The Iron Age 1890-09-04: Vol 46

‘THE IRON AGE ‘ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1890. the cylinder, is under thorough control, |end of the stroke. Indicator cards taken Duplex Compound Condensing Alr and may be taken from that ouhet, which | from the cylinders of this compressor prove: Compressor, is the most favorable in its dryness, re- | conclusively that not only is the cylinder duced temperature and freedom from | filled with air at atmospheric pressure, A good idea of the general arrangement | dust and other foreign matter. The | but in some cases the line runs above the of the steam part of this air compressor | admission of free air, being through a| atmospheric line to the same extent that | can be had by examining the accompany- | single tube, creates a constant and uni-| it runs below it in other air compressors. ing plan and side elevation. The steam|form draft of air in one direction only, | The air inlet valves are large metallic = === [ele = F 1 J |} i | ae | Eee Tl © hy TT] Tu T 5 Toy = rh} sa ik | . uC, | We) tl. ey ioc enke LTT =e 1 | | Diples Car Compressor } Se comprmmm commenswng cbt J lem Sth —.. 4 4#sSRk OC —, iby | | . | " ¢ fF =, } 11) ; | } VT . eee ne Fig. 2.—Side Elevation. DUPLEX COMPOUND CONDENSING AIR COMPRESSOR, passes from the high pressure cylinder to | thus filling the cylinder at each stroke|rings which are not operated by springs, a receiver located between the two engines | with air at full atmospheric pressure. | but which open and close by the natural and thence to the low pressure cylinder. |In other compressors the air must be|momentum given to the valve by the The condenser pump is worked from the| started froma state of rest, and put in| movement of the piston. A study of the crank pin through connections, as shown | motion through the inlet valves at each | sectional cut will show that when the in Fig. 2. The valves are operated bythe | stroke, while in this compressor it is| piston is moving in one direction the Meyer adjustable cut off. always moving into the hollow piston, and |ring valve on that face of the piston The most important feature of the ma-|air being material—that is, having some} which is toward the direction of move- chine is the Sergeant’s concentrated piston | weight—this umform movement gives a| ment is closed, while that on the other inlet cold air cylinder, which is shown in| momentum to the air which causes it to| face is open. This is as it should be in Fig. 3. The free air, before admission to | fill the cylinder to its fullest extent at each| order to discharge the compressed air D . 364 THE IRON AGE, September 4, 18909 from one end of the cylinder while taking in the free air at the other. The position of each valve is almost instantaneously re- versed at the point when the stroke. is reversed. This change in position takes place without —m or other influence than the natural momentum of a piece of metal which is carried in one di- rection and is instantly reversed, The large ring air inlet valves are practi- cally indestructible and admit of a large area of inlet, with but a small throw of the valve, thus quickly opening a large supply port and enabling a compressor to run at high speed without a reduction of efficiency, and with safety to the quick moving parts. As there are no inlet valves in the heads of the air cylinder, the space otnerwise occupied by these valves is filled with cold water, thus presenting a cooling surface to the compressed air near the end of the stroke when the air is hottest. An examination of the sectional cut of this cylinder will show that the clearance spaces are reduced toa minimum. There are no counter sunk spaces in the cylinder heads for inlet valves, but there is a sin- gle annular space to take the face of the large ring inlet valve. The valve covers this space at the end of each stroke, so that there is no dead space. The air inlet pipe extending through the cylinder head serves as a bearing and sup- port for the piston. This air compressor, which is built by the Ingersoll-Sergeant Rock Drill Company, of New York, is the only one provided with a device which un- loads the engine automatically when the pressure exceeds a certain fixed limit. The engine is not only relieved of the load, but the steam is throttled, so that the engine is just kept in motion. — Our Quicksilver Production. The production of quicksilver in the United States and in other quicksilver producing countries has been made the subject of investigation by the Census Bureau, and a special report is about to be issued. [he statistics have been prepared by Mr. J. B. Randol, under the super- vision of Dr. David T. Day, of the Geo- logical Survey. No similar statement was published as a part of the last census, so that comparisons cannot well be made. During the calendar year 1889 there were 26,464 flasks, or 2,024,496 pounds, of quicksilver produced in California. About 20 flasks, less than $1000 in value, were “eens in Oregon. There are 11 pro- uctive mines in California, with 36 fur- naces. The productive mines and active furnaces employed 937 operatives, of whom 416 were engaged on surface work and 521 were employed under ground. The num- ber of tons of cinnabar ore mined in pro- ducing the quicksilver was 95,714 tons. The expenditure was $219,622 for supplies and $626,289 for wages. The average cost per flask of quicksilver produced ranged from $65.74 to $21.66, the average cost for all being $33.31. The active establishments employed 62 steam motors, with a capacity of 21.90 horse-power; 54 boilers of 2488 horse- power, one electric dynamo and motor of 4 horse-power, and one water wheel of 3 horse-power—a total of 2197 horse-power in motors. Two hundred and forty-seven animals were also reported as employed, but it is probable a greater number were in use. The total capital invested in the 16 establishments is stated at $1,331,114, of which $680,470 is in mines and real estate, $222,300 in furnaces, houses and other surface improvements, $146,150 in machinery, supplies, tools and live stock, $124,075 in quicksilver unsold, $34,664 in bills and account receivable and $125,456 in other assets.. The following table shows the production of quicksilver