Volume 12 (1866) (428 pages)

Scientific Press. 23 The Mining and Mechanical, MORE ABOUT METALLIO ALLOYS—TITANIO IRON. Tbe volnahle und, hitherto, exceedingly rore mineral titonium, which wns first diseovered as a useful metul by Gregor, in 1791, tn Cornwall, Englond, bas recently been found associnted with irou,in inexhaustible quantities, in the Island of New Zeulaud. ‘This metnl is of ndeep blue eolor, and occurs in limited quuntity in iron ores in winny parts of the world. It is always, we believo, found o3 an oxyd, and ia ono of the three following conditions: Asa protoxide of titonium, TiO; a sesquioxide, Ti? 08 ; or ns titanie acid, ‘TiO? . ‘The inetal titasinm has long been known to he of yreat serviee as an alloy for iron—rendering that metal exeeedingly hard ond steel-like. Sueh nn alloy is peculinrly notieenble and servieeable, from the, fuet that while it is harder than ordinary steel, it Is nt the suine time more flzcfble, and is nlmost as free from oxydation as the ferro-manganese, noticed in our issuc of November 25th, 1865. This nlloy is very similnr in its properties to tungsteu or manganese alloys of iron, each of whieh have reeently been fully descrihed in the columns of the Press. But unlike either tungsten or mangunese, this alloy mny he obtained direct from a nutural ore ut a single smelting; the result being a pig-iron of a very white and compaet fine-grained charneter, resembling to some extent the variety produeed frons spathie iron ore, and which may he readily ron direetly into ingots of a pure alloy of titanium and iron: five per cent. of which, added to the material of which the Besse.ner stecl is made, will make steel of the best quality. It is estimated, from the experiments made iu England, in a small furnace of one ton capacity, that, with a furnace of suitable dimensions, this ulloy can be delivered in the pig, in Loadon, for $20 per ton. It is, moreover, claiined that the alloy in this eondition is fully equul to the Taranaki steel whieh is now selling in London at $420 per ton! his claim is made in the London Mining Journal. If tbe advaatages of the proeess and quality of manufaeture is tiot over-stated, the eompany which is about to entbark in the basiness niust have exceediagly gyod prospeets before them, and will even put Bessemer quite in the shade. According to the reports of the proceedings of a meeting of an association at Birmingham, of persous eoanected with the iron interests of Great Britain, ag reported in the Colliery Guardian aad Londen Jining Journal, some of this alloy, or titauiferous irou, has been worked iuto various manufaetured articles, speeitnens of which were submitted to und tested before tho mectiag, witb a result which appears to have fully sustained all tbat is claimed for it. The Messrs. Mosely, the wellknowu eutlers of Conveut Garden, bave manufactured fram it various artieles, which, ueeording to the report, ‘‘ they tested in every possible way, aud tried its temper to the utmost, and they report that the metal exeeeds anything they have worked in steel before. It was formed into razors, saws, table eutlery, surgical instruments, etc., and the closeness of the grain, fiaeness of polisb, aud keenness of edge: place it in tbe very foremost rank.” We are unable to make out, from the accounts before us, whether this iron was submitted to a puddling proeess or uot, but we presnme it mnst have heea. The aecount of the maanlaeture of the irou from whieh the above artieles were made, siniply says: “ The first practical application of the New Zealand sand was made by Mr. Robert Mushet, who eonverted some, hy simply smeltiug it in crucibles, into steel, for Messrs. Mosely.” Again, we are furtber told that “ above five ‘tons of pig-tron was supplied to Messrs. D. Hopkins & Sons, of Westbromerieh, and by them it has been converted into bars, rods» sheets, hoops, cte., which prove to be of a very superior quality. The iron was first puddied alone in the furnace. Some of tbe 114-ineh bar-iron has been made into a ehatn-cable at the works of Messrs. Purkes & Tipton, aud has stood a struin of fifty tong, or nearly three lintes the Governusent test, and then it ouly yielded at the weld. ‘Tbe inipurtauee of the experiments abovo olluded to eunnot be over-estimuted. Tho result indiented is ono of the great desiderata of the age—tho cheap produetion ol n first-elass tenacious iron. ‘I'his iron, from all aceounts, uppenrs to ho mneh more tenaeions, nod more capable of resisting the penetrating effects of blows, ns fromm eannou shot, thon the best of steel as heretofore mado from ordinnry iron. If there ts tio mistnke im the abore-natned reports, and if this titaniferons iron can he mannfactured anything like ns cheap as indicated, tho discovery must surely lead to the