506 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



Mr. Dibben. — If you expose wrought iron to melted Franklinite, 

 does it not make a steel of the wrought iron ? 



Mr. Selleck. — It forms a covering upon the wrought iron the 

 same as galvanizing. It does not penetrate over one-thirty-second 

 of an inch. 



Mr. Dibben. — That is contrary to my experience. I have had 

 a piece of three-sixteenths iron entirely permeated by it without 

 melting. It had all the characteristics of steel 5 but it was sub- 

 mitted to heat for a long time. 



The Chairman. — The amount of the penetration would depend 

 very much upon the length of time it was kept heated. 



Mr. Dibben. — Can this be worked when it is cold ? 



Mr. Selleck. — Oh, yes ; and wherever stiffness is required, as 

 in plates for vessels, in shutters, doors, &c., requiring lightness 

 also, I think this would answer better than wrought iron. 



Mr. Stetson. — What percentage of these plates is Franklinite ? 



Mr. Selleck. — I think that in this bar about one-third of the 

 weight is Franklinite. The Franklinite costs no more than the 

 iron. I do not think it would be practicable to make the plates 

 S9 much as one-half Franklinite. The Franklinite is very limpid, 

 compared with other iron. 



Mr. Dibben. — That depends upon what you flux it with. 

 You can add superphosphate of lime to ,vhite iron, and make 

 pins with it. 

 • Referred to the Chemical Section. 



OFFERS FOR PREMIUMS. 



Mr. Selleck also exhibited a new traction powder for locomo- 

 tives, consisting of fine Franklinite. Sifted upon the track, ahead 

 of the driving wheels, it will so penetrate the iron as to prevent 

 the wheels from slipping, and will be more permanent in its 

 effects than sand. 



Referred to the Chemical Section. 



Mr. J. W. Moore exhibited Elliot's revolving pistol, heretofore 

 offered for a premium. The hammer is entirely within the han- 

 dle, so that it is impossible to fire it by accident. 



Referred to the Mechanical Section. 



Brown's self-regulating hot-water furnace, for warming and 

 ventilating dwellings, &c., was referred to the Mechanical Section. 



Mr. Churchill presented coal oil lamps, invented by Dietz, 

 and by Miller, which were referred to the Chemical Section. 



