The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1911-03-30
Yankee Surprised Bessemer

the steel trade he came to know In
timstely tie 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.
! 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 steei-a prophecy
that has come true. rs 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 chat over my statement into his
library, beautiful room that con-
tanned one OF the choicest collection
well rs 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
sNA n.
at hand In support Of my contention.
and. finally. added: And, Sir Henry.
you will be responsible for the pres
tige which we shall obtain. for had Il
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 HGhry smiled indulgently: 10
was plain that I had not succeeded In
convincing him.
well. | said. perhaps I can con-
vince you on another matter that has
been interesting me greatly OF late
But FIRST tell me. ofrhand. n you can.
about how many millions OF pounds
your invention has brought to you per
sonslly, ! do not ask the question
out OF idle curiosity
For perhaps Ave minutes SIR Hen.
~ was absorbed In mental calcuia-
tlon. Then he said: Mr.. Hewitt. I
should say. off.hand. that my process.
OF steel manufacturing has broughs
me about four million pounds.
THAT Is twenty million dollars In
American money replied. Then I
took pencil and paper and began to
do some figuring. based on my knOul
edge Of the statistics OF steel produc.
ton and OF commerce and mAnufac-
ture. made a rapid computation and
handed the paper to Sir Henry.
You will see by my figures 7 ex-
planned. that your invention. within
a quarter of. century. has increased
the material wealth OF the world by
an amount practically equivalent to
tho cash capital OF the commercial ma.
tons of the world as that was a hun.
dred years ago. or at the time of the
close OF our Revolutionary war
For long time Sir Henry looked
blankiy 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 Il doesn't seem credible
Nevertheless. the story those fg-
ures tell is the truth ! answered.
And OF the increased wealth OF the
world--hundreds OF millions IA all
resulting from your great invention.
you have received only twenty mil.
lion dollars. Surely, you have divided
your great wealth with all the ma.
tons"
Copyright. 1910. by E. J. Edwards. An
Rights Ressrvod)