most insportant results in the montifnetores of the world, iti the various shapes and forms of tnetallic strueture, to whieh iron and steel eannot be applied in the present stute of knowledce, and at the present cost of tle better qualittes of those metals. By tlhe use of sucli an alloy as above deseribed, iron-clad ships may he made almost or qnite as light as wooden war-ships, and, at the same time, fur more impervious to eannon shot than even the most unwieldy iron-cluds of the present day. As we have already said, more than oaee, this question of metallic alloys may now be eonsidered ag one of the most important mechanieal problems of the age, aud one which shonld engage the earnest attention of every man engaged in working metals. From what has heen said, it may be interesting to the reader to learn something of the prohable extent of the rare deposit of this valuable mineral. Inno other part of the world has it been discovered in workable qnantities. The largest deposit heretofore discovered, we believe, ocenrs at St. Paul’s Bay, in Canada, where there is a bed 200 feet long hy 90 wide. It is also fouad in small quantities tn some plaees in New York, and at South Royalston, Muss. It is found in considerable quantity at one or two places in Italy. It oecurs iu very small quantities among the gold-sands of this Stute, ond is very plentiful in the sand found npou the buak of the Sacramento, at Martinez. in the same loeality where the “ precious stones” are now being gathered. This New Zealand titanic iroa-sand is found distributed, more or less, over the wltule island, aud iu almost inexhaustible quantities. The largest tract, however, is said to extend fully sixteen miles-along the sea-coast of that island, at the foot of Mount Iemont, and in tbe neighborhood of New Plymouth. The aeeonnt of this deposit says: “It is seareely possible to eoneeive a property offering greater facilities for working—a shovel and a barrow being the only investment in machinery neeessary.” This sand has beeu carefully analyzed and pronounced to he the purest ore of the kind at present kuown—eontaiving 8814 per eent. of per-oxide of iron, aud 1114 of oxide of titanium with siliea. ‘The great difficulty hitherto experienced in smelting the ore has arisen from its fine state of subdivision ; but by the proeess receutly invented ia England its reduetion bas been rendered almost as easy as that of ordiuary iron ore. Qne hundred tons of the ore have recently been takea to Englaad to experiment upon from whieb the results heretolore given have bven obtained. It is proposed, we believe, to work the ores in New Zealand, where there isan abundaaee of fuel in close proximity to the cre. ‘The traets of land where it oecurs belong mostly to the British Government. Parent Oprainen.—Mr. Sanuel Brown, of this city, has obtaiued, tbrough the Mumne ann Scirntiric Press AcEncy, a patent for his “ Disengaging Eye.” This invention was fully descrihed in our issue of December 2d, 1865; a few days previous to whieh date, a practical illustration of the invention was givea on board tbe Revenue Cutter Shubrick, in this harhor. The iavention is designed to secure the instantaneous nnd safe diseagagement of a boat froin a ship or steamer, when under full headway at sea; the object being to effect a greater security to the lives of passengers in leaving a vessel in distress. ‘I'he 1nyeation is pronounced a most valnable one, and measures are being taken to seeure its general introduetion on board of all passenger carrying vessels, FORGING AND WELDING OAST STEEL, George Ede, au English mechanie resident in New York, has given a lurge amouut of praetieal infornution on thu mnuagenient of steel, ia a little pamphlet recently published by D. Appleton & Co. Stecl is one of the most voluxble ond useful netals, and its manugement is quite too littlo understood by most aiechanics. ‘here are tons of the very best steel condemned as bud—when, the fact is, it has heen made bud by forging ; that work having been entrusted to worknien who did not havo x proper kuowledgo of its manngement. It is not nn uncommon thing for a man to soy to his fellow workmen, “ mako it well hot—it will work the easier "—and in so doing destroy the very hest of steel, prononnciug it a bad urtiele, unaware of the fuct that their own ignoranee hus destroyed it. Mr. Ede, in his pamphlet, gives the following directions for FORGING CAST STEEL. “Tn forging of east steel the fire must be regulated by the size of the work ; and in heating the steel, when tho flames begin to break out, beat the coals round the outside of the fire close together with the slice to prevent the heat fron eseaping. ‘I'o save fuel, damp the coal, and throw water on the fire if it extend beyond its proper limits. ‘To ascertain