114 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 



contemporary Sir C. W. Siemens, had not been accomplished facts. 

 Indeed, it would be extremely difficult to exaggerate the influence 

 that these inventions have had upon the progress of mankind. It was 

 not many yeai*s after Bessemer had perfected his invention that Dr. 

 Percy pointed out the fact that in the Bessemer process, as then 

 practised, one objectionable ingredient was not eliminated. This was 

 phosphorus, and its presence in steel caused the metal to be brittle, and, 

 for some purposes, totally untrustworthy. Dr. Percy's warning was for 

 some time disregarded, until ' true as steel ' became a phrase of no 

 meaning, if certain kinds of metal were included in this category. Thus 

 there appeared to be no possibility of applying this extraordinary process 

 to the pig iron produced from the cheapest and most abundant ores 

 — because they contained too much phosphorus. This process that had 

 so revolutionised the steel industry appeared to be strictly limited in its 

 application. It was no doubt with considerable pride that the late Dr. 

 Percy could in his later years point to the fact that this difficulty had 

 been completely solved by three of his own pupils. The solution of 

 this problem is without doubt one of the strongest evidences of the 

 value of scientific education. The cause of the retention of the 

 phosphorus was carefully traced. Experiments were tried time after 

 time to discover a method of getting rid of tLis element without 

 damaging the metal ; and at last, after months of patient toil a process 

 Avas discovered and placed upon a working basis. Without the 

 assistance of the analytical chemist progress in this direction would 

 have been hopeless. The exact relation between the method of 

 producing the steel, its composition, and its resulting physical 

 properties, can only be traced by most accurate analyses. This 

 statement is also true of all metallurgical industries. Unless the 

 battery manager can accurately determine the average value of his 

 ore and also of his tailings, how can he possibly estimate the success of 

 his work or the direction in which the waste of gold is taking place. 

 If again, the lead smelter is unable to estimate the silver aod lead in 

 his slag or by analysis to gauge the fusibility of the extraneous 

 material he wishes to flux, how will he be sure that lie is not allowing 

 the precious metal to run to waste, or that he is not in great danger of 

 having his furnace choked. I believe we should not have to travel far 

 to find instances of this kind. The same statements are also true of the 

 more speculative and uncertain mining industry. If to an always risky 

 industry like that of mining there are added the mistakes due to careless 

 or inefficient workmanship, or the misleading statements of professional 

 speculators, is it any wonder that this otherwise interesting and lucrative 

 profession ofttimes shows unmistakable symptoms of decay. By endea- 

 vouring to raise the standard of intelligence in this special direction, we 

 are only attempting what we have successfully achieved in medicine, in 

 literature, and in many other branches of art and science. It is inte- 

 resting and encouraging to know that we are not alone in this respect. 

 Passing through the United States one is astonished at the extraordinary 

 vigour of this movement. Boston can boast the finest institute of 

 technology in the world. New York State, Pennsylvania, Michigan, 

 Colorado, California, and many other States are Avell equipped, not only 

 with universities, but also with technical colleges, and mining with its 

 attendant sciences is, without doubt, the most important branch of 



