Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-03-26
Improvement in the Manufacture of Steel

The London Times Paris correspondent
writes-An improvement in the manufacture
OF steel, the invention Of NJ Chenol, has at-
tracted attention among scientific men here
Ii has already been honored with the great
medal OF the Paris Exhibition, and is, it ap-
pears, patented in all countries. In the yicini-
ty of Paris an establishment is formed, and it
is now producing considerable quantities of
the artlcle, and by the new method it would
appear that steel Of superior quality is MANI
featured direct from the iron ore with much
rapidity, and at ouethird the present cost
The invention is now under examination for
Austria, and the Swedish ambassador has sug-
geSted the nomination of commissioners for
those countries The following particulars
have been communicated to NE The system
consists III making steel from the ore, and the
principal features of the new process are these
The inventor employs, firstly, an eectro-sort-
ing machine to separate the crushed ore and
to raise TO its maximum standard the pureness
and richness--qualities which the steel snbse-
qnently retains secondly. It system of cemen-
tation or addition of carbon and other matter
By cold process, in such way that this delicate
operation can be repeatedly effected in deter.
mined and exact proportions, which result in
the production Of steel as varied in quality as
can be desired, capable Of being produced with
certainty and of identically the same temper
and quality. This result is not without its i'm
portance to the consumer, as BY the simple use
of marks and numbers he can be sure of re-
ceiVlnS for any given purpose precisely the
same quality Of steel with which he had been
previously supplied. Thirdly, a compression
OF the ore after its tranSmutation, and before
OF after cementation into sponge The ore
reduced into sponge was so liable to be effect
ed by heat or humidity that it could hardly be
kept loag enough fit for compression but in
consequence Of the great reduction in volume
of the compressed sponge it is worked with
an economy OF 90 per cent, in fuel and manual
labor Ill welding, melting, &c, and thus bv
this second fact the value of COMPRISING the
sponge is evident The inventor appears to
have given practical proof of the commercial
advantages OF his system, and it is added that
he sold his steel in some quantity to French
manufacturers at prices which more than treb-
led the cost of production without seeking the
highest relative prices Of Swedish steel, and
could thus continue TO supply steel Of superior
quality, not standing him in onethird of the
price at which he sold it. From repeated tri-
ais it is said that double the wear could be got
ont OF implements manufactured of steel of
this compressed sponge compared with those
made from good steel of Sheffield marks. By
the same process steel can be manufactured
from Spanish ore, which steel will not cost
above 432 per ton, and be superior to that
sold in Paris at 4l00 per ton In a word
the inventor secures these advanages-thc
manufacture Of steel in ten DAYS instead of for
ty, the possibility of reproducing the exact
quality of steel desired and the cost price not
to exceed one-third of the present prices. rela-
tive qualities being borne in mind.