152 THE ADDRESSES, LECTURES, ETC., OF 



wrought iron in its unprotected condition, but that zinc acts most 

 efficaciously in protecting it. 



Quite recently, another mode of protectiug iron and steel plates 

 from corrosion has been suggested by Professor Barff. This 

 consists in exposing the metallic surfaces, while heated to redness, 

 to the action of superheated steam, thus producing upon their 

 surface the magnetic oxide of iron, which, unlike common rust, 

 possesses the characteristic of permanency, and adheres closely to 

 the metallic surface below. In this respect it is analogous to zinc 

 oxide adhering to and protecting metallic zinc, with this further 

 advantage in its favour, that the magnetic oxide is practically 

 insoluble in sea water and other weak saline solutions. Time will 

 show to what extent this ingenious method of protecting iron and 

 steel can be made practically available. 



Before concluding this address, I wish to call your attention to a 

 matter which will require your early consideration. The Iron and 

 Steel Institute has now attained an influential position, and is 

 likely to increase from year to year in its beneficial action, upon 

 the further development of a trade which may justly be claimed 

 to be the most important in this country. In order to give 

 additional weight to its action, it seems necessary that its position 

 should be recognized in official quarters, and that it should be 

 possessed of a habitation in a central locality, which should com- 

 prise office accommodation, a library, a model room, a lecture 

 room, and laboratory. Such a building, if specially erected for the 

 Iron and Steel Institute, would exceed the means at their disposal 

 for such a purpose, but the moment has arrived when other 

 institutions devoted to the cultivation of different branches of 

 applied science feel the necessity for similar accommodation. 

 Would it not be possible for our Institute to join efforts with 

 those kindred institutions, for the erection of a joint building, 

 representing applied science as completely as Burlington House 

 represents pure science. Such a project could not be realised 

 without the concurrence of the parent institution of applied 

 science, " The Institution of Civil Engineers," whose building, 

 though large, is by no means sufficient for its actual requirements. 

 The new building might, therefore, accommodate the Institution 

 of Civil Engineers, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, 

 the Institution of Naval Architects, the Society of Telegraph 



