AMERICAN INDUSTRIES SINCE COLUMBUS. 25 



as well as English— that there are possibilities in chemistry not 

 dreamed of in their philosophy. 



The need of a laboratory was fully appreciated by Mr. Z. S. 

 Durfee, and in the spring of 1863 he secured the services of Mr. 

 Emil Schalk, a native of Germany, and a graduate of the Ecole 

 Centrale of Paris, as chemist. On his arrival in Detroit, at the 

 request of Captain E. B. Ward, he accompanied an exploring 

 party to northern Wisconsin. The result of this expedition was 

 the discovery of a number of deposits of excellent iron ore. 



On Mr. Schalk's return in October, 1863, he commenced some 

 original investigations with a view to determine the influence of 

 nitrogen upon steel, which promised to develop very interesting 

 and valuable results ; but, unfortunately, circumstances for which 



Fig. 64.- 



w w 



-Chemical Laboratory at Wyandotte. 



he was in no way responsible caused his resignation in December, 

 1863, before they were completed. Of Mr. Schalk's abilities I had 

 the highest estimation, and I very much regretted his departure 

 from Wyandotte. 



I will now describe the arrangement of the laboratory. The 

 main building shown in the plan (Fig. 64) was about twenty-four 

 feet square ; it was divided by a partition into two rooms, A and 

 B, of equal size, and each about eighteen feet high. At the rear 

 of this building was a lean-to shed, C ; cZ is an entrance to this 

 shed from without ; x, a door communicating with A ; and y is 

 the main entrance to the building. The room A was used for 

 general analytical work, and was provided with furniture and 

 VOL. XL. — 3 



