Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-03-05
lancastsr .1nfclligenrer.
wEpNEs oAv EVENING. MAR, 8 1884.
A Paten, Evil,

The New York Herald calls attention
10 the fact that the demand for foreign
ores In largely, IL not chiefly, from the
Bessemer steel makers, numbering some
eleven concerns, which require an iron
free from phosphorus for their ordinary
process Of manufacture, There are in
this country very large and numerous
deposits Of iron ore, in the South espe-
cially; but they are generally charged
with phosphorus, and there is scarcity
OF ores nc for the making Of iron suita-
BILE for the Bessemer process of steel
making. But, some years ago, couple
of Englishmen invented a lining for the
steel converters, composed mainly Oh
lime, which serves to free from their
phosphorus the molten iron charged into
the converters, and makes 1t possible to
use the most inferior and cheapest irons
in making the steel. The Herald com.
plains that that this process is not used
by the American Bessemer steel manu-
facturers, although they bought the
patent for this country and 80 control
the process. 1t urges that they are re-
sponsible for the failure to utilize the
natural ores of the country, and its
charge is to a certain extent true. The
Thomas. G ilchrist process has not been
used until lately; and for the reason that
the steel syndicate found 1t profitable
enough, during the high prices
for Bessemer rails of the past
few years, to maintain their old process,
aud had no inclination to interrupt their
business to cheaper their product. Now,
however, the situation is different, and
the Thomas. Gilchrist invention is being
tried. The Pennsylvania steel works,
we believe, are making steel by it. They
are enabled to use in their converters
iron made largely of rolling mill cinder,
which is the cheapest iron made. 1t is
the cinder residuum of pudding and heat
ing furnaces, and bears about fifty per
cent. of metallic IRON, but is largely
charged with phosphorus. A singular
thing about the manufacture of Besse-
mer steel by the Thomas Gilchrist pro.
cess is that large percentage of
phosphorus-about one and half
per cents desired in the
iron charged into the converters, a
smaller percentage not being as readily
eliminated |; which seems strange, and
tends to throw doubt upon the real utili
ty of the process, 1t may be that lack
of entire confidence in its advantage has
largely caused the hesitation manifest
ed by the steel manufacturers in its
adoption. Certainly il they are conf
dent that it will enable them to utilize
cheap irons, they have sufficient induce
ment to ardently embrace it. The re
marks Of the Herald, however, call at.
tention to the fact that our patent laws
need amending. A patent is given be
cause of the advantages of invention tC
the country. But there is no such ad-
vantage if useful inventions are not
utilized by those who are given the ex
elusive right to utilize them. 1t ought
not to be in the power of any men tC
paralyze an invention that they may
think hurtful to their interests, by buy
ing the patent, which was given by the
nation for the purpose of encouraging
improved methods Of manufacture. An
easy remedy would be afforded by pro-
viding that the patent should be reyOca
BILE after year from its issue, if the fail
ure of proper effort to utilize it should
be complained of aud shown to the pa
tent office, after due notice to the par
ties.