STRENGTH OF ANTHRACITE CAST IRON. 525 
At some of the Welsh iron works, coke and 
anthracite coal in certain proportions have been 
tried, and at others a mixture of bituminous and 
anthracite coal; but in almost every instance, I 
‘believe, the products have been of an inferior 
quality, and it is only since the introduction of 
the hot blast that anthracite coal alone has been 
rendered available in the reduction of the ores. 
~ It is now, however, generally adopted in the 
anthracite districts, and several works have re- 
cently been erected for the manufacture of iron 
by this new process. 
Before entering upon the examination of the 
specimens experimented upon, I would first pre- 
mise a few observations on the nature and proper- 
ties of the fuel from which they were produced. 
Mr. W. R. Johnson, Professor of Chemistry 
and Natural Philosophy, of Pennsylvania College, 
Philadelphia, has paid great attention to this 
subject, and by a careful analysis of the American 
coal, has given the products of the anthracite 
formation, as found in Luzerne county, Pennsyl- 
vania. The American anthracites so nearly re- 
semble those of our own country, both as re- 
gards their properties and appearance, that I shall, 
before concluding this part of the subject, make a 