throughout the world for the past ten years, in flasks: Spain, United Austria Grand Year. States. and Italy. total. ii > eee 59,926 5¥,242 119,168 | Bs ies acne 60,851 60,082 120;933 Sis > skbw aa ahoe 2,731 62,489 115,221 eae 46.725 394 115,119 Pees icsGuaveree 31,918 48,098 11,828 iG ain nike wiibialll 32,073 66,281 98354 Ss inna Wanna 29,981 73,070 103,051 MNEs dane aa wie 33,760 75,027 108,787 a 33,250 76,664 109,914 Be 6 ksekea ves 26,464 74,772 10) ,236 er 407 675 685,936 1,093,611 WESTERN MISCELLANY. An instance of the wonderful recuperative powers of the West is shown by the city of Wichita, Kan. This was one of the ‘* boom” towns of Kansas, whose inflated values re- sulted in the inevitable collapse. Then, too, the town lost some 5000 or 6000 people by the opening of Oklahoma Territory. In spite of when reverses, however, the people have gone ahead with commendable courage, and have put more than $500,000 in public improve- ments in the last two years. They voted MOT ieee MS ceo a : YW . ———— TIN ala Ba Go SSS \ 7 OIL. small com to the capacity of the field ig | sufficient demand was made for it. The pro- duction of the salt works of Hutchinson Kan., amounts to 3000 rels per day. The salt is found at a depth of feet and extends to about 300 feet in thickness. It is a solid rock and is not mined, but it is pumped to the surface. Fresh water is forced into the salt in the mine, and the brine which is thus formed is drawn up by pumps and is evapor- ated by steam and direct heat. The varieties of salt are No. 1, or common fine stock, and dairy or table salt. Arkansas City, Kan., has a water power which is used at present to operate grain ele vators, flour mills and other factories to the number of ten or a dozen. The water is taken from the Arkansas River and carried by aq canal to the Walnut, giving a good natural flow and developing about 15,000 horse-power, Cowley County, Kan., of which Arkansas is the largest town, has varied minera) re- sources. 1 has been found in one place at a depth of 150 feet, showing a 4 foot vein. The quality is fair and the quantity sufficient to supply home demand. One of the finest natural water powers in the West is found in Pueblo, Col. The Arkan- sas River flows directly through the town with a fall of 17 feet to the mile. It is fed directly by the mountain streams and snews, and a failure of water bas never been known there. No use as yet has been made of this great amy) 47 hdd Fig. 3.—Sergeant’s Concentrated Piston Inlet Cold Air Cylinder. $200,000 for a new county court house, and afterward added $50,000 more to this amount | | to render it fireproof. This building is nowal- most ready to occupy. A new city hall, to cost $100,000, is now being built, and five city schools have been finished this year at a cost of $100,000. Wichita has built this year 65 miles of sew- ers. There has also been laid nearly two miles of asphaltum, one mile of vitrified brick and one and one-quarter miles of jasperite on the streets. This last is a new composition, some- thing similar to granitoid, and its cost was nearly $3 per square yard, -Considerable development work has been done in the vicinity of Arkansas City, Kan., for the purpose of locating mineral property. It has resulted in finding zinc ore of excellent quality within half a mile of the heart of the town. Experts from Joplin and other zinc mining companies profess to believe that it will pay largely if mined, and companies are now being organized to work the ore system- atically. Iron ore of good quality has been found in the Cherokee strip about 40 miles south of Arkansas City. The extent of the field is not known and will not be until the strip is opened to settlement, but it is thought to be in quan- tity a quality sufficint to pay well when wined. The salt fields of Kansas have an area of 25 miles in width and 50 miles in length. Hutchinson is the center of the district and the purest salt is found there, although it is produced profitably in other portions of the field. The salt was discovered about three years ago while wells were being driven to strike oil or gas. The production is at present force, although its power is practically un- imited. Thered sandstone found in Frying Pan Gulch on the line of the Colorado Midland Railroad is an exceedingly beautiful and valuable stone, and has a pressure capacity of 15,000 pounds to the square inch. A shipment of ¢ car loads of this stone is being sent to Chicago this season. The Peach-blow stone, which is the color of the famous vase of that name, is found in the same locality. There is also a very valuable deposit of marble found on Rock Creek which is waiting fora larger population and a greater demand from the West to be developed. hr A shortage of cars in the Connellsville coke region, equal to 25 per cent., is said to have become serious. Both the coke and iron industries are being held back, and the Pittsburgh Times says there is danger that some of the blast furnaces where the coke has not been stored will have to close down, The scarcity of cars has grown so rapidly that shippers, while they have plenty of coke at the ovens, have not been able to fillthe orders. The latter have been rolling in heavily on ac- count of the many mills that are being started at this season of the year. Some of the mills will be prevented from start - ing as soon as was intended. Twenty steamships at Melbourne are tied up by a labor strike and the trouble affects all Australian ports. September 4, 1890 BASIC BESSEMER STEEL — I. Its Manufacture and its Cost. BY J. B. NAU, E. M., NEW YORK. The acid Bessemer process is based upon the use of pig iron containing a percentage of phosphorus reaching beyond a very low limit—hardly a few hundredths of 1 per cent. Necessarily such pig iron can only be obtained by the smelting in the blast furnace of ores remarkably free from that element. Practically no appreciable per- centage of phosphorus is eliminated during the smelting process. Such ores are be- coming more or less exhausted in certain parts of the country. On another hand, many ore deposits, such as those of the New Jersey magnetites, which, for over half a century, have supplied the blast fur- naces of this region