National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-06-07
How Steel Raj are Made.

Our visit to the Baldwin Steel
Works." on the Susalehanna, is forth
nately timed, for preparations are already
making for charging the huge convert
er. With but passing glance at the
preliminary storm offire that roars from
the mouth of the converter, we follow
the superintendent nst the hot piles OF
ingots lately drawn from the mou'ds
past the great receivers wherein Eolus
is imprisoned and forced to do fiery SER
vice past the engines which generate
the power used in the Cyclopean opera
tions going on all around, and stop to
watch the gigantic steam hammers un-
der which the glowing masses Of steel
are forged by blows that may be twenty
tons or twenty grains rs the forger wills,
mill who're the W. r.. forger-1s Tue .f .teeI
are seized and drawn into rails with q
rapid,ty that bewilders. But it is time
for tapping the furnaces, and we hasten
back, with scarcely look at the various
piles of rails awaiting shipment.
This is no place for the philosophy OF
the Bcssemer process; no place for des-
cribing all the step by which crude iron
is now so quickly converted into steel.
Our attention is absorbed by the scenic
effort, and that is beyond the power of
words to describe Even the pencil Of
a Weir would fail to do it justice.
"What are those circular artists driv-
ing at over there ~ queries the su5scri-
Der, pointing to number of men on n
raised platform, each with his hand on II
wheel like that of car-brake.
The superintendent explains how their
movements control the almost restless
force of the hydraulic presses, and we
stand amazed at the magic by which a
turn of the wrist is made to manipulate
the ponderous converter, with its charge
of melted metal, as easily as a man might
handle glass of water.
A whirlwind of sparks pours from the
converter's mouth and rolls along the
vaulted roof, sending sudden gusts of
fire almost into our faces. The convert
er comes to rest and the fiery blast is
turned off. In moment streams of
molten iron creep along the conduits
from the row of furnaces, and pour
flood OF scintillating metal into the con
verter. The charge complete, the blast
is turned Oh again with augmented force,
and through hundred openings air is
forced into the liquid metal burning ont
the carbon and sulphur and other liquid
impurities, and sending the dross up the
coruscating metallic foun-
tain. Our ewes are blinded by the
brightness, yet fascinated by the play of
colors that mark the progress of the
publication. The prevailing hue is
rose-tint of exquisite loveliness, lost in
the dazzling whiteness when we look
steadily, but reappearing as often as the
eye is rested by looking away for mo-
ment.
1--WE have pure iron now," remarks
the superintendent, rs the fame sud
denly ceases. "In n moment will be
added the compound, which isto change
the iron into steel.
The converting mixture pours fiery
cascade into the converter, and mag
niticent cruptionof many -cololed sem
tillations shows the intensity OF the
chemical action going on. 1t ends
abruptly, and as the huge retort is canted
over to pour its contents into the moulds
below, we follow the superintendent
and look in at its shining
mouth.
"You know what white-he looks
ike now," lie says and we confess that
'hus far we have had no adequate con-
,eption of its perfect whiteness.
on our way back to our car we stopped |
20 look at the crushing chine for pull
7erising the refractory lining of the
"If you only had jaws like that, sub
,criber,' remarks the little man, you
have had to send back the
hops they offered you at the hotel the
,ther morning"
The subscriber watches the machine a
working his mouth with uncon-
cious envy, as the blocks of quartzite
rulnbled to sand in the resistless bite
hen Keeping time with the machine, he
jacluates -" With - a-masticating -
ppratus us-like-that-a- man-migh
ire--yes, sir Il might live--in Sec
nd rate boarding house !"