, 1872-11-13

a writer IN the Now YORK Ir1onne. after de-
scrbng various methods adopted in Europe for
utilizing iron slag, thus speaks Of what tho
French iron masters are doing with it:
Neither Of the previous processes, however,
are OF so great importance as that invented by
II. Minary, director OF the IF orka in Franche
Comte. This method il not to employ the s1ag
directly to form artificial stone pressed bricks,
hut to reduce it to 9 fine state of division, in
which it becomes capable of great variety OF
uses. The channel through which the molten
ate in a running stream of water leading into q
pit Or excavation. On striking the water, the
laya-like stream Of Stag is blown and broken into
sort OF ine porous gravel, which the flow Of
the water then bears along into the pit. Mean
while, the iron grains contained in the Stag,
which previously were separated by CRUSH
ing, are now eorted out by this water
process, sinking to the bottom by their weight,
instead of being carried on with the rest. The
slag sand, accumulating in the pit, is charged
al endless chain and buckets, driven by an en-
gine run By hot gases from the furnace. The
cost Of this process is only eome seven cents per
ton. 1t renders the stag easily transportable,
and with many special tools for handling it. The
artificial sand or granulatcd Stag thus produced
is found to be not merely easier and cheaper to
get rid of, but applicable to number Of Valua-
be uses. Tho first Of these is for casting-sand;
ingy handsome and bright. This material is
now very largely used for this purpose in some
parts Of France. Belgium, and Prussia, especially
IN the Siegen district. The next step was
natural outgTowth off,: Of the last. viz:
sitting, to eand the molds for fine
castings. Here, again, it was found cleaner and
better than common sand, and the castings were
improved. Another use for this artificial gravel
is for ballassing railroad tracks. The sugges-
tion has been made. and with good deal Of
force, that material found SO good for such
purpose abroad might be used to advantage with
US for our drives and bou1evards. Tho granu-
lated slag IL very porous, packs we'll, and holds
very little wet. Again, the slag-sand is found
to form excellent concrete-like mortar; and
not only 80, but 1t IS capable of being used for
cement This last, Professor Egg1eston regards
as the most important point Of all aud he hopes
to make further Investigations and gain fuller
abroad, which be will be able to ret forth on his
return. At any, rate, We learn that fret-elass
ment can be thus produced, from almost any
rIag, at u email cost, and that q large manutac-
tory has bcen erected for this purpose. after long
and full experiment, aIone Of Lie leadirg Ger
nun works.
The artificial sand is also found to be good
matsriaf for bricks. Tbs attempt to make bricks
has had bat limited success at beat, but this
gfanulntcd oiag, mtx6d with htilo luna aud
dried III the 1uu, ylolde light. warm, ard pleas
ant brick, al b very small cost. at the Geo1g-
MaF1eu aulLb, III daupVct, lEl5 ur1ch tb now
used 4lnu7t exclusively for The buildings Ut the
works. 1r. inctead 1l meIe un-dry1ug, these
bricks w.Ie rnaded over With this grnnulated
Flag Aid bnrnsd iu kiln, out Of cut Ut direct
contact With the coal. they become enamelied on
this euri.ne Tue colos Of this glaze varies with
the composition OF tbs alag Il would seem as
though this might prove very valuable inyen-
ton, not noiy for coarae pottery and tilea, but
for ornamental brick-work- Increased atten-
ton il beginning to bo given by American
architects to this style OF construction, which ia
susceptible Of much variety. and sometimes Of
much beauty, as it is abnndantly shown in the
Old World and notably iu solne modinval struc-
tures it Northern italy II it were found pos
siblo, As certainly seems to be proved, to
manufacture snamel!cd bricks OF different colors
cheaply by m of this hitherto waste material.
it may we1 be Of great consequence in Ameri-
eau architecture. Other uses for this alag -aand
are also described. huct, US employing it upon
land for tho limo aud silica contained, manu-
facturlng frn-trlck. &c. but upon these there
is not epace to dwell. Enough has been
said to chow that recent experiment.
ard discovery abroud have opened the
way to a number OF valuable economies
and improvements, which it il highly desirable
that We on thlt ritle Ut the water should be
ready to adopt at soon and as far as circum-
Professor Egleeson returns, this autumn, ho
will bring witt, Elm 1,sw store Of information
in regard to tl=eG enter prlses. and further sup
ply OF illustrative specmens to add to those that
Le has already gathered in this School of the
minee, to show the methods and results in this
new branch Of economic industry. Meantime.
would it not be well worth while for some pub
lie OF corporate bodies IN this country, or some
Of our induetrial societies, TO make the subject
ous Of oBpec,al attention. and, perhaps, to ot1er
prizee fol successful experimental
new YORK, Oct. "a. 1o72.