WILLIAM SIEMENS, F.K.S. 



265 



then try, in practice, to approach these results by the best means 

 we can think of. The question of the chemical economy of the 

 blast furnace was discussed, as Mr. Bell will remember, at Bir- 

 mingham, some time ago ; and, in arguing the point, I disagreed 

 with some of the speakers on the great results which might be 

 expected from the mere increase of capacity. I could not see that 

 this capacity, when it had attained a certain limit, could be bene- 

 ficial as a mere absorber of heat in order to increase materially the 

 economy of the furnace. I am glad to see Mr. Bell's elaborate 

 investigations on the subject have caused him to take the view he 

 has explained to us. At the discussion in Birmingham I ventured 

 to state the minimum consumption of coke in a blast furnace in 

 dealing with ore of a certain chemical composition. Mr. Bell, in 

 giving the results of his investigations, based partly upon theoreti- 

 cal grounds, comes to a conclusion and although the two inves- 

 tigations are totally distinct, for we view the question from different 

 points of view the results we arrive at are the same within a 

 fraction. I came to the conclusion that the minimum quantity in 

 smelting Cleveland ore would be 21 cwts., and Mr. Bell's calculation 

 comes to within 1 cwt. of that figure. This coincidence of result 

 is, I think, the best proof that can be brought forward of the 

 correctness of that view of the case. At this meeting we have 

 had the whole question much more thoroughly brought before us, 

 and I think the paper will remain a standard paper on the subject. 

 Mr. Bell made one very valuable suggestion with regard to the 

 carbonization of iron in the blast furnace. He has discovered 

 that iron ore absorbs carbon, and the amount of absorption pro- 

 bably rules the " number " of the pig metal produced. That is a 

 new view of the question and a very interesting one. I, myself, 

 have great belief in that view ; it will serve to explain many 

 apparent anomalies. The next question that of hot blast I 

 am not so well prepared to agree with him. No doubt Mr. Bell 

 has viewed the question very maturely, and I hesitate to differ 

 from him with regard to results. But still, in viewing the question 

 from a different point, I would come to a conclusion different 

 from that of Mr. Bell, and probably, on comparing the ways, the 

 result that we will arrive at may, perhaps, in some degree modify 

 the figures placed before us at this meeting. Mr. Bell shows that 

 by increasing the blast beyond the ordinary limits of 600, it 



