The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1911-12-15
friday December Is 1911
WASHINGTON STEEL & IRON PLANT
Under Construction the Past Six MOnths-W Turn Od Steel
Next Year

nnlng, accortlng to the nature OF the
ore, absorbs the sulphur and phosphorus.
The metal is now simply soft iron, that
is, very low in carbon. 1t order to
change this to steel, the metal is pour
ed from the converter into large ladels
where there is added to the molten
metal, iron of high carbon contents,
such as feuo speigel eisen. This is
the steel from which rails, structural
steel, ranges, furnaces, etc., are pro-
duced.
A later method and one that is fast
superceding the Bessemer method is
the open hearth method.
This is fitting furnace and many
processes are used in it--such as pig
and iron ore, ore and scrap iron, pig,
scrap and ore, etc. The ulti-
mate product is the same as the Bes-
semer product only the cost OF pro-
duction is lessened. Crucible steel is
the finest quality of the metal and the
high grade steel used for very high
grade tools. etc., is produced by this
method. The best wrought ron is
broken up and with a studied amount
OF alloy, either carbon, tungsten, vana-
dunn, etc., is put in large sized cruel
bles and these are then covered and
set into crucible furnaces. This pro-
cess is one that requires great skill on
the part of the operator and great care
must be used by the metallurgist as
the slightest difficulty arising in the
operation of the furnace or mixture of
the metal units it for use.
The Washington Steel & Iron COM
pany's process for manufacturing steel
is different from any now in use
and is the invention of E. H. Rothert,
and known as the Rothert process.
The furnaces, which are far different
from any now in use, are patented and
other patents are applied for on various
appliances used in this method.
This process; though departure
from old beaten paths in this industry,
is not in its experimental stage, as for
the past several years, steel that has
proven superior to the best now on the
market has been produced by this
process.
This process has caused great stir
in metallurgical circles, particularly in
the production of high grade tool steel
from magnetic ore. Millions and mil
lions of tons OF this ore exist in the
United States and Canada, but until
the advent of the Rothert process it
could not be utilized commercially.
The plant at Leavenworth will be
equipped to handle quite an amount
of this ore. The buildings are of gal
vanized iron, 60x150 and 50x75, re-
spectively. An addition to these will
be built in the spring. The machinery,
furnaces and entire equipment will be
put in this winter so that the plant will
be ready to operate in the spring OF
1912. The water power owned by the
company will be developed and quite
lot of electric power will be general
ed and used in this plant. Before the
close of 1912 there will be quite a
number of plants, using this process
distributed all over the United States
and Canada. Applications for the
privilege of using this process are con-
stan,ly being received and some have
been acted upon. Thus, Leavenworth,
Washington, will be the birthplace OF
an industry that may make her famous.