1870.] Metallurgy. 557 



described, and the author's views are given as to the relative values 

 of the several systems. It is not practicable, did we even deem it 

 advisable, to enter into any discussion on these questions. We 

 must refer all of our readers who are interested in the subject of 

 mine ventilation to the book itself, which they will find very full 

 of useful information. 



Metallurgy. 



It is our duty to record such of the numerous attempts as are 

 made from time to time to improve the make of iron and steel as 

 may appear to possess merit. It is not a new idea to use the alka- 

 line metals for removing deleterious ingredients from iron ; but we 

 are not aware that it has hitherto been proposed, as is now done by 

 Girard and Poulain, to force the vapour of potassium or sodium 

 through the molten metal. They propose to saturate the fuel with 

 carbonate of soda, and dry it, or to mix common salt with the fluxing 

 materials. These inventors, however, appear to place most confi- 

 dence in a process for blowing those vapours mixed with moist air, 

 or moist carbonic oxide, through the melted metal in a Bessemer 

 converter. Pure iron or steel is said to be thus obtainable at 

 pleasure. If experience proves this, we shall soon hear more of this 

 process. 



The continually-increasing demand for high-class pig-iron and 

 iron ores, caused by the extension of the Bessemer process, has 

 brought into notice the red hematite and magnetic ores of Norway 

 as a possible source of supply for the Continent. According to a 

 statement published in the 'Berggeist,' a paper representing the 

 metallurgical interests of Westphalia and the Bhine provinces, it has 

 recently been suggested to employ the magnetic ores raised in the 

 neighbourhood of Arendal for the production of Bessemer iron on 

 the spot, the total output of which the mines are capable being 

 estimated at 50,000 tons of 40 per cent, annually, which it is pro- 

 posed to smelt in two moderate -sized furnaces with coke made on 

 the spot from washed English small coal. Whether such a proposal 

 is likely to be commercially successful may be doubted ; but the 

 point is in so far of interest as showing how completely iron making 

 is now governed by the item of cheap fuel ; the making of char- 

 coal pig-iron even in a thickly-wooded country like Norway being 

 nearly at an end, for out of fifteen blast-furnaces in the southern 

 part of the country only five are now in blast, the cost of produc- 

 tion of pig-iron being nearly 61. per ton, owing to the high price of 

 charcoal. . On the system proposed, the cost of No. 1 grey Bessemer 

 iron is computed at 68s. 6d. per ton, which, could it be realized, 

 would leave a fair margin on the selling price of hematite pig-iron 

 in our north-eastern ports. 



2 r 2 



