The Creators of the Age of Steel

ing elapsed since that experiment was made, he thought it might afford a practical proof of the duration of steel for boilers. He accordingly telegraphed to Mr. Richardson, asking what state these six boilers were in, if they still existed. The reply was that all the six boilers were at work, and were still in a most satisfactory condition, showing no signs of corrosion. Next to railways, ship-building is the industry which is the largest consumer of iron. The history of the introduction of iron instead of wood for ship-building has often been written, but a full account of the introduction of steel instead of iron has yet to be written. There are not a few claimants for the honor of having induced the latter change ; but in this matter, also, Sir Henry Bessemer's claims are incontestable, though often ignored. Prior to the advent of Bessemer steel, several small vessels, intended for river navigation, were made of steel, which, being a light material, enabled them to steer about in shallow water ; but the great cost of the steel then used precluded its application to ocean-going vessels. In 1862-3 Sir Henry endeavored to draw the attention of ship-builders to the superiority of his metal to the common iron then used in ships. He succeeded, in 1863, in inducing one ship-builder to order enough of steel to make a stern-wheel barge, which was followed by another of the same description. So satisfied was the ship-builder with the new material that he persuaded the Humbe...