454 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



have now a clear gain of thirty thousand dollars. My impres- 

 sion is, that when the Fraiiklinite is more generally used, an 

 apparatus will be erected, costing about two thousand dollars, to 

 save the zinc, and that there will be a greater profit from the 

 zinc hitherto thrown away than from the iron. At Williamsburg, 

 they are using twelve and a half per cent, of Franklinite pig for 

 bell metal, and it is found superior to brass. A mixture of 

 Franklinite cures both redshort and coldshort iron. It extracts 

 the sulphur from anthracite coal, which thus becomes a better 

 material for making iron than charcoal. If applied to the making 

 of rails, millions would be saved to the country annually, from 

 their durability. It is excellent, also, for cannon. The best test 

 for ordinar}'- metal has been 32,000 lbs. tensile strength to the 

 square inch; while Franklinite has stood a strain of 39.000 lbs. 

 In my judgment, the use of the Franklinite is in its infancy. 

 We have spent one hundred thousand dollars in our experiments, 

 and I think the world will say that we have conquered the diffi- 

 culties. Franklinite ore is well adapted not only to improve the 

 character of our own iron, but that of foreign irons. It is 

 remarkable that it is found, as yet, no where in the world except 

 in New Jersey vein. 



Mr. Johnson suggested that the distillation of the zinc from 

 the Franklinite ore would of necessity carry off a large amount 

 of fuel, which would be lost unless the zinc was made to pay 

 for it. 



Mr. Selleck. — In speaking of five per cent., I was speaking of 

 ordinary furnaces. With improved furnaces they may use more. 

 I have saved the zinc in working Franklinite ore, and there is 

 no difficulty about it if the furnace is properly constructed. 



The Chairman stated that the ore of the great zinc works in 

 Europe had been used for ages in making the public roads before 

 they became aware of its value. And so in Pennsylvania, within 

 the past year, tens of thousands of tons had been thrown out, 

 put upon roads, and used to fill up valleys, when an English gen- 

 tleman found that it was a sulphuret of zinc, richer by more 

 than twenty per cent, than the oxide which had been found in 

 New Jersey. 



Col. Curtis. — It has been suggested that the distillation of the 

 zinc would caiTV oft' a large amount of heat. The practical fact 

 is that the burning up of the zinc creates an intense heat, so 

 that at least twenty per cent, less fuel is required to be used. 