and of Eastern Penn- sylvania with some of the best magnetites of the United States, contain just enough phosphorus to reach beyond the limit at which such ores cannot be used alone for Bessemer pig. Others, very rich in iron and excellent otherwise, contain such a percentage of this element that they are even excluded entirely for the production of pig iron adapted to the acid process, while this very percentage would make them available for and particularly adapt- able to the basic Bessemer process. This latter process requires the use of pig iron containing a large amount of phosphorus. It is certainly destined in the Southern as well as Eastern and West- ern States to a great future, as it will at once render useful for the production of steel, ores now rejected for this purpose. Much has been said and done about this rocess in Europe. Its complete success lu furnishing a quality of steel equal to, if not superior in certain respects, such as special softness, to that obtained by the acid Bessemer process, is a sufficient explanation of its extension and its daily increasing use in those countries, In the United States, though not by any means new, it is not extensively developed yet and not very generally known. Hav- ing been connected for several years as superintendent with one of the largest basic steel works of the continent (de Wendel’s steel works, Hayange, Lorraine and Joeuf, France) and familiar with the practical working of the process and the result obtained, I propose in the following to give a summary, description and dis- cussion of the methods employed, with remarks suggested by observations made in the course of the manufacturing of several hundred thousands of tons of such basic steel. Pig Iron.—In the Bessemer acid process the pig iron used generally contains an av- erage of 2 per cent. of silicon and 1.2 per cent, to 2 per cent. of manganese. Out- side of these principal elements necessary for the success of an operation, there are others present in the pig metal, such as carbon, sulphur, phosphorus, copper, titanium, &c. Carbon is met with in all grades of pig irons, of which it is one of the constituents. The presence of phos- phorus, copper, sulphur constitutes a dan. ger for steel making. These last ele- ments have a pernicious influence on the quality of steel as soon as their percentage goes beyond a certain narrow limit. They are of no use whatever to the operations which take place in the converter, and for this reason will be ignored for the present. The Bessemer process is a ‘‘ pneumatic process ’—that is, one in which no fuel is added, but in which the heat required for the operation is derived simply from the chemical reaction between the air blown in a metallic bath and the elements to be eliminated from that bath. The pig iron used must then contain certain elements in THE IRON AGE, 365 quantities sufficient to insure, by their combustion in contact with the air blown into the apparatus, the high temperature necessary for the success of the operation. The elements which are the most easily oxidized at the high temperature devel- oped ia the molten bath, besides iron and manganese, are carbon and silicon. Carbon.—Ouarbon in the pig metal, by its combustion in contact with the blast, develops a very great heat. The combus- tion of 1 unit of carbon burning to car bonic acid generates as much as 8080 cal- orics; but this heat is of little avail to in- crease the temperature of the bath, the products of the combustion being carried away in the gaseous form, carrying out with them most of the heat thus generated. Furthermore, the whole of the carbon is not by any means burned to carbonic acid, but a large part of it is transformed in carbonic oxide, and for each unit of car- bon thus burning to carbonic oxide only 2400 calorics are generated, most of which is also carried away. Thus we see that carbon, although present in large amounts in pig irons, ordinary gray pig iron con- taining from 3.5 to 4 per cent of this ele- ment, does not contribute materially to in- crease the temperature of the bath, and practically in the comparison of the two processes must not be taken in considera- tion. Silicon and Phosphorus.—Silicon is the first element to burn in the pneumatic proc- ess. The product of its combustion is silica. Each unit of silicon thus consumed generates 7830 calorics. The 2 per cent. of silicon mentioned above as the average tenure of the pig metal used in the Bes- semer acid process will furnish then 2 x 7830 = 15,660 gclorics. The greatest part of the heat generated by the combustion of this element remains in the metallic bath, silica not being a volatile compound, and remaining as slag combined with other elements. Besides carbon and silicon, some percentage of the iron and manga- nese contained in the pig metal are also burnt, furnishing as products of thecombus- tion manganese and iron oxides, and gen- erating thereby an additional amount of heat. But iron and manganese are to be found in both the acid and basic proc- esses, and as it is only intended here to make a comparison between the pig metal required in either of those processes, I limit myself to such elements or quantities of each as constitute the real differences between the pig iron used. In the basic process the pig irons used contain the same elements as the pig metal required for the acid process, but in dif- ferent amounts. Whereas in the acid process phosphorus enters in very small quantities, this same element constitutes the most important factor in the basic process. As phosphorus by its combus- tion generates also a great amount of heat it is evident that, other things being equal, a portion of the silicon which is neces- sary in the acid process can be replaced in the basic process by a proportional amount of phosphorus, equivalent as far as heat of combustion is concerned. The calorific capacity of silicon, as it has been stated above, is 7830 calorics; that of phosphrus, according to Dulong and Petit, is 4613, and according to Andrews, 4509 calorics, or an average of 4550. Consequently pig iron containing 1 per cent. of silicon and 1.8 per cent. of phosphorus would furnish by the combustion of these two elements. NU ss camden 1 per cent. = 7830 calorics. Phosphorus....1.8 per cent. = SP KB Se pv nccsasbsccardas 8190 calorics. OW te CONE iin ices iccecsenesecis 16020 calorics. In the preceding calculation, I have confined myself to practical data, and for that reason I have not taken in consideration the tempera- ture of the flame, nor the final temperature of the bath. However, it may be said in a gen- eral manner that the temperature developed in , the converter, results as follows ; 1 brought in by the molten pig metal (1400° C.). 