AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 547 



The report of the committee on franklinite — appointed last night of 

 meeting — being called for, Dr. Stevens, as chairman and geologist of the 

 committee, read a very able and elaborate report upon the geological form- 

 ations in which franklinite occurs, and incidentally gave a view of the 

 metaliferous strata of the United States, particularly the Atlantic seaboard. 

 And Mr. Seeley, as chemist, gave a full account of the chemical analysis 

 made of the mineral, the pig metal, etc. Mr. Serrell was not present to 

 report on the practical working of the metal and the uses to which it has 

 and can be applied with advantage, consequently the committee were 

 directed to report in full on the next evening, their number being increased 

 by the addition of Professor Mason and another member ; and their duties 

 being extended so as to cover a full and complete report upon the whole 

 ground covered by the subject. 



Prof. Mapes said Mr. Selleck several years ago melted 5 per cent, of the 

 franklinite ore with 95 per cent, of other iron, which made a compound of 

 superior quality. 



Mr. Johnson had tried some experiments in regard to the fusibility of 

 franklinite. He found copper fused in 12 minutes, the new cent in 14 

 minutes, and the franklinite in 21, the fire being kept as nearly uniform as 

 possible. 



The subject of the tenacity of the franklinite iron, or, in other words, 

 its strength as a metal, was then taken up. The chairman showed a bar of 

 iron made of 80 per cent, of magnetic iron ore with 20 per cent, of frank- 

 linite. Part of it was used for shoeing horses and making horse-nails. 

 Its tenacity is said to be exceedingly great. He also showed a specimen 

 which had been polished. He also presented another sample furnished by 

 the New Jersey Zinc Company. Col. Curtis described the operation of 

 combining the franklinite with the Allen mine ore. He also read a paper 

 giving statements of facts upon these points : 



" This sample of wrought iron was made at Milton, N. J., by "VVm. C. 

 Scofield, in Col. Stanborough's forge fire. Charcoal fuel, 280 pounds of 

 charcoal to the ton, 20 per cent, of franklinite ore, 80 per cent, of mag- 

 netic ore from the Allen mines. The ore from that locality made what 

 the workmen call a hard ' frizzly' iron. Breaks easily under the hammer, 

 and in drawing down will probably lose in scales about five or six hundred 

 pounds per ton. The Allen ore is sulphurous. Both ores were crushed as 

 fine as a grain of rye before putting them into the forge. The charcoal 

 was first lighted, and the ore was then thrown on, about 20 lbs. every 15 

 minutes." 



Mr. Pomcroy wished that manufacturers of this metal would give exact 

 data, so that we should be able to ascertain correctly its tensile strength 

 and upon what its peculiar excellence depends. New experiments, dift'er- 

 ing altogether from the old and less perfect ones, should be instituted- 

 The peculiar effect of franklinite upon other ores has not been fully shown. 

 It takes up the impurities — sulphur, phosphorus, etc., and thereby renders 

 them more easy to work and the iron produced more valuable. I have 



