The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-28 00:00:00

PROGRESS IN IRON MANUFACTURE.

In 1847 (says the Sunderland Herald), when Sir
Robert Stephenson designed the Britannia-bridge, he
wished to procure for the bottom of that structure the
largest plates of iron which the skill of this country could
afford. He employed all the leading makers of plates in
the Staffordshire district, where that particular branch of
the iron trade was then most successfully conducted, and
they put forth their best efforts to meet tho views of an
engineer, whose undertakings promised to open out a
new and wide field for the consumption of plate iron.
The largest plates required were 12 feet long, 30 inches
wide, half an inch thick, having a superficial area of
SO feet, and weighing under 5} owt. After the orders
been some months on hand, Sir Robert's agent wrote •
note saying, that, with one exception, the makers were
not prepared to supply such plates, and so difficult
was the roiling and, shearing found to be, with the ma-
chinery then in use, that he entertained great fears of at
least considerable delay. Five years have not been idly
spent by the iron trade. The Derwent Iron Company
sent from their Consett works to the Great Exhibition of
1851 a plate 17 feet long, 48 inches wide, and half an inch
thick, for which the jury recommended the Council Medal
as a proof of their opinion of its value to engineers engaged
in the construction of large works. Last week the inde-
fatigable manager of the Consett works, Mr. George Fors-
ter, produced a dozen of the largest plates ever yet rolled
in any establishment, being no less than 17 feet 6 inches
long, 80 inches wide, and 1 inch thick, having a superficial
area of 871 feet, nearly three times larger than the largest
plates produced in 1847, and weighing 35 cwt. These
plates were rolled without the slightest mishap or accident,
and, to an observer, as though the massive machinery was
but doing its ordinary work. The plates weighed over two
tons when they left the rolls, and were then taken to the
sheen, where they were reduced to proper form
and size with equal facility, though it may well excite
wonder that any power could be so applied as to shear cold
iron 11 inch thick. The commercial value of the discovery
of iron-stene in Cleveland is now so clearly developed, that
this district cannot fail to take a leading part in the iron
trade. It is most important, however, that parties of capi-
tal and spirit are found, who are resolved to ptoseente this
important branch of industry in all its higher branches.
Scotland has for years produced a very large proportion of
raw pig-iron which has been sent to other districts for
conversion, but she has cot taken any important stand in
the market as a producer of bar or pl de iron. The vast
works on the Clyde are chiefly supplied from Staffordshire
or this district. The iron-stone of Yorkshire and Durham,
in combination with our invaluable coal, is capable, in the
hands of powerful and skilful parties, of competing with
any other part of the world in the very highest branches of
manufactures. It is something to say that the county of
Durham has produced the largest plates and the longest
rails that ever were made. We hope we are yet only be.
ginning, and that another seven years may usher in still
greater triumphs.