Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1911-03-31
Yankee Surprised Bessemer

the steel trade he came to know in
timately tbs inventor Of the Bessemer
process of steel making.
About twenty-five years after Sir
Henry Bessemer had invented his
process of converting iron into steel,
l was a guest at his home some dis
lance from the city of Birmingham"
said Mr.. Hewitt not long before his
DEATH which occurred in 1903, when
he was eighty-one years of age. Some
time previous to calling on Sir Henry
had made the statement that in
twenty-five or thirty years the United
States would be supreme among all
the nations Of the world in the pro-
duction of iron and steel-a prophecy
that has come true, as you know. Sir
Henry had heard of my forecast, and
was inclined to doubt it's accuracy.
But he was eager to talk the matter
over with me. and almost as soon as
| had reached his home he took me
for a chat over my statement into his
library, a beautiful room that con-
tanned one of the choicest collection
OF the classics l have ever seen, as
well as complete library telling Of
the production of iron and steel
throughout the world.
There, while Sir Henry listened at
tentively, | told him why / believed
my country would eventually lead,
and be Independent OF, the entire
world in the production of iron and
steel. / quoted the statistics | had
at hand in support of my contention,
and, finally, l added: And, Sir Henry,
you will be responsible for the pres
tige which we shall obtain, for had 1t
not been for your discovery of the
process by which perfect steel can be
made cheaply, we should not now be
able to compete with you in the man.
ufacture of steel and would probably
have to import all our STEEL
Sir Henry smiled indulgently; 1t
was plain that had not succeeded In
convincing him.
Well. said, perhaps l can con-
vince you on another matter that has
been interesting me greatly of late.
But first tell me. off-hand, If you can,
Nout how many millions of pounds
invention has brought to you per
| do not ask the question
@uriosity'
Ups five minutes Sir Hen
Jsorbed IN mental calcula-
len he said: Mr.. Hewitt.
ay. off-hand, that my process
manufacturing has brought
four million pounds
is twenty million dollars In
money I replied. Then
sncil and paper and began to
- figuring, based on my knowl-
% of the statistics of steel produc-
ton and Of commerce and manufac-
ture. made rapid computation and
handed the paper to Sir Henry.
You will see by my figures l ex.
planned. that your invention, within
a quarter of century, has increased
the material wealth of the world by
an amount practically equivalent to
the cash capital Of the commercial ma
lions of the world as that was a hun
bred years ago, or at the time Of the
close of our Revolutionary war.
For long time Sir Henry looked
blankly at the figures You amaze
me- he said, at last I know that
you are familiar with the statistics
you have employed to arrive at this
result. Yet It doesn't seem credible
Nevertheless, the story those fig
ures tell is the truth l answered
And Of the increased wealth Of the
world-hundreds of millions in all
resulting from your great invention, /
you have received only twenty mil I
lion dollars. Surely, you have divided |
your great wealth with all the ma
TONS"
Copyright. 1910. by E j. Edwards All
Rights RszsFved)