The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-04-15
Manganese Steel.

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Lorenzo Sibert, Esq, will now soon attract
the attention of the whole mechanical world.
The Steel produced by Mr.. Sbert in his
operations at California Furnace last fall was
the product Of a charcoal blast. and it was
undecided how far, if at all the operation
could be carried on by stone coal as fuel
A few weeks ago Mr.. sibert went to Balti-
timore to test this matter fully. He expected
to have had the use of one of the largest
furnaces there long enough to have made
thorough trial of his Aux with stone coal
But he only succeeded in getting the furnace
for twenty-iour hours. So confident was he
Of the success Of his theory that he risked
trial Of only "a hours, where failure
might damage him seriously, and success on
a FIRST trial. with new luel, Was. to say the
least, probcmatical The .yial was made.
and We understand 10 or IL tons Of this new
metal was produced, that, SO far as eau be
judged, without actual chemical analysis, pos
sesses all the characteristics of the 81 OF do
tons made in Rockbridge, at the California
Furnace in the fall, and which has been
worked, tested and anal zed, and found to be
steel of the most excellent quality. Mr.. ST.
bert also prosecuted some interesting expert
menis in the shops of the Baltimore i Ohio
Il. r. Co., at Mt. Clare with satisfactory re-
cults. Officers in charge of the mechanical op-
erations Of that company have manifested their
appreciation Of the Importance of this pro
ject by placing at Mr.. Siberts disposal all
the vast resources and machinery in their
shops for the practical application of bis
great discovery, at their expense in material
aud labor, most liberal aud advantageous
efsr, which he has accepted.
Mr.. Sihert spent last week in Wash ington
preparing the necessary papers to secure the
benefits of his discovery by patents in all the
principal countries of Europe. These docu
ments go out this week to the proper agents
IN Europe, where the patents will at once be
issued to Mr. Sibert and his appointee and
joint owner Mr.. Brady, of Rock bridge
The scientific journals Of the day show that
the subject Of this discovery, cheap process
of making steel directly from Iron Ore, is
engaging more attention from Irou men in
this country and abroad than any other
connected with the manufactures of the world
This is one Of those discoveries that marks
an era in the industrial arts throu. hout the
world, and must Immediately assume very
great Importance. There is no calculating
the effect of this thing on the future pros
perty of this immediate portion of Virginia
No part of the United States-perhaps no
part of the worlds so rich in the princi-
pal elements of this new manufacture, Iron
Ore and manganese, in close proximity
and by the time it gives out, the Chesapeake
Ohio r. r. it is to be hoped, will open up
the coal fields of the Kanawha Valley for
the full development of the Iron interest be-
tween the Alleghanies and Blue Ridge
The parties having control of this Patent
are about to pursue the right policy, not to
push it upon the world bat let the world
come after it. They will make arrangements
to put in operation this Spring single first
class charcoal furnace here in the Valley and
make Or 10 tons day of Manganese Steel
for Railroad purposes, such as wheels, axles
and rails, and supply this material to one or
two leading Railroads, and let its use pro-
claim its value. Tho by refusing to sell
territorial rights, but Offering the process to
all who choose to adopt it at yeey small roy
atty, it WILL in proportion to les merits, sup
plant all other modes Of producing steel for
the general purposes and wants of the world
The furnace first engaging in this manu-
feature will haze great start ip the business
and we hope it will be one of those in this
county or Rock bridge, as it will lead spaei
to the erection Of others and thus create a
new source of wealth to cur favored region.
The Valley of Virginia.
Tho NorfolE Tn,r,,oJ IN oponk;r,r IF a,,,;