602 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



der control, subject to such various treatment as they may re- 

 quire at different stages of reduction, and opjDortunities are 

 afforded for the escape of impurities without their combining 

 with and carrying off the metals. 



Another advantage claimed is, that ores may be reduced by 

 the use of anthracite coal alone, both as fuel and as the deoxydizing 

 agent, the impurities of that coal, such as sulphur, are expelled at 

 a low temperature before such coal acts on the ore, and conse- 

 quently, before the metals still in the ore can be affected by such 

 impurities. It is also alleged, that there is a saving of coal to a 

 large amount, both as fuel and a deoxydizing agent ; this is 

 effected as a deoxydizing agent, because no more coal is used than 

 is necessary to extract the oxygen from the ores, none entering 

 into the iron, and also from the rapidity of the operation, very 

 little being carried off by the draft. The saving of coal, as fuel 

 is effected partly by the various facilities already enumerated, for 

 the expulsion of impurities, partly by the prevention of the es- 

 cape of heat, one chamber being compacted upon another, and 

 partly by the long continuous range of the draft, to the whole 

 force of which the ores are exposed by their position, agitation 

 and falling. Owing to the freedom of draft, there is no mecha- 

 nical pressure by said draft upon the ores, therefore it cannot, by 

 the force of such pressure, prevent the chemical decomposition 

 of the ores, nor carry away the pulverized particles of ores and 

 carbon. 



We are informed that this process has been thoroughly tested, 

 and found to succeed far beyond expectation. 



It is alleged to be so cheap and expeditious as to render the ex- 

 pense of producing malleable iron of the best quality less than that 

 of pig iron made in the common blast furnaces. If this is so, it 

 certainly is a remarkable invention, and will give a wonderful 

 impetus to the manufacturing and industrial industry of this 

 country. Patented November 20th, 1849. For further infor- 

 mation, address the patentee, as above. 



THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON. 



From time immemorial the manufacture of iron has been con- 

 ducted with but little change in the methods ; these may be divi- 

 ded into two heads. First, the production from the ore of pig or 

 cast iron, by smelting in blast furnaces. Second, the conversion 

 of pig iron into a malleable state in small low furnaces, termed re 

 fineries, or by puddling in furnaces. 



In the first process, the ore, (an oxide of iron,) is deoxydized, 

 by being burned with some carbona ceoussubstance, such as char- 