the heat of the steel, drawit out of tbe fire, and that often, for it reqnires to be well watched to heat the steel properly; and if not hot enough, thrust it quickly ia again. Soft coke is even better than coal for the fire. ‘Ibe heat the steel receives is judged of by the eye ; and care should be taken not to nse a higher degree of heat than is absolutely neeessary to effect the desired purpose, and to use as few heats as possible ; too frequent and overheating steel abstraets the earbon, gradually redueing it to the state of forged iron again. It is an idea of many men, tbat so long as the steel does not fly to pieces when they strike it witb the hammer, itis not too hot; but it is an erroaeous idea, and easily proved when it comes to be used ; still it is an idea that many tnen will maiatain, but only for the want of knowing better, nnd I hope tbat this will bave the effect of alteriug their opinion. J ear safely say that ao man will ever injure the steel by being too eareful how he takes his heats, WELDINO CAST STEEL. According to the same autbority, cast steel may: be welded as readily as iron, and without the use of that metal, by using « flux made after the following receipt: Take sixteen parts of borax and oue of sal-ammoniac, boil them over a slow fire for an hour, and when cold grind it into a powder. The steel must then be made as hot as it will eonveniently bear, and the borax used as sand.” Tur Ust or Steex Raits.—The employment of steel instead of iron for railroad traeks is a matter tbat is awakening eonsiderable iaterest in seientifie eireles, as well as among praetical meehantes and engineers at the East. At tbe regular monthly meeting of the Franklin Institute for Deeember,the Secretary made espeeial referenee to itin his report. Whenever they have been introduced the wear is said to be seareely pereeptible to the elosest serutiuy ; while iron rails, on roads over whieh a large amount of heavy traffic is daily passing, require to be replaeed. as often as once iu eight years. ‘I'here are two objections, however, that still preelude their very extensive use— their liability to break under heavy pressure when subjected to severe frost, aad the great expense of their first cost. The first of tbese objeetions ean be remedied by additional strengtheniag of the supports, and the improvenieats now being introdueed for inereasing tbe toughness of steel; while the inereased facilities for their manufseture is fast obviatiag tbe second difficulty. A New Kwirrino Macuing, for family use, and intended to relieve the ladies of the irksome and unpleasant task of knitting by the hand, such artieles as are needed iu every family, is now being iatroduced into tbe Mastern States. It will in the short space of one balf hour, eonvert a ball of yarn iuto a pair of, stuekings. Jt is eapable of kaitting a great . variety of articles, and can be used by every housekeeper. IJtis simple in construction and its operation ean be easily acquired by aay person of ordin:ry eapaecity and judgement; is neat and ornameatalin its eonstruetion, oeeupies hut little space, and ean be fastened to a table like an ordinury sewiag bird. MINING AND SOIENTIFIO PRESS PATENT AGENCY. For the Pacific Coast. Orrice oF the Mining anp ScreRtme Press—No, 505 Clay street, corner of Sansome, San Francisco. Information for Inventora! Incentora on this coast haring their applications for patents mada ouf through our Agency can sign their papers at once, and thua areure their rights at lost (irce months sooner than by trusting thé same to distant agencies, eituated in New York or Washington. The first anc lom that presents itself to the [nventor, who desirc® to procure a [eee ia: “Can Tobtain a alent?” A positive answer to this questlon is only to be had yy presenting a formal application tora patent to the GovernIncnt,embracing a petition, specification, model, duplicate, drawings, and the payment of the presertbed offietal fees. Aside from thesc steps, all tho Inventor can do fs, to submit his plans to persons experienced in the buslnessof ohtaining patents and sofleit thelr opinion and advice. if the partiea onsulted are honorable men, the Inventor may aoe conndo his ideas to them, and they wilt inform hlm whether or cot his invention ls probably patentable. Those who havo made invent!ons and desire to consnit with us respecting the same, are cordially inviled to do so. We shall he happy to seo them In person at our office, or to advise them by mail, or throngh the Minine anp Scientirio Press. In allcases they may expeet trom us an honest opinion. For thesc consuitations, opinion and adylce, we Mako no chargo. A pean sketch, and description of the invention should besent together wlth astamp for return. perttee: Write pialn ; donot use pencil or pale