AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 539 



fratiklinite iroti make excellent horse'shocSi and the points of ploughs. 

 One common plow requires twelve new points before itself is worn out, but 

 a point of this iron will outlast the plough. Iron mills ivill not last ; a pair 

 of rollers a day have been worn out even in grinding bones J but made of 

 this iron they would wear well. Coat the edge of a shovel with it and it 

 will outwear the body. 



Melting at so low a temperature it is good for coating softer iron. The 

 zinc from the ore yields a valuable white oxyde. The iron itself osydizes 

 slowly, and is therefore a valuable substitute for the noble metals. 



When gold pens were first invented iridium and rhodium were used to 

 point them, but those metals are scarce. They then made an alloy of zinc 

 and platinum, which was heated to white float in hollows of charcoal, until 

 a sort of explosion took place, and pellicles of metal were driven oif, which 

 were then collected and afterward used as points for pens, and were found 

 lo be the hardest substance known. They would not wear out. Different 

 naetals combined give new alloys, some of which become only harder not 

 heavier. These are found useful for various purposes. 



Agricultural implements ought to be made to last as long as possible. 

 The parts in contact with the soil should be hard. 



Mr. Wetherall.— The peculiarity of the franklinite is, that it ia an alloy 

 of iron, zinc, and manganese. 



Dr. Deck showed florae specimens. The only locality where it is found 

 in quantities suited for practical purposes, is Sussex Co., N, J. There 

 was a little found in the Isle of Skyc, but is was only regarded as a natural 

 curiosity. He had made an analysis, and found it to consist of .3^ parts 

 zinc, 4^ manganese, and the balance iron. Its crystals were similar to 

 those of spelter. He had melted the specimen of iron shown, in a common 

 Btove, at 1,850 degs. of heat. 



Mr. Garbanati had noticed one peculiarity of the specimens exhibited, 

 which, if a general characteristic, renders franklinite of the utmost value 

 for a purpose not noticed by preceding speakers. It is not subject to the 

 influence of the magnet, and is therefore of the utmost value in ship build- 

 ing. The influence of the magnet on iron ships has beea a difficulty which 

 builders have not been able to overcome, and consequently there has been 

 a vast destruction of life and property. If, then, this iron can be used 

 successfully in avoidance of that trouble, it will prove of more value for 

 that purpose, than for all other purposes together. 



Chairman.- -Mr. Smith has informed me it is likely to be of the utmost 

 value for the wheels of railroad cars, and even for the rails ; he expected 

 it would give a good ' bite ' to the rails. The single article of frogs would 

 give employment to all the furnaces in use, should this iron be found 

 desirable. 



Col. Curtis.— Both wheels and rails might be coated with it. The stubs 

 or ends of the rails wore out very quickly by the wheels rubbing against 

 them, if those ' stubs' were coated even for a few inches, it would save 

 millions of dollars. 



