164 [Assembly 



great increase here in the demand for it, and there can be no doubt 

 of a constant augmentation of that demand. 



The conversion of iron into steel in the United States has not been 

 done until very recently, except to a limited extent. About the year 

 1828, Mr. Joseph Dixon commenced the manufacture of black lead 

 pots for the use of brass founders ; up to that time these articles had 

 been imported principally from Holland. Mr. Dixon's perseverance 

 in the manufacture of these pots has been attended with entire success. 

 The pots of his manufacture will do from six to seven times the work 

 of those imported, and are afforded at less than one half the price, so 

 that now the importation has nearly ceased. 



About five years since Mr. Dixon commenced experiments in using 

 his black lead crucibles for converting iron into steel. Complete 

 success has attended these experiments. The crucibles contain about 

 forty pounds of iron each, and they will stand six heats ; each heat 

 occupies one and a half hours. The metal is put into the crucibles 

 and melted with anthracite coal. From the crucibles it is run into 

 ingots from 3 to 6 inches square, and from 18 inches to two feet long, 

 and then drawn down by hammers worked by machinery to the re- 

 quired sizes. The manufactory is located at Jersey City, and under 

 its present arrangements produces one ton of cast steel per day. By 

 an improvement in the process, Mr. Dixon has been enabled to con- 

 vert the pig metal directly into steel, avoiding the intermediate pro- 

 cesses of puddling and drawing into bars ; by which twenty-five per 

 cent of the metal is saved, and the cost of conversion materally di- 

 minished. We understand the works have been enlarged, and will 

 soon be in operation for the production of three tons per day. The 

 Adirondac iron has thus far been exclusively used for this purpose. 



Specimens of this steel were exhibited at our Twenty-second An- 

 nual Fair, and also specimens of cutlery made from it. It was pro> 

 nounced by intelligent practical workmen who had used it, equal in 

 all respects to the best imported cast steel. It finds a ready market 

 at the highest price paid for English cast steel. 