Ink; he The! Rememher that all business committed to onr care, and all Goisnts, are kept by us secret, and strictly confidenal. Caveata, A Caveat is a confidential commnnication made to the Patent Office, and ls therefore filed within Its secret archives. The privilego secored under a caveat Is, that {it entitles the caveator to recelve notice, for a perlod of ong vent of any: application for a patent subsequentily filed, an which ts adjudred to be novel, and Is llkely to interfore with the InVentlon described {n the caveat, and the cavcator Is thenrequired to complete his application for a patent within three months from the date of said notice. Caveat papers should be very cere oly rer Our fee for the service varies from $10 to $20. The Government fee nnder the new law is reduced to ten dollars; and thissum does not apply, as heretefore, as part of the fee on presenting an app: cation for a patent. inventors will ofttimes find it very Important to take advantage of the caveat system—tho expense nnder the Jaw heing eomparatively small. To enable us to prepare caveat paper, we only require asketch and description of the invention; no model being necessary. Expense of Applying for a Patent, Rejections, ete. Under the new law, the Government fce, on fillng an Ape plication for a patent, is fifteen dollars ; and lf the patent is allowed, twenty dollara additional isrequired. If rejected, the first fee of fifteen dollars is all that is demanded, English, French, Austrlan, Prusslan Spanish, and inventors of every natlonality, may now obtaln patents in the United Stalés upon the same terms as our owy eltizens. The only discrimination made {s against subjects of rovernment that discriminate against the Inhabltants of the United States, To the foregoing official fees must be added the Attorney's fees for preparlng the various documents and drawings. Our charge for preparing a case, presenting itto tho Gov ernment, and Ing to all with It, until a decision ls glven, isfrom $20 to $10. If the ‘patent ts grantted no further agency expenses ensuss, lf the appllcatlon is rciected we cause thorough imrestigation to be made nto the reasons presented to the Commissloner for refusing the patent. 1u making thisexam!nation, our Wash{ington agent has acccss to all tho drawings, models, books and speciticatlons clted In referenec, and we report the result as cariy as possible to our client. If the rejection proves to be ati unjnst one—which somotimes happens—il can generally be reversed, and the patcnt obtained by contesting theease. For this proscention ave charge a fee propertlonate to the extra laborinvolved, payable only on the Issue ofthe patent ; but ow demand will be reasonable and satistactory to our clients, and will be arranged beforehand by spoclal agrecmen The system adopted by us works well, t. D lves general satlsfaction and presents to all applicants, rich or poor, an equal corer of having thelr patent cases prepared, conducted and proseeuted In the best manner, by experlenced attorney’s, upon the most moderate terms. Inycntors who have rejected cases, prepared either by themseives, or for them by other agents, and desire to ascerlaln thetr prospects of success by furthor efforts, are invited to avall themselves of our unequalled facilitles in secorlng favorable roLsitlts. Wo have been successful in securing Letters Patent tn'Ynany cases of such a matter. Our terms for such casos are very moderate, -* Models, Remittances, ete. The law reqnires that tbe inventor shall, in «ll cases, fornish a model, which must not exceed twelve inehes in any of its dimentions; it should be neatly made, of hard wood or metal, or both, varnished or printed; the name of the nvcntor should be engraved or painted on It couspicuously. When the invention consisis of an improvement on some known machine, a full working model ot the whole will not be necessary. it should lic suffielently perfect, however, to show, with clearness, the nature and operation of the invention. be ‘As soon ag the model fs ready, it shonld he carefully hoxed and shipped by express or otherwise, to our address, name. ly: Dewry Co., Mining and Sctentifie Press, No. Clay Street, corner of Sansome, San Franclsco, Cal. Prepay exnenses and send express receipt to us by mail. Simultaneously with the model, the Inventor should send ns the first installment of the Government fee, fifteen dollars. The money may be forwarded either by express with the model, or by inail The safest way to remlt Is hy dratt on San Francisco, payable to.our order. Aeye send a letiter w th the model,and also the remittance stating the name and address of the sendcr. A full description should also bo sent wtth the model, emhodying all the idcas of the inventor respecting the improvement. . On the receipt