40 



NATURE 



[Mav 14, 1896 



way, what is. equivalent to a very rich ore is produced. The pig 

 iron made gives an excellent analysis. It is not, however, 

 necessary to smell all the iron sand in this way, for a certain part 

 of it can be mixed with fluid iron, tar being added. The liquid 

 metal will melt and absorb the iron .sand, the tar giving sufficient 

 carbon to retain the metallic iron in a fluid state. There is, of 

 course, a saving in cost in this method of procedure, and the 

 metal may be run direct for castings, thus avoiding the loss in re- 

 melting. Bar iron is made by jiuddling from tarred iron sand 

 and smelted metal. In the Siemens furnace, also, the same method 

 of procedure is followed. Figures are given in the paper as to 

 the cost of these processes, but the most remarkable details are 

 those referring to the quality of the product. Thus we are told 

 that by the treatment described, bar iron, equal in quality to 

 BBH, can be produced for £•] per ton, and wrought iron, which 

 will give what the author truly described as " the extraordinary 

 tensile stress of 52 tons to the square inch." One would be 

 inclined to describe this tenacity in wrought iron, not only as 

 extraordinary, but as almost incredible ; at any rate, one would 

 wish to see the test authenticated by at least more than one 

 experimenter of high reputation before accepting it as unques- 

 tionable. This would be more especially the case if, as we 

 understood the author to say, the elongation was 334 per cent. 



Mr. Walford's paper was next taken. Its object was to 

 describe the character of the Middle Lias ironstone of the 

 Midlands and its organic origin, and the making of the stone 

 and its ferruginous changes. 



At the conclusion of the reading of this paper the meeting 

 adjourned until the next day. 



On the members again assembling on Friday morning the 

 paper of Baron Jtiptner was the first taken, being read by Mr. 

 H. Bennett Brough in the absence of the author. This was a very 

 long contribution consisting of thirty-six pages, but, as was said 

 during the discussion which followed its reading, it was not a 

 word too long. The subject is one of great importance, and 

 has been far too long neglected. The want of uniformity in 

 analysis has led to much confusion and consequent loss of money 

 in the iron and steel industries. In a general description of the 

 meeting, such as this, it would be impossible to do justice to a 

 subject of this magnitude, and at present we can only make 

 brief reference to the proposals contained in the paper, hoping 

 to return to the question so as to deal with it at greater length 

 on a future occasion. A large part of the paper was occupied 

 in giving examples of discrepancies in analyses ; thus, in an 

 instance quoted, a chill roll was examined in two laboratories, 

 and quite incredible differences were oVjtained. In one case the 

 carbon was returned as 3"5 per cent., in another 2785 per cent. 

 Silicon in the first analy.sis was given at i'3 per cent., the 

 second laboratory gave o65S per cent. Other instances almost 

 as striking were quoted by the author. What is proposed now 

 to be done is to est.ablish an international laboratory in Switzer- 

 land. All the important nations are to nominate honorary 

 directors of work. For the purposes of making analyses, how- 

 ever, paid investigators will be necessary. Dr. Wedding, who 

 spoke during the discussion, said that it was estimated the cost 

 would be about ^3000 a year, and he thought that if 300 of the 

 principal iron and steel works in the world would contribute 

 yearly £\o apiece, the work for a period of ten years could be 

 done. Sir Lowthian Bell was of opinion that there should be 

 no difficulty in getting this amount of money, and promised that 

 his own works should contribute. It is perhaps unnecessary to 

 point out that English iron and steel works are in some case.s — 

 there are, of course, not.able exceptions — lamentably deficient in 

 the scientific department. Mr. Stead, whose experience is 

 very wide, and who speaks as a disinterested observer, 

 said that in some establishments of considerable importance 

 the chemist only received a salary of ^100 a year. How 

 can a man be expected, not only to work with that enthusiasm 

 with which all scientific men must work for their labours to be 

 effect ive, but to keep abreast o( knowledge by the purcha.se of 

 books, and sub.scriptions to technical or scientific .societies, on 

 such a stipend as this, which can allow no surplus after the 

 • barest necessities of life have been supplied ? Mr. .Stead pointed 

 out that technical libraries were not common enough in this 

 country, and he would .suggest that in all large manufacturing 

 centres libraries of that nature -should be instituted. This, how- 

 ever, would not quite meet the difficulty. Abroad, especially in 

 Germany, one finds iron and steel works have libraries of their 

 own, the collection of books they po.ssess being sufiiciently large 

 in most cases to be dignified by the name. Unfortunately in 



KG. I3.S5, VOL. 54] 



