Manufacture of Steel. ill 
Art. XIIl.— Manufacture of Steel. 
iy a letter from Mr. O. L. Clarke, dated New York, August 9th, 
we are informed that he is vigorously pursuing the very important 
manufacture of steel; that for two years past, his whole attention 
has been applied to this subject, and that last autumn he erected a 
furnace of the capacity of about five tons and in which, at two opera- 
tions, he made ten tons of steel. This steel is stated to be equal in 
every respect to good English blister or (£) steel, and that it has been 
so pronounced, by a large number of the most eminent and respect- 
able mechanics and artizans in New York and elsewhere ; its capa- 
city for hardening it is said, far exceeds any thing they hive ever 
seen, and consequently, it is necessary to reduct the temper propor- 
tionably low for edge tools, &c.—it appears that it has been severely 
tried, and with uncommon success. It is manufactured from iron 
found and prepared in the state of New York, and from actual ex- 
periment, this iron proves to possess all the qualities necessary for 
making steel, equal to the best English (L). Its qualities are uniform, 
and the quantity of the iron is presumed to be sufficient for ages to 
come. Such is his confidence in this undertaking, that Mr. 
Clarke is determined to push the manufacture as fast as the ne- 
Cessary means can be obtained. His ambition is to complete 
the manufacture of steel in this country, by making cast steel, which 
is produced from the best blister that can be obtained. As yet he 
has not been able to obtain a crucible to stand the trial, but he has 
every prospect of speedy success. No efforts have yet been made to 
give publicity to his manufacture, any farther than by his owa oles 
al applications to have it proved. . 
* ¥ * + 
Actuated by a desire to promote so important a ed Be and 
wishing to havé the specimen of steel which Mr. Clarke transmitted 
= his letter, brought to a trial, by persons who possess both science 
and skill; we committed the subject to the care of Mr. Eli W. 
Blake of of Whitnéyville, near this place, who with his brother Mr, 
years sustained by the late Eli Whitney, Esq. In the note to Mr. 
Blake, a question was proposed respecting the scintillations from 