of the model nnd Government fee, the case is duly registered upon our books, and the application proceeded with asiast as possible. When the documents are ready we send them tothe Inventor by mall, for hls exrminalion, signature and affidavit, with a letter of instruetion, etc. Ourlce for preparing the case Is then due and will he cailed for. Tho case will then be presented to the Patent O2%se, and as soon as the patent {s ordered to be issued the Government fee, namely, twenty dollars. Inventors who de business with us will be notified of the state of thelr application in the Patent Office, whon It ls pos. slble for usto da so. We do not require the personal attend: anee of the inventor, untess it Is one of great complication ; the business can be well done by correspondence, When the invention consists of a new article of mannfacture, or a ucw composition, samples of the separate ingredients, sufficient tomake the experlment, and also of the manufactured article Itself must be furnished. The avernce time required to procure a patent, when the case is conducted at our asency, ls three months, We frequently get then through In less time ; but in other cases, owing to delay on the part of offielals, the period is sometunes extended to four or five Months, and even more. We make a special polnt to torward our cases as rapidly as ssible. aan Patent Office Fees, and How Payable. Nearly all the fecs payablo to the Patent Office are pos!tively required by law to be pald in advance. oie rollowing ls the Government tarlif of fees established by law: On every application fora design, for 3 y'rs and 6 mos. $10 On every application for a design, for seven years. 15 On eyery apphoution for a design, for fourteen years. 30 On every application tor a pateut, for seventeen years. Onevery cavea : On issuing each original patent. On fling a disclaimer..-. On every application lor a re-issne. Ou every additional patent grante On every application for an extension Onthe grant of every extension On appeal te the Commissioner fro: Ts-{n-c! On every appeal to the Judges of Circuit Court, D.C. 25 We have had successful experience tn conducting these appeals and our services are rendered on moderate terms. N. B.—We make out our own forms for applications, etc., and would respectfully Inform all parties that we have no printed blank torms for sale. DEWEY & CO., Agents, Mining and Selentitic Press Offlee, No. 505 Clay street, corner of Sxueome, San Fronelseo.

Scientific Press. 23 The Mining and Mechanical, MORE ABOUT METALLIO ALLOYS—TITANIO IRON. Tbe volnahle und, hitherto, exceedingly rore mineral titonium, which wns first diseovered as a useful metul by Gregor, in 1791, tn Cornwall, Englond, bas recently been found associnted with irou,in inexhaustible quantities, in the Island of New Zeulaud. ‘This metnl is of ndeep blue eolor, and occurs in limited quuntity in iron ores in winny parts of the world. It is always, we believo, found o3 an oxyd, and ia ono of the three following conditions: Asa protoxide of titonium, TiO; a sesquioxide, Ti? 08 ; or ns titanie acid, ‘TiO? . ‘The inetal titasinm has long been known to he of yreat serviee as an alloy for iron—rendering that metal exeeedingly hard ond steel-like. Sueh nn alloy is peculinrly notieenble and servieeable, from the, fuet that while it is harder than ordinary steel, it Is nt the suine time more flzcfble, and is nlmost as free from oxydation as the ferro-manganese, noticed in our issuc of November 25th, 1865. This nlloy is very similnr in its properties to tungsteu or manganese alloys of iron, each of whieh have reeently been fully descrihed in the columns of the Press. But unlike either tungsten or mangunese, this alloy mny he obtained direct from a nutural ore ut a single smelting; the result being a pig-iron of a very white and compaet fine-grained charneter, resembling to some extent the variety produeed frons spathie iron ore, and which may he readily ron direetly into ingots of a pure alloy of titanium and iron: five per cent. of which, added to the material of which the Besse.ner stecl is made, will make steel of the best quality. It is estimated, from the experiments made iu England, in a small furnace of one ton capacity, that, with a furnace of suitable dimensions, this ulloy can be delivered in the pig, in Loadon, for $20 per ton. It is, moreover, claiined that the alloy in this eondition is fully equul to the Taranaki steel whieh is now selling in London at $420 per ton! his claim is made in the London Mining Journal. If tbe advaatages of the proeess and quality of manufaeture is tiot over-stated, the eompany which is about to entbark in the basiness niust have exceediagly gyod prospeets before them, and will even put Bessemer quite in the shade. According to the reports