2. Heat brought in by the compressed blast (say, 120° C.). 3. Heat resulting from the combustion of manganese, iron, carbon, silicon and phos- phorus. The heat resulting from the two first sources, as well as that resulting from the combustion of manganese and iron, is the same in both cases. It can easily be shown that each unit of carbon burning to carbonic oxide, leaves in the bath 14 calorics only ; hence, even an im- portant difference in the terms of carbons of the two pig metals would not have an appre- ciable influence on the total number of calorics. The real difference must thus bear only on the amount of silicon and phosphorus contained in the pig iron, and it is on these quantities that the preceding calculations have been based. But as I have taken of those elements such quantities as are proportional to their calorific equivalent, the final heat must be practically the same. It could be established theoretically, taking in consideration the complex elements of such analysis, temperature of pig iron, blast, heat resulting from chemical phenomena, &c., that in treating a bath of pig metal con- taining in one case 1.8 to 2 per cent. of silicon and no phosphorus, and in the other 1 per cent. of silicon and 1.7 to 2 per cent. of phosphorus, the final temperature would be practically the same, say, from 1600° to 1700° ce In the acid process, we have found that pig iron containing on an average 2 per cent. silicon would furnish 15660 calorics. These two pig irons, that is, the one con- taining 2 per cent. of silicon, the other 1 per cent. of silicon and 1.8 per cent. of phosphorus would be thus practically equivalent as-far as heat of combustion is concerned. It may be stated, therefore, in a general way, that in the basic process a pig iron containing from 0.6 to 1 per cent. of silicon and from 1.7 to 2 per cent. of phosphorus can be treated with advantage and that within these limits the practical results obtained will be entirely satisfactory. Practice in Europe in all the basic steel- works has entirely confirmed these results. The average contents in silicon and phos- phorus treated in many of those works fell within the above figures. But in the same manner as in the acidy process, pig irons nore silicous than those mentioned have been used. Similarly, in the basic process, pig irons containing silicon and phosphorus in quantities different from those stated above are treated in certain circumstances. Nevertheless these quantities are to be considered as representing the most favor- able conditions whenever the ores smelted in the blast furnace allow of obtaining such a pig metal. Without taking into consideration the particular disadvantages which may result in the converter from too great a percentage of silicon and of phos- phorus, 1t is obvious that an increase of silicon in the pig iron implies a higher temperature in the blast furnace, a greater consumption of fuel and consequently an increase in the cost of the ton of pig metal to be treated in the converter, without any advantages resulting therefrom. When pig metal containing a greater percentage of phosphorus than about 2 per cent. is treated in the converter, the dis- advantages are the following: 1. Increase of the cost of the steel result- ing from the greater amount of lime re- quired to saturate the excess of phosphorus, greater and more rapid destruction of, or damages done to, the basic lining and the bottom of the converter. 2. The increasing difficulty in effecting a complete dephosphorization of such a pig iron. It is a well known fact that the affinity of phospherus for iron increases as the temperature rises. Now a _ higher temperature of the bath is a natural con- sequence of a higher p:rcentage of phos- phorus; hence the conditions uf dephos- phorization are less favorable. Sulphur.—Sulphur and copper are as objectionable in the basic as in the acid process. Copper is more rarely me: with than sulphur in pig irons or in ores. This latter substance is very widely found in 366 THE IRON AGE. September 4, 1890 eee OO cent. of carbonic acid and 5 per cent. more or less of foreign matters, such as alumina, ferric oxides, silica, &c., accord- ing to its purity. We give below the analyses of the dolomite used at Hayange and at Creuzot (France): most ores, but it can be at least partially eliminated in the blast furnace by the use of lime and basic slags. Manganese.—The beneficial effect of the presence of manganese in the acid and basic processes is so well known that it is hardly necessary to insist upon this point. Hayange. Creuzot- ye 29.800 It acts in the blast furnace as adesulphur-| Lime ................ 0.066. 29, 29, izing agent. In the manufacture of basic | Magnesia.................-- 19.600 7 steel especially it helps to prevent the re- sn ge gr Settee ete e es : = yoo turn of the phosphorus into the metal! phosphoric Acid............ 0.27 0.070 toward the end of the heat—a valuable | Silica .................0005 1.280 2.100 effect in the manufacture of soft steel— | Sulphur...... .............. 0.027 0.025 and its presence within certain limits im- | Loss by fire.... ..... ..-. 