31 



furnace will be made of bricks (which the Company manufacture themselves) 

 instead of the iron framework of which they are usually made. The heating 

 stoves were visited, and it was here explained that the air, after travelling 

 thi'ough these, passed into the fui-naces at a temperatiu'e of about 1,000 degrees. 

 Lead was easily melted in the stoves by the hot air. The depots for the delivery 

 of iron ore, coke, &c., were also noticed in passing. We observed one improve- 

 ment in the disposing of slag. Opposite each fiu-nace is a bridge spanning the 

 railway, and on the surface of each bridge is an inclined plane. The slag is 

 lifted by means of a steam-crane, and deposited upon bogies on the incline 

 plane, along which they are run, and the contents are tipped on the shore, the 

 descending bogie bringing back the empty one. Hitherto this task of clearing 

 away the slag had to be done by locomotives, but by the system now adopted 

 expense is saved, and the work is performed more expeditiously. The steam for 

 the crane is supplied by gas. The question was asked at the meeting on Tuesday 

 " Were these slag blocks utilized? " and we may state that they are to a con- 

 siderable extent. The softer portion is comparatively easily affected by the 

 weather, and is callable of being worked up into a mortar, which, mixed with 

 sand or other suitable material, hardens very soon. Other parts of the slag, 

 when crushed, make a very good concrete, which is valuable for a variety 

 of purposes. 



GEOLOGICAL EXCURSION. 



Under the leadership of Messrs. Russell, Pickering, and Ward, about 70 

 members made an excursion along the coast, the various geological features 

 between Whitehaven and Barrowmouth being pointed out. 



THE VISIT TO HENRY PIT. 



Not the least interesting portion of the programme was that devoted to 

 visiting Lord Lonsdale's colliery on the north of the town. Hitherto the col. 

 iery has been known as William Pit, but for the last few years another seam — 

 known as the six-quarter — has been opened out. To enable this to be done, the 

 late Mr. T. E. Forster, who had then the charge of the collieries, determined to 

 sink a new shaft, called Henry Pit, after the Christian name of the present 

 Earl. When Mr. Forster was succeeded by the present manager, Mr. Martin, 

 that gentleman continued to carry out the plans of his predecessor, and at 

 present they have so far advanced that Mr. Martin thought a visit to the place 

 would well repay the trouble to those of the Association who take an interest in 

 such matters. Accordingly, on Monday afternoon, shortly after the appointed 

 time, thii-ty members mustered at the pit top, and the overmen, deputy over- 



