The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-07-12
THE STOLEN sECRET--IRoN AND
STEEL,

The main distinction between iron and steel is,
holds carbon, the matter of charcoal, and
the other does not. The amount of charcoal is
trivial and is impaired by heating bars for long
period together. surrounded by powdered charcoal
in box. Having regard, then, to this operation
it seems natural enough that the outer portion of
each bar should become more steelifed (if | may
be allowed to coin expressive word) than the
internal portion. Now, steel of this sort, though
very good for many purposes, is Objectionable
for others To give example, it is by no means
good for the manufacture Of watch springs, never
theless before the invention of cast STEEL to which
the readers attention is shortly to be directed,
watch springs had to be made oft.
There lived in Attercliffe, near Sheffield about
the year 17GO, matchmaker named Huntsman
He very much dissatisfied with the quality of
steel of which watch springs were made in his
day. and he set himself to the task of thinking out
the cause of inferiority. Mr. Huntsman inferred
that the imperfection of such watch springs as
came in his way, referable to the fact of the
irregular SteeIifcatioH Of the metal of their manu-
facture. of" thought he, IL can melt a piece of
steel and cast it into ingOt, the composition Of
the latter should be regular and homogeneous -
He tried and succeeded. The fame of IIuntsman's
steel became widely spread, but the discovercr
took care not to designate it by the name of cast
steel, under which it is now Familiarity known
This his secret
About the year ITO, large mandatory of
this peculiar steel was established at Attercliffe
The process wrapt in secrecy by every means
which the inventor could command. None but
workmen of credit and character were engaged,
and they were forbidden to disclose the secret of
the mandatory by a stringent form of oath. At
length Huntsman's secret was stolen in the follow
ing manner:
One midwintcr night, as the tall chimney of the
Attercliffe steel works belched forth its smoke,
giving promise of roaring fire Within traveller,
to whom the desire of placing himself near
ing fire might seem reasonable longing, Knocked
at the door of Mr. Iluntsman's factory. 1t was
bitter cold night the snow fell fast, and the wind
hOwled across the moor; nothing, then, could seem
natural than that the tired wayfarer should
seek warm corner where he mi ht lay his head.
lie knocked, aud the door opened work
man presented himself, whom the wayfarer ad-
dressed, hun.bly begging admission.
"No admittance here, except on business" The
reader may well fancy how this intimaton fell
upon the tired travellers ear such an inclement
night. But the workman, scanning the traveller
over, and discovering nothing suspicious about him
granted the request and let him in.
Fegning to be completely worn out with cold
and fatigue, the wayfarer sank upon the floor of
the comfortable factory, and soon appeared to be
wrapt in sleep. To go to sleep, however, was far
from his intention. The traveller closed his eyes
all but two little chnks, through which he saw all
that he cared to see. He workman cut bars
of steel into little bits, then place them in cruel
bles, and with enormous tongs pour their liquid
into mould. This was the secret of cast steel.