The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-12
BIRMTNGHfu,s BfsTC TROy.
Has Qualities FOR steel Making That Are
lusurn.s-eI.

Unsurpassed.
Mr.. z. J. Shook. OF the Tennessee Coal
Iron, and Railroad Company, has Just re-
turned from a trip to the various steer
producing centres where basic pig IRON
made at the Alice furnace IN this city
has been sold in large amounts.
Upon being questioned as 10 the re-
suits obtained 10y northern steei.makcfs
in using this iron Mr.. Shook SAID.
Not an unfavorable criticism WAS
made Of our Alice basic iron. and in phys
zeal qualities &c fan sgrpasses any OF tue
northern chill iron. and by its clean.
bright appearance may hc easily dis
tInguish,d on any OF the stock yards.
As 10 its composition ~ possesses all OF
the qualities OF an ideal basic pig, he-
ing exceptionally low in silicon aui sui
phur and low enough In phosphorus
10 admit Of quick ami economical work.
ing i'm the ba SEC open hearth furnace.
~ is a lact, however. that iron Is ne-
ing made I'm birmingham to-day low p
in silicon and sulphur than even the most
sanguinc hoped for and it Is being ship
ped to every large basic opcn-hearth
steel works in this country with two OF
three exceptions. for conversion INTO
steel Ii is understood that when treat-
cd by this process the percentage or
phosphorus in the pix metal Is imma-
terial. as il may be reduced 20 any point
desired or practically eliminated by adj
ditons OF ore and lime to the charge
while In a molten state
In Pittsburg. where the large majority
Of our sales have been made, our basic
iron is used i'm identicaly the same man
ner and in about the same proportion as
that of their own manufacture. many ok
.fa
its excellent physical qualities I'm being
free from sand and other foreign mate
rial on the outside of the pig, as well as
by reason Of its superior composition.
Tho situation at present In the steel
trade is one of great importance ana III
terest to the South, and / was much inn
pressed by the rapidity with which the
basic Open-hcarth process, which is inc
one best adapted 10 our conditions ana
the one least well adapted TO other Sec
lions. is forcing its way 20 the front hy
reason OF the great superiority or it'
product over that of the Bessemcr. us
rapid strides are evident on every hand.
This NAV be accounted for hy the facf
that consumers OF steel desiring a metal
Of the greatest strength and durability
are specifying basic open-hcarth. Grcat
tensile strength Is obtained by low phos-
phorus. along with a proper percentage
of carbon. and this cannot Dee obtained
10y the Bessemer process. which does not
I'm any way deal with the phosphorus.
What goes into the converter with the
pig metal comes ont I'm the steel. the care
hon and silicon being the only metals
dealt with. and i'm making steel rails ny
this process 10 is well 20 remember that
high carbon. which is essential, is obtain
ed i'm exactly the same manner ass would
be adopted I'm the basic open-hcartn-
that is. by first eliminating silicon and
carbon. and then recarhonizing 10y tho
addition to the metal while in molten
state of pulvorized coke charcoal on other
carbouaceous material. or perhaps spice
geleisen would serve the purpose better
the only difference and the great advan-
tace being that. in the case of the basic
open-hearth, we would also dephosphorizc-
Question no longer exists rs TO the entire
feasibility and practicability OF masking
Steel rails by the basic Opcn-hedfth pro-
cess.
An important feature IN the develop
mont Of tho steel industry IN tne South
will probably be the installation OF ni-
nrodtict coke ovens i'm connection with
the steel works. in which case the gas
will be utilized for fuel IN the Niemfi'H
furnace the cOal-tar used 10 render our
basic lining material. or doloWil'' "'-
hesive and plastic. and the ammonia as
"a sulphate Of ammonia Is am eSsenii1i pm"
trial Ina the manufacture of fertilizers
IRON, nhosphate rock. The cost of coke
% our blast furnaces Will probably he
materially reduced by reason of the in-
creased Weld claimed for the hiproduet
oven and by crediting the profits of inc
and this will, of course. r.-
drce the cost Of our pigiron, as Wei h7
the cost Of our steel-Birmingham state
Herald