S/X WILLIAM SIEMENS, F.R.S. 315 



furnace. There I know that we can produce six, eight or ten tons 

 of steel of perfectly uniform quality. We can take out samples 

 before pouring that steel to assure ourselves of having the quality 

 (1. This metal is thoroughly mixed it is a perfectly fluid 

 mass and, therefore, there can be no reason why there should be 

 a difference in the behaviour of one part of this metal from the 

 behaviour of another part. Now, I have lately seen steel of very 

 mild quality produced which is eminently suitable for structural 

 purposes. This steel contains hardly any carbon at all, perhaps 

 one-tenth per cent, only ; but it contains manganese in a larger 

 proportion than has been given to it hitherto. It is possessed of 

 a toughness which is unapproached by any other kind of metal ; 

 and before it breaks it yields even to 50 per cent. Now, if such a 

 material can be produced, and if such a material will resist say 

 80 tons, which is quite enough for all purposes, I think it is the 

 very best material for structural requirements. 



In tlie discussion of the Papers 



"ON THE MANUFACTURE OF STEEL," by WILLIAM 

 HACKNEY, B.Sc., Assoc. Inst. C.E., and 



"ON BESSEMER STEEL RAILS," by JOSIAH TIMMIS SMITH, 

 M. Inst. C.E., 



DR. SIEMENS * said that he regarded Mr. Hackney's Paper as so 

 comprehensive that it offered room for observations on many 

 different branches of the subject. His remarks would be confined 

 to the first two portions into which the subject was divided, 

 namely, the chemical and the manufacturing. The author had, 

 perhaps, dwelt too much upon the question of name, and hail 

 proposed to change the prevailing denominations of mild steel, 



* Excerpt Minutes of Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Vol. 

 XL1I. Session 1874-1875, pp. 91-95. 



