The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-19 00:00:00

cola's CLAIMS ON THE IRON

INTERESTS.

At a moment when the competing pretentious of modern
benefactors of the iron trade aro being canvassed with con-
siderable emphasis, it ie gratifying to find a general unani-
mity prevailing as to the value of the services of the origi-
nator of the process without which the metalliferous supe-
riority of England would at this moment have been as
merely traditionary as that of Toledo or Damascus, with,
indeed, a good deal less historic eclat to compensate for
present obscurity. It is still more gratifying that the re-
cognition of the inventor of puddling and rolling as the
real author of our ferruginous supremacy is not about to
pass away in the utterance of an idle platitude, but is I.ro-
ducing fruit of the kind lately so earnestly asked for by
the press on behalf of Henry Cort's children, Richard
Cort, aged upwards of 72 years, and his all but destitute
sisters. After an exhibition of seeming insensibility, the
most apathetic ever yet known under similar circumstances,
considering the peculiar merits of the case itself, and the
unprecedented advocacy they elicited, both the public and
the trade are apparently awakening to a sense of obligation.
Ever foremost in the work of benevolence, Miss Burdett
Coutts gives 10/. Mr. Robert Stephenson, M.P., has fol-
lowed up his first donation with a like amount ; and
Messrs. Mandalay and Field have done the same. Mr. R.
Kennard, of Thames-street, and of the Bla,ehaven Irom Com.
pany, also gives 101.; Mr. Nottage, of that establishment,
lately prominent in conjunction wirh Dr. Eliotson in the
relief of some remarkable instances of distress, has taken
up the matter with his customary zeal ; and as he acts as
secretary to the Hardware and Metal Trades' Pension
Society, he will doubtless enlist the sympathies of the iron
interests collectively. Messrs. Thompson and Foreman, of
the Penydarver iron Company, have given 10/. ; the Ebbw
Vale Company 201. ; the Low Moor Company 101. ; Hor-
ton and Son 5/. ; Mr. John Finch, of Liverpool, 51. ; and
several other smaller sums. But as it is from the commu-
nity at large, and not from any particular section, that
substantial aid in all cases of this sort is to be really looked
for, we beg to remind intended donors that their contribu-
tions will be thankfully received at Lubbock's Bank, Man-
sion-house, London, or by any member of the committee.
The amount already subscribed is 1881., of which sum
601. was a donation from the Royal Bounty Feud, obtained
through the kind consideration of Lord Palma' sten, before
the printed case and evidence were forwarded to his lord-
ship. The whole having been absorbed in printing, ad-
vertising, and other expenses incurred during the last
fifteen months, the object of the committee now is to
raise a sufficient sum to purchase annuities of moderate
amount for Mr. Curt and his sisters.

The Parliamentary adherents of the cause of Mr. Cort
have been increased by the accession of one of the members
for this borough, Mr. Bcholefield ; the other, Mr. Muntz,
is, we believe, not less willing to render his assistance. So
too, we understand, with several farther representatives
of the iron districts, including Mr. Cbas. Forster, member
for Walsall, who will, we are informed, support Mr. Wm.
Mathews, Mr. P. Williams, and Mr. Sohn Baguall, in
bringing the matter before th• next meeting of the iron
masters of South Staffordshire. It cannot bo doubted that
the response in this quarter will be worthy of the liberality
of so spirited and affluent a body—affluent because of the
inventions of Henry Cort, whom the age he benefitel left
in penury, and in behalf of whose destitute children this
age is now being appealed to. Let us summarise briefly a
few of the consequences to England and to the iron trade
in particular that have resulted from these discoveries.

In 1782 the quantity of pig iron produced in Great Bri-
tain did not exceed 17,350 tons, whereas in 1855 it
amounted to 4,399,836 tons, more than half of which was
converted into puddled and rolled iron by the process of
Henry Cort ; and assuming the quantity of cast iron to
average 30 cwt. per ton of rolled iron, his inventions are
now providing for the annual consumption of no less
than 3,000,003 tons of pig iron. In 1732 the total
quantity of British iron exported was only 427 tons;
n 1854 the exports of pig iron alone amounted to
293,074 tons, and of puddled and rolled iron to
883,237 tons, which, if one third be added for waste
in conversion, will be 1,177,649 tons, making the total
exportation 1,470,723 tons. Again as to the invention for
rolling : taking the bar ircn made in 1855 at only
1,000,000 tons, its value at 301. per ton, the cost of foreign
iron previous to 1784, the date of Henry Cort's patent,
would be equal to 60,000,0001., whereas by the puddling
and rolling process, at the average cost of 10'. per ton, it
would be only 20,030,0001. Taking the total expor!s of
puddled and rolled iron during the last sixty-six years at
8,000,000 tons, and the home consumption at 22,000,000
tons, the profits, at an average of E. per ton, amount to
30,000,0001. ; while the mineral owners have realised at
least 12,000,0301., and four generations of workmen and
their families, exceeding 600,000 individuals, have been
maintained. These are the services of Henry Court. Will
any ironmaster say that they should be disregarded be-
cause they wore performed more than half a century ago ?
Does not the lapse of time rather strengthen the clams
which his children now put forth to the gratitude, not
only of the iron trade, but of the whole country?
Nearly half a century ago forty-ono iron companies ac-
knowledged themselves greatly indebted to Henry Cort,
having then used his inventions gratuitously for more
than 20 years, during which nearly 3,000,000 tons of iron
had been rolled; and a sum of 8401. was subscribed fur
the relief of his distressed widow and nine children. Since
that time the iron trade has increased amazingly, mpeci-
ally during the last 20 years, in which, according to MLR.