ICngland, beyond a few elementary treatises or text-books, very 

 little literature is seen in the laboratories, the chemist too often 

 contenting himself with following well-known and stereotyped 

 methods of analysis, and not troubling himself with any original 

 work which might lead to fresh industrial developments. A 

 good deal has been heard lately about (ierman competition in the 

 iron and steel trade, and there has been an inclination to 

 attribute it to higher wages paid in this country. It may be, 

 however, that there is something to be .said not only again.st 

 labour, but against capital in this matter ; and certainly (ierman 

 steel makers have gone ahead of those in Kngland in many 

 cases. We have in mind, perhaps just now more especially, 

 the development of the basic steel industry, the invention of 

 which originated in this country. By the exercise of greater 

 foresight, greater enterpri.se, and improvement in processes, 

 Germany has gained a commercial advantage from which 

 England is now suffering. In the discussion that followed the 

 reading of the jiaper, one or two suggestions were made which 

 should be put on record. Prof. Arnold drew attention to the 

 effect of segregation, of which he has met with some striking 

 examples of late. In a tyre examined, sulphur was in one case 

 I per cent. ; in another sample, taken an inch and a half from 

 the first, the sulphur was '043. Mr. R. A. Hadfield said that 

 allowance should be made for previous treatment of metal, and, 

 in considering the history of a sample, its size, previous 

 mechanical treatment, and from what part of the ingot it was- 

 taken, should be noted. Dr. Readel was of opinion that the 

 iron and steel industry was behind other industries in devising 

 standard methods of analyses. The British Association Com- 

 mission, he said, did good work, but there was the defect of 

 want of organisation. Each member went on his own line, so 

 that the same ground was covered. more than once. An orderly 

 scheme of procedure was the first thing necessary, certain work 

 being allotted to different individuals ; he had had, recently, 

 occasion to look into the subject of chromium, and had found 

 even for this metal some thirty or forty processes for de- 

 termining its presence. What was necessary was that some 

 one with authority should make a selection showing that which 

 might be the most desirable to retain. Mr. Ainsworth made a 

 suggestion which it is to be hoped will not be lost sight of. The 

 accumulated funds of the Institute are about eight or nine 

 thousand jiounds, and with the improved management of the 

 present day, the sum is likely to be increased at a rapid rate. 

 Mr. Ainsworth pointed out that it is not desirable to hoard this 

 money, and no better means could be devised for spending it than 

 bringing out of the present chaos an orderly method of chemical 

 analysis. The suggestion was warmly supported by the Chair- 

 man, Sir Lowthian Bell. 



It may be said that chemical analysis has fallen somewhat 

 into disfavour w ilh iron and steel makers of late, and also with 

 engineers, the tendency being to trust wholly to physical ex- 

 periment, aided latterly by microscopical examination. It is- 

 certain, however, that nothing can take the place of chemistiry 

 in metallurgical research ; and the disfavour with which it is 

 now regarded is not the result of faults inherent to the system 

 of chemical examination, but to the imperfect manner in which 

 it is carried out. 



Mr. Darby's paper was taken next. It described a process 

 which promises to be of great importance in the iron and steel 

 trade, by means of which sulphate of ammonia is obtained from 

 producer gas without the gas being rendered unfit for steel 

 making. For many years steel makers have had such a process 

 in view, and ex]ieriments have been made with a view to bring it 

 to practical shajje. So far as we are aware, however, they have 

 all hitherto resulted in failure, or, at any rate, have not been a 

 commercial success. Mr. Darby's experiments, however, go to 

 show that Dr. Mond has solved the problem. We have not 

 space to enter into details here, but must refer our readers to 

 the very interesting paper which will be published in the 

 Transactions, and in which the method of working the ap- 

 ]iaratus is shown by a diagram, .Although the experiments of Mr. 

 Darby were carried out on a practical scale, the furnace was a 

 small one ; but this was rather against the process, as it is more 

 difiicult to work a small steel furnace, and keep the metal fluid, 

 than a large one. The plant required for carrying out the pro- 

 cess is undoubtedly very costly, but as the return in ammonia 

 will enable a dividend of 25 per cent, to he paid on the outlay, 

 there doubtless will be little difliculty in finding the money in 

 large steel works. It is to be hoped that the English steel 

 makers will not neglect to inquire into and consider this oppor- 



