No. 216.] 227 



coal for coke, as no other fuel would answer, as he thought, that 

 anthracite had been repeatedly tried in England, but that the result 

 was always a failure. We at once decided against his proposition 

 of erecting steel works at Cumberland, or at any other distant place, 

 if we could possibly avoid it. We thought we would first try whether 

 we could not effect, by brother Jonat|jan's ingenuity and skill, what 

 John Bull pronounced impossible. Fortunately we were soon directed 

 to you, and you erected a small trial furnace, and you have succeeded 

 to admi-alion, in melting, with American anthracite, and in making 

 from our Adirondac iron, cast steel of the very best quality. 



Whether your success in melting was owing wholly to your method 

 of using anthracite, or in some degree to the character of our 

 anthracite being different from the Welch, (that which was probably 

 used by the English) I know not, but it is at any rate certain that 

 you have accomplished what John said was impracticable. 



You have tried charcoal as well as anthracite, at our request, bat 

 in this you succeeded imperfectly. I think it probable, however, you 

 might by change of the size and 'form of the furnace, succeed, yet, as 

 you are clearly of opinion it would not be economical to use this 

 fuel, I am satisfied that anthracite is that which alone we ought to 

 think of using as the melting fuel, and that our steel works ought to 

 be erected where that material can be cheaply supplied, and our 

 Adirondac iron be transported at a moderate expense. If this were 

 done, it really appears to me that a superior cast steel might be 

 made at a less cost than at any other known place in the world. 



I am, very respectfully, dear sir. 



Your most obedient servant, 



A. McINTYRE. 

 Mb. Joseph Dixon. 



