152 Wr ought-Iron Steel. 



26. To make wrought-iron, the pig-iron is 

 melted, and a convenient quantity is lifted out 

 and beaten with hammers continually while 

 hot, and in every direction, until it is sufficiently 

 thus "wrought," which makes it tough and 

 flexible. 



27. This is then made into bars or chains 

 or any other shape that is preferred. It is also 

 rolled while hot between rollers with grooves 

 in them so as to make long bars of different 

 shapes and thicknesses for different purposes. 

 Wire also is made from wrought-iron. 



28. To make steel, this iron is heated again 

 with charcoal ; part of the charcoal goes into 

 the iron and makes it capable of being tem- 

 pered in the fire, so as to be made very hard 

 and very elastic, taking thus a finer edge when 

 made into tools and ground. It is from this 

 that we get all our knives, hatchets, axes, chis- 

 els, gouges, adzes, and other tools. Razors are 

 made from the best and finest steel, and when 

 carefully ground and sharpened have a very fine 

 cutting edge. 



29. More iron is obtained in England than in any other 

 country in the world ; and in Pennsylvania and Michigan, 

 which furnish about one-half the quantity produced in the 

 United States. (Census 1880.) 



30. In Missouri is Iron Mountain, a mass of iron 200 

 feet high, covering an area of 500 acres. 



31. The place most noted for the manufacture of 

 knives is Sheffield, a town in England. 



