THE USE OF IKON. 6 1 



under constant shock, and where life and death are in the bal- 

 ance. In this connection it should be stated that the method 

 by which the steel is made cannot be discovered by ordinary 

 chemical analysis. Certain experiments indicate that there is 

 a difference between Bessemer and open-hearth steel in the 

 character of the occluded gases, but this system of analysis is 

 never resorted to in practice, and no provision is made for it 

 in laboratories. Moreover it is doubtful if any expert would 

 risk his reputation by asserting positively, from any such evi- 

 dence, that a certain steel was made by either one or the 

 other process. Consequently, when open-hearth metal is 

 specified, a careful watch should be kept in the steel-works 

 that there is no substitution of the inferior metal." 



Many such honest but possibly biased arguments, contro- 

 verting Mr. Campbell's opinions, might be inserted, but the 

 tendency would be to lead us back to our starting-point, and 

 it is possibly best to conclude with the following clear and un- 

 prejudiced, if not entirely scientific, statement of the case by a 

 reputable trades journal : 



Suitable Grades for Structural Work. " The terms ' Bes- 

 semer ' and ' open-hearth ' steels have reference to methods 

 or processes, and not necessarily to qualities. If a good qual- 

 ity of pig iron is made into steel by either the Bessemer or 

 open-hearth process, it would be found that the latter was 

 softer an-d more uniform under the stress of severe usage. 

 But Bessemer steel made of good iron is better than open- 

 hearth steel made of a cheap and inferior material. There- 

 fore the Bessemer * tank' steel of some manufacturers will 

 run better than the open-hearth ' flange ' steel of other 

 makers. The name don't make the quality." 



The preponderence of testimony and evidence seems to 

 point to open-hearth metal as preferable for stand-pipe con- 

 struction, but after having specified this, it is of the utmost inru 

 portance to see, not only that it is furnished, but that the char- 