46.600 45.000 proves the quality of the metal. A good percentage of manganese in a basic pig is about 1.5 per cent. Since the very beginning of the intro- duction of the basic process in the differ- ent countries of Europe I have had oc- casion to treat all the different kinds of ig iron, manganiferous and non mangan- iferous irons, foundry pigs and forge irons, pig irons rich in phosphorus and silicon or containing ‘smaller percentages of these elements, or large quantities of one of these and small quantities of the other. The result of all these experi- ments has led to the following figures, which practice has entirely corroborated as being those furnishing the most satis- The dolomite 1s calcined in the same manner as limestone, either in special cupolas or in ovens. In cupolas wery good products have been obtained. It would carry me too far beyond the lim- its of this article to enter into the de- tails of the apparatus and of the fabri- cation itself, which requires experience that practice will soon get master of. On its being carried on properly depends the quality of the material obtained. A good and well calcined dolomite is sonorous and presents a black appearance. The shrinkage in calcining is considerable. It absorbs rapidly the carbonic acid of the air, and therefore has to be kept in special sheds until it is used. It is also factory results: cue ae hygroscopic and quickly absorbs the OSS wanna from 0.6 to 1| moisture of the air to such an extent as to Ek siephsnintnnkerahaten ‘* 1.6 to 2| crumble to dust. It thus becomes unfit for EI sinc tcbapsehitednanens ‘** 1.5 to2/ use; but, which is of greater importance, it frequently happens that the calcina- tion not having been carried to the point of disintegrating the material, it is not suspected, and the deteriorated material is used as lining in the converter and the making of the bottoms. This is often the cause of the accident known as ‘‘ blowing off of the bottoms,” and the rapid deteri- oration of the converter. However, this rapid deterioration might also be attrib- uted to the bad drying of the apparatus before use. Magnesite, natural carbonate of mag- nesia, is treated in identically the same way and in the same apparatus as dolomite, in order to obtain the calcined magnesia. The fresh material to be used in the converter for lining having been obtained LIime.—The lime used in the basic process is added in the converter to satu- rate the silica and phosphoric acids. It must be as pure as possible and especially as free from silica as it can be obtained. The lime used in Hayange contained, on an average, from 1 to 2 per cent. silica— generally approaching the lower limit. A larger percentage of silica in the lime necessitates the addition of an excess of materials. The mass to be melted be- comes greater, and,as the same amount of heat generated has to act on a greater weight of materials, the final temperature of the bath is lowered and there is danger in casting the metal. It is also important that its composition should be as constant as possible, otherwise there will be a ten- dency to add an excess of lime, for fear that an excess of silica in the materials prevents complete elimination of the phos- phorus. Caustic lime obtained from the calcina- tion of carbonate of lime should be pre- served from the contact of moisture and used as freshly prepared as possible, as it has a great tendency to absorb the car- bonic acid and moisture of the atmos- phere, substances which it would become necessary to expel in the converter before the lime could exert its chemical action upon the silicon of the pig metal. This decomposition would necessarily absorb a certain amount of heat at the expense of the operation. The lime used at Hayange mostly was remarkably good; its compo- sition was as follows: tain manipulations before it can be adapted to the purpose for which they are intended. Construction and Maintenance of Con- verter.—The proper construction and the maintenance of the apparatus are abso- lutely necessary to insure success. The construction of the converter is similar to that of the one used for the acid process, the dimensions being only slightly in- creased for a given production of steel on account of the time to be added in the vessel, Thebasic material is properly cal- cined and carefully preserved in lumps until used, is crushed in appropriate mills to a coarse powder and mixed in the mill itself with tar free of water, because any introduction of water in the mass would certainly cause the material to be as aae a partially transformed in hydrates, from Alumina and fer- which might result afterwards a possible rit eee =e 0.50 crumbling of the lining and even its entire ime............95.40} 94.43 by difference | deterioration. a ome oa. a 1.85 . The tar, before mixing, is gently heated, Water......... "2°00 2.45 but not too much, for fear it would stick Sulphur.......... 0.10 0.07 to the iron rollers of the crushers. The cee oo quantity of tar to be mixed with the re- 99.74 100,00 fractory material may be estimated to be about 10 per cent. However, the man who has charge of the mixing room judges mostly by practice, from the appearance and the degree of plasticity of the mass, of the proper proportions of the ingredients. This mixture, when properly made and finished, is brought at once to the con- verter, in the lower part of which a frame has been previously fitted. This frame has the shape of the inside of the lining. The mixture of tar and dolomite or mag- Materials Used in the Construction of the Basic Converter.—This material must be very refractory and at the same time very basic. The substances most generally used in Europe are dolomite and mag- nesia. Dolomite is met with almost everywhere, and is obtainable at a very low price. It is a double carbonute of lime and mag- nesia, containing about 30 per cent. of lime, 20 per cent. of magnesia, 45 per as briefly mentioned above, requires cer-' nesia is rammed between this frame and the shell of the converter by means of flat rams, which, in certain establishments, are heated to a dull redness. In others the ramming is done cold. The use of hot rammers is generally considered advan- tageous. After the material has been rammed to the hight of the first segment of the frame, a second segment is put on top of the first one, and work is carried on in this way until about 10 inches from the mouth of the converter. The mouth of the converter is then finished by inserting one or two courses of fire bricks, generally acid bricks. The inside frame is then cau- tiously removed piece by piece and so as not to deteriorate the completed living, not solid enough yet to resist any shock. The bottoms are made with the same basic materials. They are also rammed with dull red rammers. The