ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF STEEL. 97 



from the best makers ; and bars were received from others, the experiments 

 on which were at that time incomplete. Since then I have had an opportu- 

 nity of visiting the important works at Barrow-in-Furnoss, and from there I 

 have received bars and plates of different qualities for the purpose of experi- 

 ment, and such as would admit of comparison with those recorded in my last 

 Report. I have also received specimens from Mr. Heaton for experiment, 

 illustrative of the new process of conversion from crude pig iron (of different 

 grades) to that of steel, as exhibited in the results contained in this Eeport. 



In every experimental research connected with metals, it is necessary to 

 ascertain, as nearly as possible, the properties of the ores, the quality of the 

 material, and the processes by which they are produced. Generally this in- 

 formation is difficult to obtain, as in every new process of manufacture there 

 is a natural inclination (where the parties are commercially interested) to 

 keep it as long as possible to themselves, and hence the reluctance to furnish 

 particulars. Of this, however, I can make no complaint, as Mr. Bessemer, 

 the Barrow Company, and Mr. Heaton have unreservedly not only opened 

 their works for inspection, but they have furnished every particular required 

 (including chemical analysis) relative to the properties of the ores, and the 

 processes by which they are reduced. 



From this it will be seen that in some of the experiments I have had the 

 privilege of recording the chemical as well as the mechanical properties of the 

 specimens which have been forwarded for the purpose of experiment, and of 

 ascertaining their respective and comparative values. 



As regards the works at Barrow, I have, througli the kindness of Mr. 

 Ramsden and Mr. Smith the manager, received every facility for investigation, 

 and they have kindly sent me the analyses of all the ores in use for the pur- 

 pose of manufacturing both iron and steel. In these "Works, it wiU be noticed 

 that the manufacture is exclusively confined to the htematite ores, and that 

 by the Bessemer process. 



It is curious to trace the progressive development of the manufacture of 

 steel from the earliest period down to the present time, and to ascertain how 

 nearly the more premature and early stages of manufacture approaches to 

 those of Bessemer and others in our own days. To show how closely they 

 approximate in princixile (the exception being in the vessels used and the 

 power employed), I venture to quote from my own Report to the Barrow 

 Company, in which the coincidence between the ancient and modern processes 

 is exemplified. 



In treating of the value of the ha3matite formation, I have stated that "we 

 have no reliable accounts of the time when the haematite ores were first iised 

 for the purpose of manufacture. They must have existed contemporary with 

 those in Susses and the Forest of Dean ; for the numerous cinder-heaps in 

 those counties and at Furness bear evidence of the smelting-process having 

 been carried on from an early period, untU the forests became exhausted during 

 the reign of Elizabeth and her successors. The process by which the ores 

 were reduced in those days was extremely rude and simple, and was probably 

 no better than what had been practised from time immemorial at the ancient 

 bloomeries, to which were attached artificial blasts, first practised in this 

 country after the Roman conquest. "What was the nature of the apparatus 

 for producing this blast we are unable to ascertain ; but it is likely that two 

 or more pairs of bellows may have been used, or the method, still practised 

 by the natives of Madagascar, might have been adopted of fitting pistons 

 loosely into the hollow trunks of trees. In whatever form the hsematite ores 

 were reduced, it is clear that the smelting-furnace was not in operation in 



1869. H 



