Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-06-24
s.. r. Dawson's Far Famed Pro-
cess of Making Damascus
Steel, Found Impracticable
GAN NOT BE MADE UNIFORM
u Was Once Believed That Dawson
Had Discovered the Lost Art of Max
ing Steel Which Gave Damascus
Fame Ages Aso-Prominent Men
Were Interested in the Venture.
epecial TO Times-Republiean.

epecial to Times Republican.
Des Moines, June 24.-The Damascus
Steel Company of Des Moines, capital
tied at s2.o00,0oo. organized for the
manufacture of steel by a process In
vented by S. r. Dawson With plant at
New Brighton, Pa, has given up the
fight, and in letter to the stockhold-
ers it is stated that the plant will be
cold and whatever is possible will be
saved for the stockholders. meeting
OF the stockholders viii be held at East
Orange, n. j., on July IL. where final
arrangements will be made. According
10 the letter sent out to the stockhoid-
ers, Mr.. Dawson's far-faned process
mas been found impracticable, 1t being
an ilnpossibility to make the steel or d
uniform grade. For two years tests
have been made, but it has been found
that the steel cannot be made UNIFORM.
and tho Mr. Dawson has made every
effort to find q process for the elimina-
Zion OF the fault he has been unsuccess-
1ul.
The history OF Damascus steel is an
open page to Des Moines people. ). II.
Dawson, q mechanic, originally discoV-
cred a process for the manufacture OF
what he named Damascus steel. II was
believed that he had discovered the
lost art OF making steel when mace
Damascus famous ages ago. Some OF
the things he manufactured were mar
wells, The secret of the process was
most zealously guarded. A company
was formed and small factory estap-
lished on the river between Locust
street and Grand avenue, when Dawson
shot and killed Walter Scott, his SON
1n-law of less than a week. on CHRIST
mas eve eight years ago Dawson was
tent to the penitentiary. The formula
for the making of the steel was depos>
lted in the safety deposit vaults of the
Security Savings Bank. A suit by the
stockholders OF the company for the
formula resulted in their defeat. The
Allegation covered months. Dawson was
taken from his prison cell to testify.
but the key to the safety deposit box
was in Dawsons possession and the
courts allowed him to keep ii. Thus
during his term In the penitentiary the
valuable formula lay alone and nothing
was done with It.
The sensational shooting, the SEN.
tence of prominent man to the pent-
fentiary, the following suit for the for
nluia gave great prominence to the
affair. The value of Dawson's secret
was deemed inesti,nable.
Power was brought to bear to secure
pawsons pardon. About two years
ago 1T was granted and Dawson re-
turned to Des Moines from prison. Il
broken man, pale and gray. but with
confidence and determination that his
wonderful secret would prove an
Alladin's lamp and that it was but "A
matter of time until he would be rich.
richer than ever before and able to re-
gain lost social standing.
Prominent Men Interested.
ss He interested some of Des Mofnes'
most prominent people in the rejuven.
alton of the company. Dean A. M.
Haggard of Drake University. c. Il.
McCarty, formerly a state official, G.
e. Taft, wholesale grocer. and ]. h.
Burton of the University Place bank
became interested and proceeded to
boom the company. The stock out
standing was taken UP and the COM
pany reorganized and Incorporated in
New Jersey with capital stock of
two million.
The operations became very active,
much of the stock was sold and for a
year the company prospered. A mill
Ing plant at New Brighton, Pa, was
purchased and things We're soon in mo-