tuyeres used in these bottoms are made of either acid or basic material. In many establishments bottoms without tuyeres are used, In this latter case the iron plate of the bottom is perforated with as many holes as are deemed necessary for the free entrance of the blast. These holes are distributed all over the base plate and are abont 4 inches in diameter. In these holes iron rods are inserted and the basic material is rammed all around, After this ramming is done the iron rods are pulled out, leaving numerous air pas- sages. The bottoms in many establish. ments are at once carefully and thoroughly dried before being fitted in the converter. In other works it is done in the con- verters. The first method is preferable. The joint between the bottom and the basic lining of the converter is made with basic material, The drying of the bottom and lining of the converters is a very im- portant question. It must be done care- fully, gradually and thoroughly, because insufficient drying will always be the cause of deterioration of the lining and especially of the bottom. It does so very often at the drst heat made in the con- verter. The quality of the steel obtained, too, depends largely on these conditions. A carefully built ae will stand 100 heats; a well constructed bottom from 18 to 20 heats. When the original lining is worn out or burnt it has to be renewed. The con- verter is allowed to cool off. This opera- tion can be hastened by blowing gently with the blowing engine. The sides of the converter are then carefully scraped from all loose material and metal and on what remains of the old lining a new lining is applied, rammed and prepared in the same way as a new lining. It takes two or three days to cool, reline and dry a new lining. In some establishments, instead of ram- ming the tar and dolomite mixture to the shape of the converter, this mixture is compressed into bricks of proper shape in moulds. These bricks, after having been dried and baked, are used in the converter like ordinary bricks for making the lining. The joints made with a mixture of dolo- mite and are fluid enough for the bricks to be dipped into before being laid. (To be continued.) cackling The returns of Germany’s export and import trade for the first half of 1890 show that of iron and iron manufactures 229,935 tons were ee as against 106,675 tons for the first six months of 1889. For the same periods the exports were respectively 84,715 tons and 117,420 tons. The exports of half and fully finished iron goods fell from 331,600 tons in 1889 to 408,840 tons this half year, while the ex- ports rose from 24,575 tons to 41,050 tons. Of coal and coke the importation shows a slight falling off, 2,141,000 tons for this half, against 2,917,000 tons for the pre- vious six months. September 4, 1890 THE IRON AGE. 367 ooo Compound Steam Air Compressor. This air compressor is the natural out- one patented a short time since by A. P. Massey, and assigned to the Eames Vacunm Brake Company. — In that compressor steam was used at boiler pres- sure in two steam cylinders to actuate pistons in two air cylinders, 80 as first to compress the contents of one air cylinder into the other air cylinder, and then to compress the contents of the second cylin- der into the reservoir. The compressor of which we here present drawings is modi- fied, inasmuch as while the air portion re- mains the same the steam is used in one cylinder at boiler pressure, but the piston of the second cylinder is actuated by the exhaust from the first or high pressure cylinder. In the position shown in Fig. 1, the steam is passing from the left hand growth of b S Ss WI ttt) N NS N AS NY N N NY uJ > Fig. 1.—Section Showing Valves in One Position. ton and cause its downward storke. Only one piston moves at a time, and each com- pletes its stroke before the other starts. Both air cylinders are filled with air at atmospheric pressure. The contents of the larger cylinder, operated by the low pressure steam cylinder, are compressed into the smaller cylinder and are thence compressed into the reservoir. The valves are, of course, so arranged as to permit of this, as shown in Fig. 1. I The Supply of Natural Gas. Professor McGee, of the United States Geological Survey, expresses the opinion in an interview that Professor Orton’s theory regarding the exhaustion of the supply of natural gas is correct. He says: ‘*It will fail; it may be a long time yet, but it will surely fail.” There is little reason for doubt that thisistrue. All wells that have been heavily drawn upon fora period of three or four years have gradu- ally diminished in pressure. Some have become useless. Others have been almost wholly exhausted, but, after being securely closed, they have recuperated un- til they have become stronger than they were at any time before. Such has been the experience of the Consumers’ Gas Trust with some of the wells at Broad Ripple. The supply can be so husbanded wy Us y Ya Z Z U 7 Fig. 2.—Section Showing Valves in Oppo- site Position. has in many places found outlets where it was wastefully consumed or dissipated. Where it had lasted for ages it has been meagerly used. The heavy draughts from the reserves at present may be and un- doubtedly are of exhausting volume. But having learned the proper restrictions of use, and having applied them as our gas companies are doing to the extent of their power, there appears to be little danger that those who are now enjoying the com- forts of our modern fuel will, in their time of mundane existence be deprived of it. The controlling companies, however, must be reinforced in their efforts to hus- band the supply by statutory regulations restricting unnecessary use. The extiava- gant waste of it in illuminating farm land and city premises must be stopped. EES Proposed Canadian Ship Railroad. Canadians are aroused to enthusiasm on the subject of transporting laden vessels by rail, end they are not willing for the Tehuantepec road to be tried, or even for that at Chignecto to be completed, but want to begin a ship railway at once to connect Lake Huron with Lake Ontario at Toronto, and thus greatly shorten the route by the great lakes. The length of this proposed railway would be 69 miles. The elevation at the highest point in the ridges that the railway would have to cross is 664 feet above the level of Lake Ontario. The heaviest grade south of the ridges would be 30 feet to the mile, and north of the ridges 20 feet to the mile, the greater portion having long grades to the summit, where the railway would cross the ridge at the hight of 327 feet above Georgian Bay. There would be lift locks, with protecting harbors at each terminus and four turn tables at certain points along the route to enable vessels to pass each other, similar to railroad switches, but without curves. There would be three Fig. 3.