En résumé, the improvements introduced in England do not: modify the nature of the first material employed. This always remains. a very gray and silicious iron, comparatively difficult and costly to produce.

PROGRESS IN WESTPHALIA.-The most important modifications introduced in the working of the Thomas-Gilchrist process reach us from the works of Hörde. The director, M. Massenez, and the engineer, M. Pink, have given, at the matallurgical meeting at Dusseldorff (General-Versammlung des technischen Vereins für Eisenhüttenwesen), held Deccember 15th, 1879, very detailed descriptions, which we have every reason to believe exact.

Dephosphorization was attempted September 22d, 1879, and from the first, M. Massenez (to give his own figurative language) "declared an obstinate war to the silicon, in order to make a compact of friendship with the phosphorus."

He asserts that with "white" iron, having 0·5 of silicon, 2.5 of carbon, and more than 20 of phosphorus, to have succeeded in making steel having '03 to 06 of phosphorus.

Below are given some numerical details communicated by the works of Hörde:

Phosphorus. Carbon. Sulphur. Manganese. Silicon.

The total weight of the slag would be 2250 kilogrammes.

The slags (a) and (b) belong to several operations; the analysis (c) is the average from the three operations, 67, 68 and 69.

The fact of there being only traces of alumina should be noticed. Before this, at Eston, with bricks containing 10 per cent. of alumina, there was only found 1.3 per cent. in the slag; it seems, then, that the alumina has less tendency than the lime and magnesia to be attacked under the double action of the silica and phosphoric acid.

The metal, tried for tensile strength, gave:

The length of the test pieces is not indicated.

At Hörde they have also made metal for sheets, giving 39 kilogrammes of resistance per millimetre square, and 70 per cent. of contraction.

It is to be regretted that the figures relative to still more phosphoric runs have not been communicated.

That which characterizes these very interesting experiments is the substitution of phosphorus for the silicon, as the calorific element in the Bessemer process. Until the present we only knew two elements, the combustion of which could develop and maintain the temperature necessary to the operation-silicon and manganese-the first having a calorific power of 7830, according to recent researches of Troost and Hautefeuille, and the second of 8000, according to the same authors. The engineers of Hörde present to us a third substance-phosphorus -the combustion of which will be, under equal pressure, an element of heat at least as intense as silicon or manganese. According to Laplace and Lavoisier, the calorific power of phosphorus, in changing to phosphoric acid, would be 7500 calorics, and if we compare the products of the combustion, phosphoric acid, on the one part, silica, oxide of manganese, on the other, leaving to the contact of the bath all the heat produced, we will no longer be astonished at this new role played by the phosphorus.

They even assert that the works of Hörde have specified, in buying pig iron for Bessemer use, that it shall contain at least 2 per cent. of phosphorus, not more than 1 per cent. of silica, nor 0.2 of sulphur.

They also speak of the manufacture of special alloys of iron and phosphorus destined to introduce the quantity of this last substance necessary to the operation (M. Gautier presented to the meeting specimens of phosphuret of iron containing 22 per cent. of phosphorus. It is silver white, iridescent upon fracture, and very difficult to attack with acids).

The substitution of phosphorus for the silicon has the effect of making the phosphates predominate in the slag; these are much less corrosive than the silicates, and the wear and tear of the lining is less.

The operation at Hörde is conducted in a manner notably different. from that which we have seen in the works of Bolckow-Vaughan.

As soon as a charge is finished they put in the converter the addition of lime for the next charge, about 20 per cent. of the weight of the iron to be treated. They add coke and coal, in large pieces, raise the converter and blow. The hydrate of lime is decomposed, and the last traces of carbonic oxide are expelled. They thus diminish the projections and partial explosions, which were frequent with the old method of working, and overcome in part the cooling which accompanied the cold additions made at the commencement. It is not until later that they charge the pig metal.

On account of the feeble amount of silicon which the iron contains, and probably, also, owing to the presence of a small amount of coke from the preliminary heating, one perceives immediately the yellow ray of sodium, and the spectrum is not long in expanding.

The operation is notably shortened, and lasts from 8 to 15 minutes at most. Observation shows that the oxidation of the phosphorus does not commence until after the elimination of the greater part of the silicon, and after the combustion of a considerable proportion of carbon. Nevertheless, the dephosphorization was more rapid than at Eston, and there is also no need for continuing the overblowing for as long a time. It varied between 100 and 240 seconds; but ordinarily 100 to 150 seconds suffices. When the nature of the metal to be treated is known in advance, the operation can be governed by the length of time after the disappearance of the spectrum and the cessation of the flame. A small ingot is then taken by means of a ladle which is plunged into the converter. This is hammered, cooled and broken. The appearance of the break is sufficiently characteristic to indicate the increase (of phosphorus?) given by overblowing. The engineers of Hörde claim to find in the aspect of the fumes an evi