pig metal, of a very uniform quality." 

 The following is a brief notice of the refining process to which 

 I have before alluded : " Our ore," Mr. Hammond continues, 

 " not being adapted for making hard pig metal, we have the past 

 season, erected wh^t is called a refining fire, for re-melting our 

 pig iron with charcoal, and running it out on to cast iron moulds 

 or chills, which make it very white and hard, and being more 

 refined, better adapted to malleable purposes."* 



A process for making charcoal in kilns, has been introduced, 

 within a few years, and eminently promotes the ease and economy 

 of that operation. Mr. Hammond thus summarily explains the 

 mode : " We make most of our coal in kilns, which are built of 

 brick, and supported by a strong timber frame, placed outside 

 of the brick walls. The posts are about 14 inches square, and 

 stand only 2i feet apart. The kilns are from 45 to 50 feet in 

 length, 13 feet wide on the inside, and about 20 feet high, arched 



♦ Specimens of this beautiful fabric are in the Society rooms. 