—Plan of Steam Inlet and Exhaust Ports. COMPOUND STEAM AIR COMPRESSOR. valve chamber to the top of the right hand or high pressure cylinder, and a down- ward movement of the piston results. When this piston is nearly at the end of its stroke the plate on its top comes in con- tact with the lower tappet of its valve stem and the valve is moved to the position shown in Fig 2. This opens the assages leading to the under side of the ow pressure piston, which is then moved upward. The same movement opens the exhaust from the upper side of the low pressure piston. As soon as this piston starts upward the spring on its valve brings the valve to the position shown in Fig. 2, where both steam ports of the high pressure cylinder are closed. When the plate on the low pressure piston reaches the upper tappet of its valve stem it raises the valve to its highest position and thereby admits live steam to the under side of the high pressure piston to cause an upward stroke. The completion of the upward stroke of this piston raises its valve to its hightest position, as ‘shown in Fig 1, when the high pressure steam which has moved this piston upward can expand to the upper side of the other pis-! able flame, while in our own country it that exhaustion becomes improbable. The fact that wells can be so managed is in- ference that there is continuous generation, and that the production is sufficient to supply moderate demands indefinitely. Exhaustion becomes imminent only when there is wasteful or too rapid use of the supply. The scientists are giving us in- definite scientific information when they say simply that the supply will fail. How soon, under certain conditions, will the gas reservoirs be exhausted ? How long, under certain other conditions, will the supply last? Can they not scientifically answer these questions? Though it is only within a few years that natural gas has received any sort of attention from the scientists, it is not a new thing, as is very generally supposed. In widely separated parts of the world it has, through deep penetrating crevices or fissures, issued from the interior of the earth for many centuries, signalizing its existence in the wonderful ‘‘ external fires” of Baku, along the shores of the Caspian sea, and, through untold ages, rising within tubes of bamboo from the salt mines of China into service- railway tracks of the ordinary 4 feet 8} inch grade, but the rails would be from 100 to 110 pounds to the lineal yard. The total cost is estimated at $12,000,000, be- ing one-half the cost of a ship canal of the same capacity” The ship railway would be sufficient, with three large loco- motives to transport a vessel of 2000 tons weight, including vessel and cargo, at the rate of 10 miles per hour or seven hours for the 69 miles. Such a ship railway as proposed would save about 400 miles of lake navigation and 28 miles of canal be- tween the head of the lakes and Montreal. In addition to the saving in lake and canal navigation that would be accomplished, the Canadians claim that there would be the additional advantage of a cooler passage for grain from the Northwest to the seaboard by the St. Lawrence than by way of Buffalo, where the grain, they assert, becomes heated on the way to the seaboard. This route would undoubtedly affect the trade on the great lakes, saving three days between Duluth and the Atlan- tic seaboard, in addition to reaching an Atlantic port some 100 miles east of any reached by the American route. 368 The Results of Reciprocity. Secretary Blaine’s convictions relative to reciprocity and the necessity of a wider market for manufactured products are irre- pressible. In a speech delivered in Maine, last week, Mr. Blaine made the point that the balance of trade with Cuba, Mexico and Latin America is heavily against us, and that the way should be more freely opened for the admission: of American products into those countries. He wished ‘to declare the opinion that the United States has reached a point where one of its highest duties is to enlarge the area of its foreign trade. Under the beneficent policy of protection we have developed a volume of manufactures which, in many departments, overruns the demands of the home market. In the field of agriculture, with the immense propulsion given in it by agricultural implements, we can do far more than produce breadstuffs and pro- visions for our own people. Nor would it be an ambitious destiny for so great a country as ours to manufacture only what we can consume or to produce only what we can eat.’ He explained that he spoke of ‘‘ a system of reeiprocity not in conflict with a protective tariff, but supplementary thereto and presenting a field of enterprise that will richly repay the effort and energy of the American people.” ‘Let me tell you,” he added, ‘‘ that last year—1889—we lost $41,000,000 in Cuba, from which our imports were $52,000,000 and to which our exports were only $11,000,000. Forty- one million is a pretty large sum to lose in one island in a single year. In the Re- public of Brazil we lost $51,000,000. Our imports from Brazil were $60,000,000. Our exports to Brazil were $9,000,000. In Mexico we lost $10,000,000. Imports from Mexico were $21,000,000; our exports to Mexico were $11,000,000. To sum it all up our imports from countries south of us, both insular and continental, on this hemisphere, were $216,000,000; our ex- ports to them were $74,000,000. The balance against us in our trade with those countries therefore is $142,000,000, ex- ceeding our gains from all the rest of the world by $13,000,000. By no figure of speech can we flatter