The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-01-01
VIC Stolen Secret.

! L nv '5.UAtH SscEct.
| The main distinction between iron and
steel is, that one holds carbon, or the
matter of charcoal, whereas the other does
not. The amount Of carbon is trivial, and
it is impaired by heating bars for long
period together, surrounded by POWDER
Cd, broken charcoal in box. Having
regard then to this operation, it seems
natural enough that the outer portion OF
each bar should become more stcclifcd
(if l may be allowed to coin an expressive
word) than the internal portions. Now,
of this sort, though perfectly good for
many purposes, is Objectionable for
others. To give an example, it is by no
means good for the manufacture of watch
springs; nevertheless, before the invcn-
ton Of cast steel, to which the readers
attention is shortly to be directed,
waich-sprines had 10 be made of it.
There lived in Attcrclilc, near
Sheffield, about the year 1860, watch
maker named Iiuntsman. lie was very
much dissatisfied with The quality Of
which watch-springs were made in his
day, and he set himself to the task Of
thinking out the cause Of irfcriority.-
Mr.. lluntsman correctly inferred chat
the imporfection of such watc,l-sprincs
as came in his way was rcfarable to the
, fact OF the irregular conversion or "steel-
iiication Of the metal Of their mauufac-
ture. 6" IT," thought he, (" can melt
piece of steel and cast it into an ineot,
the composition Of the latter should be
| regular and homogeneous" lie tried
and succeeded. The fame of Huatslnan's
steel became widely spread, but the
discovcrcr took care not to designate it
by the name of cast steel, under which
it is now Familiarity known. That was
his secret.
About the year ITO, large manu-
factory of this peculiar steel was estab-
lishcd at Attercl!Ic. The process was
wrapped in secrecy BY every means which
the inventor could command. Meme but
worEmcn Of credit and character were
engaged, and they were forbidden to
disclose the secrets Of the manufactorv
by Il stringent form or oath.
At last iIuntsman's secret was stolen
in the following manner: One night in
mid winter, as the tall chimney of the
Attcrclitc steel works bclched forth its
smoke, giving promise OF roaring fire
within, a traveller, to whom the desire of
! placing himself near roaring fire might
seem reasonable longing, knocked at
the outer door Of Mr.. lluntsman's fac
tory. 1t was a bitter cold night the
snow fell fast, the wind Lowlcd across
the moor nothing, then, could seem
more natural than that the tired way
farcr should seek a warm conner, where
he might lay his head. lie knocked,
and the door was opened. A workman
presented himself, who tie wayfarcr al-
dressing, humbly begged admission.
"No adnittancc here, except on bust
ness"
The reader may well fancy how this
intinati,n fell upon the tired Travellers
ear on such an inclemcnt night. But the
workman scanning the traveller over, and
discovering nothing suspicious about
him, granted tie request, and let Lin in.
Feigning to be completely worn out
with cold and fatigue, the wayfarer sanI;
upon tie floor ofthc comfortable facto
and soon appeared to have gone 10 sleep
TO go to sleep, however, was far from
his intention. The traveller closed his
eyes, all but two little chln&s. Through
these two little chinks he saw all that he
cared to see. He saw workmen cut bars
of steel into little bits, then place them
into cruciblcs, with enormous tongs,
pour their liquid contents into mould.
Mr.. nuntsnan's factory had nothing
more to disclose. This was the secret
of cast steel.
1t would be easy to extend the list oi
manufactured secrets disclosed in the
dishonest way indicated above. The
subject, however, is SO unpleasant tc
dwell upon, that | an sure the reader
will rejoice with us that the circumstan-
ces under which manufactures are nov
mostly carried on, neither afford the OPP
portunlty nor the induccmcnt to theft
such us has been described.