142 HUGHES : WAKDHA VALLEY COAL-EIELD. 



coal or charcoal. This course was continued until the furnace was full- 

 In 24 hours after lighting the furnace, the molten slag began to come 

 down into the hearth, then blast was let on quietly, and in 3 hours 

 thereafter the slag made its appearance at the cinder notch. The pres- 

 sure was increased to about l|Ib. per square inch on the 2nd day. 

 During this time the slag formed, and came off in larger quantities, and 

 the hearth quickly filled with spongy iron which would not liquify. To 

 overcome this hinderance, the blast was intensified, and more blank 

 charges of coal were added. The temperature in the hearth increased, 

 and the fire-bricks, the tymp plate, and even the bottom of the hearth 

 were fused ; still the iron that had settled down was so mixed with the 

 ashes of the coal that it would not liquify, and only kept accumulating 

 till the iron reached the top of the tuyeres, and then a stop was put to 

 all further proceedings till the mass was dug out, which was over a ton 

 in weight ." 



Describing this first assay at iron-making to the South Stafford- 

 shire Mill and Forge Managers' Association, in a letter, dated Warora, 

 5th November 18 75*, Mr. Ness gives the analyses of the iron ores and 

 coal,f and then says — " You can easily calculate from the analyses I have 

 given that the gross amount of foreign matter that would require to go 

 into the furnace to make a ton of iron is not much in excess of many 

 of the mixtures in use at home. I started the furnace in the usual way, 

 possibly giving it a better chance in having it thoroughly dry, and filling 

 it three-fourths full of dried timber before lighting it, and then filling 

 regular charges of coal, limestone and ore, in the proportion of 2, ^th, 

 and I, respectively, with |th charcoal.J Blast§ was let on gently after the 



* Mining Journal, 25th December 1875. 



f These analyses have already been quoted,— see pages 100, 111. 



J Whilst working, a blank charge of coal in every 10 to 16 charges was added. 



§ Temperature of blast 150° Fahr. The heating apparatus was mainly to dry the air, as 

 when the experiments were made, the air was saturated with moisture, the monsoon not 

 being over. 



( 142 ) 



