The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-18

of the forests. During this time England
imported her iron, largely from Sweden !;
ana later, Russia anu the American
colonies contributed TO her supply. IN
1850 the duties which had been imposed
on American iron for the protection OF
British manufacture, were repealed. So
primitive at this time was the manufac
ture of PIG iron In Great Britain, that
botn charcoal and the iron ore Were car
ried To many OF the furnaces on the backs
of horses.
The vast and almost inexhaustible de-
posits of iron and coal were of little rela-
tive value to the people until the means
were discovered for their easy and rapid
utilization. The relation of these two
important raw materials motal and a
non-metallic mineral, was not understood.
Soon after the middle OF the 18th century,
mineral coal in the form of coke was dis.
covered, and introduced into England
ana Wales. Tho iron trade ut once re-
vived. and the industry was created in
Scotland. England is justly entitled TO
the gratitude of all nations tor the lnesti-
mable service rendered 10 mankind
through her Inventions aud improvements
in the coal and iron idustries from 1160 to
1886. Darby's discovery and use OF coke
i'm blast furnaces: Payne and Hanburys
device for the rolling of sheet iron !:
Huntsman's process for making steel in
crucibles; Smeaton's invention of cast
iron blowing cylinders and Cort's inven-
tion of gruoved rails and the pudding
furnace, were achievements OF priceless
value.
Perhaps no one has contributed more
valuable service than James Watt, who
entered upon his memorable career in 1864.
His great achievement in the improve
ments of the steam engine, was imme-
diately recognized, ana in l775 Parliament
renewed his patents for n period of
ntafu inn
afforded the means for more extensiN .
manufacture or iron and became most
important agency in treating markets for
its use. IL also gave Immediate and SUBJ
stantlal value 10 the remarkable inventions
OF Hargrayes ArKwright. Cartwright and
Kay.
Another epoch in tho development of
iron industry il marked by Stephenson's $
improvement and perfection in 1914 of
the travelling engine or locomotive, started
by Trevethick, and the successful opera
tion of his first railroad in 1925. Follow
ing this. in lS2S Nelson Invented the hot
blast, and In 1887 Crane applied this blast
TO the manufacture Of pig iron. Nasmyth
I'm 1898 invented the steam hammer. and
in lS43, the pile driver. But the greatest
of all inetallurgical achievements was
reserved for Henry Bessemer in his inven-
tion Of the new steel process called by his
name. Ihe royalties paid to him reached
the sum OF $1,000, 600.
AS a brief indication of the growth of
the iron industry and the rate of progress
in Its development, statement of the
worlds production OF Zig iron, is interest
ing and Impressive. Tho total production
of the world in the year 1890 was &c, 600
tons: In 1900 was 4S0, 600 tons in 1889 was
%, 1850, 600 tons The total production from
1900 1889 was 563, 400, 900 tons.
OF the above amount the United States
produced 90, 800 900 tons, the value of
which was g., 246, 500 600.
The Importance of the iron industry in
the economy of the world is but family
expressed in figures that set forth simply
the quantity and value of the iron pro-
duct Millions of men find employment
In mining tho orc, in its transportation TO
the furnace, in molding forging, rolling
and manipulating II into ten thousand
usahle forms. Iron enters as an impor-
tant factor into almost every department.
OF industry machinery Of every descrip.
ton; railroad construction and equip
ment; into bridges, naval and merchant
marine; into building construction water
and sewer service and the manufacture
of an infinite variety OF objects and uten-
sils for domestic uso; giving Co the farmer
the means by which the ground is pre-
pared, the seed planted, the harvest
gathered md Transported TO the markets
that furnish the daily provision for the
lifo of man and beast. Thousands upon
thousands Of men have perisbed In tho
great famines of the world: not because
the earth had not yielded her increase;
but because man had not prepared the
iron path or rapid TRANSPORTATION. There
is nothing that enters into the construc-
tion and furnishing of our homes the
preparation of our food, the protection or
adornnent Of the body, that is not pre-
pared and fashioned by the uso of iron. It
was not the desire Of preserving our
forests that led 20 the discovery and utili-
zation of the worlds greatest mines OF
mineral coal. IL was tho neces-
sities OF the great iron indus
try, whose vnst possibilities Of i'm
ca culahlo service TO humanity could find
no realization without the aid Of that
oIrpanion miucrtl whlcn the Creator
had expressly provided and placed side hy
side with ~ In the bosom of tho earth.
TO the development Of the iron industry
we arc indebted for the very existence of
many products which are now regarded
necessities Of our life, and TO 10 we owe
primarily the vast reduction In the cost
of living which has resulted from the
easy and rapid production. facilitated
bv improved tools and machinery. The
pens made by elliott sixty years sgo cost
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