The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-03-18
PetroIeum IN Iron.nInkinr.

Experiments in the use of Petroleum as
fuel in the manufacture Of iron have fol
some months been in progress in one o!
the rolling.mills OF st. Louis, with graft.
flying results. We have no data as to its
efficiency in smelling ores to pig iron,
though we are vaguely assured that the
promise IS very good; but in rolling and
refining pig into bar or malleable iron,
the results are most satisfactory. Says
the Pittsburyh Commercial.
"One Of the tests-all Of which are said
to have been Of the most thorough char.
acter-employed to ascertain the effect of
petroleum heat, consisting in pudding
1000 pounds Of pig.iron, melted with
raw Illinois coal in 1859, and which oW.
ing TO the large debasement by sulphur,
had been thrown aside as worthless. Ere.
quent efforts have been made from time
10 time to reduce the mixture 10 mer.
Chantable iron, but to no avail. Since
1864 had lain neglected. A single hours
treatment with liquid gas, however, Is
said to have turned the mass out in the
shape Of iron Of the finest quality, closelH
resembling steel, and perfectly free from
sulphur and all other impurities. Speci-
mems were exhibited and were pronoun.
Ced by old iron men as of the very finest
quality OF metal, equal, il not superior, to
the best charcoal iron.
"Other experiments are said to nave
demonstrated that common Iron Noun
tain pig iron could, by single applica-
tion OF the liquid fuel in the pudding fur.
naces, be made into the best flangc boiler
iron, which, under the severest tests, was
shown TO be equal TO the first quality
Sligo or Low Moor iron, range of ca
pacity which Is reported 10 have aston
ished even the most sanguine believers in
the patent.
1T is asserted that the iron manufac.
tured by using this fuel has been tested
In almost every conceivable manner, and
that these tests prove its tensile strength
as well as its capacity to sustain weight
to be far above the average; in the former
showing q tensile Of more than 1000
pounds greater than specimens of Low
Moor Iron. The workmen in the mill are
said to be greatly interested In the expert
ments. They recently satisfied their Gu
rI0sity by rolling this iron into sheets,
and, though still experimenting, have pro-
nuced sheets so thin that five hundred of
them are but one inch thick. These sheets
are described as being remarkably tough
and flexible. Numerous other expert
ments are also reported TO have been
made, with only temporary machinery
and apparatus for the use OF petroleum
fuel, but with the most satisfac ctory results,
From these experiments It would ap.
pear 10 be considerably cheaper than coal
in its use and handling, so far as the heat
ing oil the iron Tor the rolls is concerned,
while the saving in 'scrapping' gives it
still further economic advantage, as the
following results obtained in the scrap
ping furnace, show:
Iron placed In tho furnace. lbs.
Iron taken ont. ...,.,,,,,,,,,,7Tb Tbl lbs,
Showing loss ol...,...,,.. Of l99 lbs.
Loss win coal 10 per cent 1872 lbs.
Saving with liquid fuel, cl,............ S9albs.
Although petroleum is generally
known to be q concentration or distilla.
tion Of coal, and that in proportion TO the
crudity Of the coal to The concentrated
character OF the petroleum, is the intensity
of the heat produced by the petroleum
greater than the heat of the coal, vet
this seems TO be the first definite and sus-
tanned attempt to apply the greater inten-
slty TO practical uses, and to employ II as
a refined mechanical force. Heretofore
coal has been the main aliment OF indus.
try, and which is It's importance and value
throughout the civilized world, that any
material which supersedes it in cheapness
and Importance ia.the more essential uses
o!industry and commerce, must necessa.
rily be an agency Of incalcula6le value,
and work corresponding revolution in
the development Of tho resources of the |
country and their adaptation to tho re.
quirement Of civilization and the interests
o. man. AS to the supply OF tho new
iuel, so as to render its use question for |
economy, there need be no alarm, for the |
quantity Of 1t in many parts Of the world
seems TO be inexhaustible and easy Of
access, ana especially is this the case in |
our own country. Should the claims
which are made in Its behalf be substan.
tiated by further experiments and inveati.
tions, 1t will probably work an eyentfn,
revolution, not only In the manufac,nrs or
iron, but wherever heat, steam or arti6.
clal light are employed or required"