Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-22
VALUABLE INFORMATION.
FOREIGN METHODS OF sTEEE-MAKING
DESCRIBED BY PROF. LANGLEY


Before the Engineers Society Last Night
cess to Pure Ores-Initial Meeting of
the Body in the Thaw Mansion.
The members OF the Engineers Society
of Western Pennsylvania, held their usual
monthly meeting for the first time last even
ing, in the parlors of the Academy of Arts
and Sciences, on Fifth street. Very general
approval was expressed at the convenience
and quietude of the place compared with
those of past meeting places. There were about
40 members present. Colonel T. P. Roberts. in
the absence of the President. or either of the
Vice Presidents was moved to the Chair, and
Mr.. John Brashear was appointed to act as Sec
retary.
The following gentlemen were elected as
members: George H. Hutchinson, Edward F.
Devoe, WI. .McFarlane. Charles F. Weiland and
James Foster. A vote of thanks was passed to
Robert Mannesmann for his donation 10 the
society, of tubes and other specimens relating
to the system of manufacturing bearing his
name; to DR.. Hermann Wedding tor drawings
illustrating German practice, and to Mr.. Alex
ander Thielon for collection of tools used in
the Darby process of recarburiZation. Letters
bearing the society's seal were ordered to be
sent to each with a suitable resolution OF
thanks.
THE USE OF THE LIBRARY.
be made to have the rooms open up to o'clock,
so that the members, especially the young ones,
could avail themselves of the opportunity OF
using the library. Everyone would agree with
him in appreciating their new home, and
fully appreciate the fact that the hrst paper
read in their new home was read by Prof. j. W.
Langley.
Colonel Roberts said they were much better
fixed than ever before. There would Se no
more climbing up of ladders as in the Hostet-
ter building
A motion was passed referring the question
of members being allowed to carry home books
from the library to the Library Committee.
Prof. John W. Langley read very inter-
tice in small countries. The professor had
thoroughly investigated the practice ID Europe
and especially in France, Belgium and Sweden.
Regarding the practice in Sweden be arrived &C
the conclusion that the high quality of their
steel was due to the small capacity of
the converters. and that the high results
attained in the conversion were due to
the use of pure ore and cheap labor. which lat
ter admitted OF more time to be taken the
manufacture. The commercial success of the
Swedish practice, the professor thought was
due to the use Of pure ores, and fancy prices for
the product. He said in part:
In France Monsieur Robert had Just brought
out special side-blow converter. tor which he
claimed several original features and very sur
prising technical and commercial results. A
sample of metal taken directly from the vessel
was forged under a small power hammer to a
bar one inch to one-half inch. 1t was very red
short and would not stand bending hot to more
than 80 degrees from the axis of the bar with
out breaking. When broken cold its fracture
was dirty and granular, and apparently indi-
Gated metal about halfway between cast and
wrought iron. 1t is only fair to say, however.
that the plant was only In an experimental
state.
MANAGEMENT OF BLOW.
After describing the construction of :he Wal
rand converter, used at Marcinelle near Char
leroi. Belgium. he referred to the management
of a blow as follows: "The vessel was turned
on its side and about one ton of metal was
poured in from ladle. 1t was then put in an
inclined position and the blast turned on. Then
and blown for II minutes 1t was now turned
down nearly horizontally and the Stag run off.
Then man standing IN front threw in by hand
Jumps Of colo ferro manganese, which he tried
to distribute evenly over the surface Then
there was an interval of about five minutes in
which everybody took a rest. some OF the men
lighting their pipes and Others going across the
road for glass of wine This leisurely proceed
ing was in a marked contrast to the activity
which follows the termination of a blow in
American practice. After ANOTHER interval
small ladies holding about 200 pounds were
brought up to the mouth of the converter and
successfully filled. The succeeding opera
tions of pouring resembled that in
an iron foundry. In several instances
the ladies' filled with steel were allowed to stand
several minutes on the floor to COOL Their
freedom from the evils of premature chilling
was surprise to me. The oxidation in the
converter during the operation was said to be
% per cent. The metal was fairly soft and free
from blow holes" The Professor continuing
described other operations he had witnessed
At the conclusion of this Mr.. Brashear pro-
posed vote of thanks to the Professor, but he
made counter proposition that 1T be laid on
the table. on the grounds that as a member of
the BODY he was not entitled to any extraor-
dinary recognition. A letter was read from
Captain A. L. Hunt, delegate from the society
to the meeting of engineers in Chicago. regard
ing the International Congress of Engineers
to be held in Chicago during the Worlds Fair.