The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-08-24
From the PHILADELPHIA American Gazette
Electrtxed Iron-vyaII's patent.

yoaic electricity This process a British one, which the
dscoverer has secured by patent, has been the subject
OF discussion In England, and cannot but be OF interest
to the ronmasers OF Pennsy lvania; to whom, any I'M
provement in the manufacture of English iron, enhan
cling the quality and diminishing the cost cannot but be
OF considerable moment. pamphlet descriptive OF
Wallis process, published in London some time since,
by or for the inventor, and reprinted IN the American
Railroad Journal, to which useful periodical we refer IN
leested readers contains toleably full but, of
highly favorable account; from which we have eN-
tracted the materials for the present notice.
Vast the quantity of British pig iron produced, es
mated million and hall tons year, il is, for the most
part, OF very inferior quality; that large quantity
OF the better sort Is required to be annually imported
from Sweden and Russia. The infenority arises from
various combinations, carbon, silicon, sulphur phos
phorus, oxygen, and arsenic which il is the object OF ali
processes of publication 10 get rid Of All these bodies
are electromagnetic to IRON, and are capable OF being
separated from II, the being state OF fusion, by
the decomposlng agency OF powerful current OF voaic
electricity It was In this way that Sir Humphrey Davy
first succeeded in decomposing the alkaes and alkaline
earths, and mmortazng his name by the discovery OF
their metallic bases and Mr. Wall states that 1t was
the recollection OF Sir Humphreys revving or
to speak, purifying potassium, which gave him the
first idea OF attempting similar experiments with iron,
These experiments commenced privately IN 1910, were
repeated publicly en- large scale and apparently WITH
perfect success early the fall of lS43 and since that
time Mr.. Wall has been aborng with all the zeal, and
perhaps somewhat the i'll fortune OF mpover, to intro
duce his invention into general use 1t have been
opposed in England by jealousy and conspraces among
the workmen but would appear that has been adopt
ed in OF the large establishments both IN Eng
The whole essence of Wallis method consists in sub
iectng the impure pig iron in state OF fusion to the
operation OF voltac battery the effect OF which Is the
separation OF the impurities, and IN particular the sulphur
and phosphorus, which volaiZe and consumed.
The molten metal may be electrified in mould bed, or
crane ade, or in the furnace self the hotter is, and
the more complete its condition OF iudlty the more per-
feet, OF course, the operation of the electricity Any
ordinary voaic battery with poles constructed OF iron
bars Will serve Tor generating electricity and conducting
IT through the molten metal but as completely OF appa-
ratus, requiring decacy and adroitness OF manipulation,
would be out OF place in great iron establishments, and
IN the bands OF common workmen, Mr. Wall has been
forced to contrve battery of the simplest form, which
is placed as fixture in any part of the premises while
permanent poles bars, set in the furnace capable
oil being immediately connected or disconnected with the
battery by the mere turn of backwards or for
wards.
Such are the simplicity and economy OF these arrange
ments, that 1--WE are old) Wallis battery capable of
acting efficiently on ten tons of metal at time does moi
cost above fifth the price of Smees battery OF
hundred pairs of plates eight by three and half inches
The operation appears to be sufficiently rapid. In one OF
the experiments described and authenticated thirty hun
dred weight OF No pig iron seem TO have been refined
IN twenty live minutes; and ten tons oil raw copper may
be purified in an hour.
The results of eectrzation purity and increased
product OF metal. Dr. Ure by analysis, found electrified
IRON nearly free from contamnaton while IRON obtained
from the ores at the works. and by the same
processes, except that the eecrzaon omitted con-
tanned notable quantities of silicon, manganese and arse
MIC. The bar iron manufactured from the electrified pig
in the usual way, tested by twisting, piercing, and punch
ng hot and cold and then made into cham and subjected
to the lever testing machine at the Mill Wall Iron Cable
Mandatory was found TO be superior in tenacity to the
ordinary best cable iron.
This according Mr. Lenox, one of the proprieors OF
the Mill Wall works should bear test of 10 ons the
electrified iron stood test of % tons II cwt AS tested
at the Milton works, the superiority of electrified
nonelectrized iron B. TIC to 1920 The Increased
product in bar iron of the electrified the cleo
tried pig found the great Dowais works of Sir
John Guest to be nearly per cent To make ton of
bar iron required OF the Dowais ordinary pig metal 25
cwt, but OF Wallis electrified pig only % cw qrs. lbs
The gain to the manufacturer, both in the increased
quantity and enhanced quality of the metal, well
in the reduced expense of pudding, hammering and
rolling the electrified iron, appears to be very great
Mr. Thomas Sims, large Birmingham manufacturer,
estimated that the process would effect average
wing of 80 per cent" Mr.. Hawthorn, manager Of the
Milton works. Sheffield estimated it as high IS
per cent
Dr. Ure who is admitted TO be high scientific authority,
in formal report dated July 10, 1874, pronouces
extraordinary the effect OF Mr. Wallis patent electric
process, as performed in his presence in the excellent
iron works OF Mr. Jessop, at Condor Park Derbyshre,
where the electrified forged pigs discharged those noxous
elements Sulphur and Phosphorus) so copously in the
pudding furnace as to become after single reheating
without piling or faggong, brilliant bars OF the finest
fbrous metal The bars so made" continues Dr. IRE,
proofs by skilfu London blackslnths and they have
been found to bear piercing, halnmering bending, and
twisting as well as the best iron in the market have
analysed the said iron with the minueness che
mca research and have ascertained to be nearly pure
metal containing neither sulphur nor phosphorus and
merely an nappreciable trace of arsenic. can, there
iron masters of the greatest easiest, and
most economical Improvements which their art has ever
received" 1.-The pecunary advantages OF this process
he adds in respect to saving of labor and waste OF ma
teral has been estimated by competent judges at from E
to e. sterling, per ton.
Dr. Ure also bears witness to curious and important
power of the voaic current, facilitating the rapid con-
version of soft iron, exposed for few hours contact
with coke to moderate red heat, into steel which is
Manning's foundry, Blackwell They testify that they
saw Mr. Wall put into crucibe bar of iron inch
broad by inch the edge and feet long, and in
four hours it taken out perfect 6ltsercd Steel"
small votaic battery used, and the parties express
their Joint opinion that iron could be converted into
steel in so short time by the application of heat
and carbonaceous matter as is generally used In that
process"
On the whole it is apparent that Mr. Wallis process is
something than the philosophical toy which
practical at first disposed to consider it. 1t
worthy of the thoughtful consideration and careful expert
ment of the iron-masters OF Pennsylvania, who have
immense and vital interest ut stake and worthy, too OF
the attention of those engaged in copper smetng which,
from present Appearances, bids fair TO become important
among the metaurgical occupations of the country
GUNNER BOARDING.-Thc subscriber can accomno
- date limited number Of boarders for the summer,
and reasonable TERMS at the Union Hotel, Fairfax
Courthouse The house is very pleasant and comfort
able one with large airy rooms; its location being only
fifteen miles from the District OF Columbia daily line OF
stages between the points, and stops at this house
The proverbia health Of the village and neghborhood
ders very desirable place for persons living in the Dis
tric and who desire board their families in the country
July I7-dd LEWIS s. PRITCHARTT
New Music this day received.
WYNN. FISCHER, Pennsylvania avenue, doors
w of 18th street, has this day received the following
music, for sale low at Statoners Hall