226 THE ADDRESSES, LECTURES, ETC., OF 



the Creusot and Terrenoire Works was produced by the Bessemer 

 process, which is an inference that would be simply inconsistent 

 with the fact that the process with which my name is connected is 

 employed for these purposes by the very works specially mentioned 

 by Mr. Bessemer. With regard to Mr. Krupp's works, all I know 

 is that he uses my process very largely, although it is commonly 

 reported that in casting his ordnance he still employs the crucible. 

 Sir Joseph Whitworth, in working out his remarkable system of 

 compressing steel in the fluid state, by means of which he has 

 obtained unequalled results as regards the combined qualities of 

 strength, toughness, and uniformity of material, tried, it is true, 

 in the first instance, both steel made in crucibles and in the 

 Bessemer converter ; but, as a matter of fact, it should be stated 

 that during the last three or four years he has used no other than 

 open-hearth steel, and has lately erected extensive plant in accord- 

 ance with my designs. 



In your Money Article of to-day you again refer to an interest- 

 ing trial recently made by Messrs. Bolckow, Vaughan and Co., of 

 Middlesbo rough, who appear to have succeeded in producing 

 Bessemer metal from Cleveland pig in adapting to their Bessemer 

 converter Mr. Thomas's lime lining. The success of this process 

 will depend upon the question whether such a lining can be made 

 to stand in practical working and upon the percentage of phos- 

 phorus that can be removed through the action of such basic 

 lining ; but I confess that my own efforts in 1868 to adapt a basic 

 lining .of alumina, magnesia, or lime to the metal chamber of my 

 furnace proved unavailing. One great difficulty I encountered 

 with these linings was that when defective they could not be 

 mended at the end of an operation by the introduction of addi- 

 tional quantities of the same material, which in the case of a silica 

 lining, combine readily with the old material under the influence 

 of intense heat. The mere fact of producing steel from Cleveland 

 material is, however, no novelty, and has been practised to some 

 extent by the use of the open-hearth process ; large contracts 

 having for some years been carried out for converting old iron 

 rails into steel rails by some of my licensees. 



I am, sir, your obedient servant, 



C. WILLIAM SIEMENS. 



12, QUEEN ANNE'S GATE, S.W., March 19, 1879. 



