AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 603 



coal, coke, or anthracite. After burning a certain period, the 

 ore is wholly deprived of its oxygen, and has become soft or 

 wrought iron ; it is at this point that it is desirable to arrest the 

 process, but in the common furnace the materials are shut up 

 from view for about twelve hours, and there are no means for 

 ascertaining when the deoxydization has been completed exactly. 

 As a consequence, the metal is kept at a high heat in contact with 

 the carbon, after the oxygen has been driven olf, and the result 

 is a union of an excess of carbon with the metal, which is convert- 

 ed into a carburet — pig iron. This product is indeed more useful, 

 compact, and portable than tlie ore, but it requires to undergo 

 another expensive process before it is converted into wrought iron. 

 Mr. Salter's invention for making wrought iron direct from the 

 ore in open chambers, is designed to enable the smelter to arrest 

 the reducing process at the point where the deoxydization of the 

 ore has been completed, and before an injurious excess of carbon 

 has been absorbed by the metal. By this method but one process 

 is required, and wrought iron is thus produced, it is stated, at 

 the same cost as pig iron; the latter is worth only $35 per ton ; 

 the wrought iron from |85 to $90. 



Dr. Turner reminded members that Mr. Salter's method was 

 examined and approved at a Fair of the American Institute, 

 several years ago, and a silver medal given to him on that ac- 

 count. 



Mr. Tillman, with Mr. Salter's aid, drew the plan of the fur- 

 nace on the black board. 



It is formed of three horizontal chambers, one over the other, 

 of suitable dimensions for management, especially to enable the 

 man to reach its length with a suitable implement for moving the 

 ore, as required by circumstances, from the upper chamber to the 

 second, and finally to the lower, where it is found to be malleable 

 iron. 



For the better knowledge of it, we refer to the drawing and 

 description annexed, from the Scientific American. 



Mr. Tillman. — Salter's method is very superior to Martien's 

 and Bessemer's. It will necessarily supersede them. 



Dr. Turner read a note from Thomas C. Willis, a venerable 

 iron master, highly approving Salter's method. 



He read a note from Marcus L. Ward, of Jersey, strongly ap- 

 proving it, and laying before the Club a wrought iron implement 

 made directly from the furnace. Mr. Ward took the iron ]iim- 

 self from the furnace. That Mr. Salter discontinued his opera- 

 tion for want of capital. That it is the best of all known methods. 



