420 Facts about Iron. 



other iron-working races in an early stage of metallurgical 

 knowledge. In the enormous works of modern times the 

 result of smelting is to obtain cast iron, which requires separate 

 and costly processes to "bring it into the malleable state. 

 Ultimately, however, we may expect the success of plans by 

 which malleable iron may be obtained directly from the ore, in 

 quantities and at prices adapted to manufacturing require- 

 ments. Those who desire to know what has been done in this 

 direction may consult Dr. Percy's elaborate work. It is not a 

 subject that we intend to discuss in this paper, but we cannot 

 help remarking that iron production, under our cumbrous 

 patent laws, has got into such a deplorable state of complexity 

 and confusion as to indicate a necessity, both in the interest of the 

 public and that of inventors, to reconsider our whole system 

 of offering the alleged advantages of a monopoly to the dis- 

 coverers of new processes and new plans. So far as the 

 general public is concerned, there is little doubt that our 

 patent laws act badly ; but it is obviously unfair that inventive 

 talent should go without its reward, and it does not coincide 

 with ordinary ideas of justice that the anxious toil and 

 laborious thought of many years should be seized upon by 

 outsiders at the very moment when a reasonable prospect of 

 remuneration appears. Thus, at first sight, patents as granted 

 in this country seem advantageous to inventors ; but it will be 

 found that a time arrives in most important branches of manu- 

 facture in which this ceases to be the case. Let any one, for 

 example, now turn his attention to iron, and he will find the 

 patents already in existence surrounding him like pitfalls on 

 every side. Schemes unsuccessful, and schemes partially suo- 

 oetsfhl b}- the hundred are found to be under the protection of 

 the patent laws. Very often it is quite impossible to ascertain 

 the limits to any particular patent without a series of actions 

 and appeals, in which the longest purse is most likely to win. 

 Thus, a freak comer into the field buys "a, pig in a, poke" 

 when he purchases a patent, and has small phanoe of peaoeably 

 enjoying bis acquisition, unless it should prove worthless; and 

 little hope of maintaining it against attack, unless he has a 

 i capita] at his command. We must still oome hack to 



I lie moral axiom that those v. ho benelit society by their intel- 

 ligence deserve reward, but we much doubt whether anything 

 like our existing patent system is calculated to secure that 

 desirable end. 



In this count iv iron working was probably an ancient art, 

 as there is evidence thai, it, was practised anterior to 

 Roman times. Dr. Percy cites authorities to show that it was 

 understood by the old Egyptians — Mr. Layard found some iron 

 work at Nineveh, and Mr. Francis Galton has recently given to 