ourselves into the belief that our trade with our American neighbors isin a prosperous condition.” It must be noted that the Board of Trade in Buffalo, and other commercial bodies more particularly in the West, are inclined to indorse these views. —— EE A number of capitalists, of Youngstown, Ohio, interested in the development of that city, recently raised a fund and sent A. J. Packard to the New England States to interview a number of manufacturers desirous of locating in the West, and to present favorable propositions to remove to Youngstown. Mr. Packard has returned home, and it is said that his trip was suc- cessful and will result in the addition of several important industries to that city. At Pittsburgh, on the 28th ult., Judge Achison, of the United States District Court, handed down a lengthy opinion in the case of George Westinghouse, Jr., against the Chartiers Valley Natural Gas Company. The suit was for the alleged infringement of letters putent relating to pipe line joints and lines for conducting liquids and gases, more particularly those used for conducting natural gas. The alleged infringement was the combination of a pipe line composed of sections of pipe connected at the joints by couplings, with a separate gas tight chamber surrounding the main. The court held that the patent known as the Verner patent, used by the THE IRON AGE, court held that the entire invention was disclesed in the application of John Nicholson, Jr., filed January 10, 1884. The court held that the patent used by the defendant company does not infringe, and a decree was drawn dismissing the bill of complaint with costs. The case has had much interest for those concerned in the gas and oil line business. The decision practically throws the use of tight joints open to all. ee The Proposed Uniform Freight Classification. A special committee, consisting of Traffic Manager Bird of the Milwaukee and St. Paul and General Freight Agent Johnson of the Rock Island, has submitted a re- port to Chairmen Faithorn and Midgley, of the Western Freight Association, re- garding the proposed new uniform classi- fication. It says the general committee on uniformity of classification has corcluded its labors. It conceived its duties to be limited to the consideration of the three classifications most widely used, and its labors were directed to merging the three into one, which could be adopted as a sub- stitute for the three. It declined to con- sider memorials presented to it, or to re- ceive delegates representing any interest, because of the belief that to hear argument in any given case would carry with it an obligation to hear counter argument, and this would have opened the doors to a process that would have prolonged their labors for a term of years. The essential part of the programme is a permanert board of classification, to whom should be referred without delay the ques- tions that are sure to arise as to possible errors or inconsistencies in the new clagsifi- cation. Uniformity of classification, the committee says, is contingent upon a re- construction of rate sheets. The recom- mendation involves eleven classes, Present rates are based upon five numbered and five lettered classes, in addition to which there are a multiplicity of special com- modity rates. The classification of less than carload shipments is contined to the first four classes. The proposed basis con- sists of 11 numbered classes, graded on a decreasing scale from the first to the eleventh. The articles in less than car- loads have been distributed among the first five classes, and with slight excep- tions all of the carload classes are em- braced in the sixth to the eleventh, exclu- sive, the exceptions being that some articles in carload of extraordinary bulk or value are rated higher than sixth class, A hasty glance at the proposed classifi- cation will lead to the belief that large reductions have been made. For example, coffee and analagous goods, at present fourth and fifth, have been graded fifth and seventh. On a new scale of rates, which is essential to the completion of the work, the new seventh class is equivalent to the fifth; the new fifth equivalent to the present fourth, and the new sixth equivalent to the present class A, Western classification, and this principle rules through the same plan. The committee believes that the general’ result of the new classification in connection with the pro- posed rates will produce substantially the same revenue obtained by present methods, One of the purposes of distributing traffic among eleven classes is to avoid a multiplicity of special commodity tariffs. ° Commodity rate sheets will become neces- sary, however, to some extent. For ex ample: The proposed classification on live stock, coal and oils refers to rate sheets. Lumber caanot be handled by Western roads on classified rates, because they would come into conflict with the The September 4, 189y distribution of general merchandise among the eleven classes will, in the judg- ment of the committee, make possibile the abrogation of many special rates or com. modity tariffs, In the judgment of the committee rep- resentative committees should be created at once to prepare distance tariffs for State and interstate traffic, and confer with the various authorities, to the end that their acquiescence may be secured. The committee does not believe that uni- formity of classification can be secured without co-operation of the various State Commissioners, and it urges that the work in this direction shall be considered of first importance. ‘ — re —— The Gates Iron Works. The Gates Iron Works, 50 to 58 South Clinton street, Chicago, are making ex- tensive improvements in their plant. On the lot adjoming the old works on the south they have built a large shop, 68 x 150 feet. This is a massive structure, with heavy brick walls and with strong trusses supported on huge wooden posts to form tracks for traveling cranes. There are three runways for these cranes, each ex- tending the full length of the building. The center is 22 feet high, and those on the sides are each 19 feet. Two trolleys are mounted on each side and one in the center, or five in all. These trolleys are operated by hand. The center