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Sheffield the greatest laboratory in the world of this valuable
material。 Of the total quantity of cast…steel manufactured in
England； not less than five…sixths are produced there； and the
facilities for experiment and adaptation on the spot have enabled the
Sheffield steel…makers to keep the lead in the manufacture； and
surpass all others in the perfection to which they have carried this
important branch of our national industry。 It is indeed a remarkable
fact that this very town； which was formerly indebted to Styria for
the steel used in its manufactures； now exports a material of its own
conversion to the Austrian forges and other places on the Continent
from which it was before accustomed to draw its own supplies。
Among the improved processes invented of late years for the
manufacture of steel are those of Heath； Mushet； and Bessemer。 The
last promises to effect before long an entire revolution in the iron
and steel trade。 By it the crude metal is converted by one simple
process； directly as it comes from the blast…furnace。 This is
effected by driving through it； while still in a molten state；
several streams of atmospheric air； on which the carbon of the crude
iron unites with the oxygen of the atmosphere； the temperature is
greatly raised； and a violent ebullition takes place； during which；
if the process be continued； that part of the carbon which appears to
be mechanically mixed and diffused through the crude iron is entirely
consumed。 The metal becomes thoroughly cleansed； the slag is ejected
and removed； while the sulphur and other volatile matters are driven
off； the result being an ingot of malleable iron of the quality of
charcoal iron。 An important。 feature in the process is； that by
stopping it at a particular stage； immediately following the boil；
before the whole of the carbon has been abstracted by the oxygen； the
crude iron will be found to have passed into the condition of
cast…steel of ordinary quality。 By continuing the process； the metal
losing its carbon； it passes from hard to soft steel； thence to
steely iron； and last of all to very soft iron； so that by
interrupting the process at any stage； or continuing it to the end；
almost any quality of iron and steel may be obtained。 One of the most
valuable forms of the metal is described by Mr。 Bessemer as
〃semi…steel；〃 being in hardness about midway between ordinary
cast…steel and soft malleable iron。 The Bessemer processes are now in
full operation in England as well as abroad； both for converting
crude into malleable iron； and for producing steel； and the results
are expected to prove of the greatest practical utility in all cases
where iron and steel are extensively employed。
Yet； like every other invention； this of Mr。 Bessemer had long been
dreamt of； if not really made。 We are informed in Warner's Tour
through the Northern。 Counties of England； published at Bath in l80L；
that a Mr。 Reed of Whitehaven had succeeded at that early period in
making steel direct from the ore； and Mr。 Mushet clearly alludes to
the process in his 〃Papers on Iron and Steel。〃 Nevertheless； Mr。
Bessemer is entitled to the merit of working out the idea； and
bringing the process to perfection； by his great skill and
indomitable perseverance。 In the Heath process； carburet of manganese
is employed to aid the conversion of iron into steel； while it also
confers on the metal the property of welding and working more soundly
under the hammera fact discovered by Mr。 Heath while residing in
India。 Mr。 Mushet's process is of a similar character。 Another
inventor； Major Uchatius； an Austrian engineer； granulates crude iron
while in a molten state by pouring it into water； and then subjecting
it to the process of conversion。 Some of the manufacturers still
affect secrecy in their operations； but as one of the Sanderson
firmfamous for the excellence of their steelremarked to a visitor
when showing him over their works； 〃the great secret is to have the
courage to be honesta spirit to purchase the best material； and the
means and disposition to do justice to it in the manufacture。〃
It remains to be added； that much of the success of the Sheffield
manufactures is attributable to the practical skill of the workmen；
who have profited by the accumulated experience treasured up by their
class through many generations。 The results of the innumerable
experiments conducted before their eyes have issued in a most
valuable though unwritten code of practice； the details of which are
known only to themselves。 They are also a most laborious class； and
Le Play says of them； when alluding to the fact of a single workman
superintending the operations of three steel…casting furnaces〃I
have found nowhere in Europe； except in England； workmen able for an
entire day； without any interval of rest； to undergo such toilsome
and exhausting labour as that performed by these Sheffield workmen。〃
CHAPTER VII。
THE INVENTIONS OF HENRY CORT。
〃I have always found it in mine own experience an easier matter to
devise manie and profitable inventions； than to dispose of one of
them to the good of the author himself。〃Sir Hugh Platt； 1589。
Henry Cort was born in 1740 at Lancaster； where his father carried on
the trade of a builder and brickmaker。 Nothing is known as to Henry's
early history； but he seems to have raised himself by his own efforts
to a respectable position。 In 1765 we find him established in Surrey
Street； Strand； carrying on the business of a navy agent； in which he
is said to have realized considerable profits。 It was while
conducting this business that he became aware of the inferiority of
British iron compared with that obtained from foreign countries。 The
English wrought iron was considered so bad that it was prohibited
from all government supplies； while the cast iron was considered of
too brittle a nature to be suited for general use。*
＇footnote。。。
Life of Brunel； p。 60。
。。。＇
Indeed the Russian government became so
persuaded that the English nation could not carry on their
manufactures without Russian iron； that in 1770 they ordered the
price to be raised from 70 and 80 copecs per pood to 200 and 220
copecs per pood。*
＇footnote。。。
SCRIVENOR； History of the Iron Trade； 169。
。。。＇
Such being the case； Cort's attention became directed to the subject
in connection with the supply of iron to the Navy； and he entered on
a series of experiments with the object of improving the manufacture
of English iron。 What the particular experiments were； and by what
steps he arrived at results of so much importance to the British iron
trade； no one can now tell。 All that is known is； that about the year
1775 he relinquished his business as a navy agent； and took a lease
of certain premises at Fontley； near Fareham； at the north…western
corner of Portsmouth Harbour； where he erected a forge and an iron
mill。 He was afterwards joined