AMERICAN INDUSTRIES SINCE COLUMBUS. 27 



This event was a great disappointment to all those who had filled 

 the air with predictions of failure, and they immediately turned 

 their attention to a general depreciation of the results attained, 

 and the persecution, with renewed vigor, of all who were respon- 

 sible for them. 



The first steel rails produced in America were rolled at the 

 works of the Chicago Rolling-Mill Company (now a part of the 

 Illinois Steel Company's plant, but then under the superintend- 

 ency of O, W. Potter, Esq., late President of the Illinois Steel 

 Companj^), at Chicago, on the 24th day of May, 18G5. These rails 

 were successfully rolled in a " twenty-one-inch three-high train," 

 whose rolls were intended for rolling iron rails, and this fact is 

 indubitable evidence of the excellent quality of the steel. There 

 were three rails rolled on the 2-l:th, and on the 25th three others.* 

 Various experiments were tried to test the ductility and work- 

 ing qualities of the steel produced at Wyandotte ; some of the 

 early product was sent to Bridge water, Mass., and there rolled 

 into tack plate and cut into tacks, which were pronounced to be 

 very much superior to any previously made of iron.f In order 

 to test the welding qualities of the steel, John Bishop, the black- 

 smith of the works, made a tobacco-pipe, the size of an ordinary 

 clay pipe, the bowl and stem of which were welded up of Wyan- 

 dotte steel, and when perfectly polished there was no visible evi- 

 dence of a weld. I have now two jackknives and a razor made 

 from this steel ; the knives are rather soft, but the razor was used 

 regularly by my father for fifteen years, to his entire satisfaction. 



When it had been shown that the pneumatic process was a 

 qualitative success, instead of carrying out the original under- 

 standing and erecting new works arranged with especial refer- 

 ence to rapid and economical w^orking, the parties in interest in- 

 sisted that I should put a second converter into the experimental 

 works, and attempt to make it a commercial success. Knowing 

 that such an attempt could only result in utter failure, I resigned 

 my position (June 1, 1865). Nevertheless, the proposed plan was 

 carried out, and the works were permanently closed after about a 

 year's unprofitable experience. 



While the experimental works were being constructed at Wy- 

 andotte, the firm of Winslow, Griswold & Holley was formed 

 for the purpose of purchasing Bessemer's American patents, and 

 manufacturing steel under them. Negotiations with Bessemer 

 were concluded in the spring of 1SG4, and an experimental plant 

 at Troy, N. Y., was started on February 16, 1865. 



* These rails were laid in the track of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, and it is 

 known that they carried the traffic over ten years, but unfortunately there is no record of 

 the time when they were taken out and discarded. 



f It is believed that these were the first tacks made of steel. 