of the proceedings of a meeting of an association at Birmingham, of persous eoanected with the iron interests of Great Britain, ag reported in the Colliery Guardian aad Londen Jining Journal, some of this alloy, or titauiferous irou, has been worked iuto various manufaetured articles, speeitnens of which were submitted to und tested before tho mectiag, witb a result which appears to have fully sustained all tbat is claimed for it. The Messrs. Mosely, the wellknowu eutlers of Conveut Garden, bave manufactured fram it various artieles, which, ueeording to the report, ‘‘ they tested in every possible way, aud tried its temper to the utmost, and they report that the metal exeeeds anything they have worked in steel before. It was formed into razors, saws, table eutlery, surgical instruments, etc., and the closeness of the grain, fiaeness of polisb, aud keenness of edge: place it in tbe very foremost rank.” We are unable to make out, from the accounts before us, whether this iron was submitted to a puddling proeess or uot, but we presnme it mnst have heea. The aecount of the maanlaeture of the irou from whieh the above artieles were made, siniply says: “ The first practical application of the New Zealand sand was made by Mr. Robert Mushet, who eonverted some, hy simply smeltiug it in crucibles, into steel, for Messrs. Mosely.” Again, we are furtber told that “ above five ‘tons of pig-tron was supplied to Messrs. D. Hopkins & Sons, of Westbromerieh, and by them it has been converted into bars, rods» sheets, hoops, cte., which prove to be of a very superior quality. The iron was first puddied alone in the furnace. Some of tbe 114-ineh bar-iron has been made into a ehatn-cable at the works of Messrs. Purkes & Tipton, aud has stood a struin of fifty tong, or nearly three lintes the Governusent test, and then it ouly yielded at the weld. ‘Tbe inipurtauee of the experiments abovo olluded to eunnot be over-estimuted. Tho result indiented is ono of the great desiderata of the age—tho cheap produetion ol n first-elass tenacious iron. ‘I'his iron, from all aceounts, uppenrs to ho mneh more tenaeions, nod more capable of resisting the penetrating effects of blows, ns fromm eannou shot, thon the best of steel as heretofore mado from ordinnry iron. If there ts tio mistnke im the abore-natned reports, and if this titaniferons iron can he mannfactured anything like ns cheap as indicated, tho discovery must surely lead to the most insportant results in the montifnetores of the world, iti the various shapes and forms of tnetallic strueture, to whieh iron and steel eannot be applied in the present stute of knowledce, and at the present cost of tle better qualittes of those metals. By tlhe use of sucli an alloy as above deseribed, iron-clad ships may he made almost or qnite as light as wooden war-ships, and, at the same time, fur more impervious to eannon shot than even the most unwieldy iron-cluds of the present day. As we have already said, more than oaee, this question of metallic alloys may now be eonsidered ag one of the most important mechanieal problems of the age, aud one which shonld engage the earnest attention of every man engaged in working metals. From what has heen said, it may be interesting to the reader to learn something of the prohable extent of the rare deposit of this valuable mineral. Inno other part of the world has it been discovered in workable qnantities. The largest deposit heretofore discovered, we believe, ocenrs at St. Paul’s Bay, in Canada, where there is a bed 200 feet long hy 90 wide. It is also fouad in small quantities tn some plaees in New York, and at South Royalston, Muss. It is found in considerable quantity at one or two places in Italy. It oecurs iu very small quantities among the gold-sands of this Stute, ond is very plentiful in the sand found npou the buak of the Sacramento, at Martinez. in the same loeality where the “ precious stones” are now being gathered. This New Zealand titanic iroa-sand is found distributed, more or less, over the wltule island, aud iu almost inexhaustible quantities. The largest tract, however, is said to extend fully sixteen miles-along the sea-coast of that island, at the foot of Mount Iemont, and in tbe neighborhood of New Plymouth. The aeeonnt of this deposit says: “It is seareely possible to eoneeive a property offering greater facilities for working—a shovel and a barrow being the only investment in machinery neeessary.” This sand has beeu carefully analyzed and pronounced to he the purest ore of the kind at present kuown—eontaiving 8814 per eent. of per-oxide of iron, aud 1114 of oxide of titanium with siliea. ‘The great difficulty hitherto experienced in smelting the ore has arisen from its fine state of subdivision ; but by the proeess receutly invented ia England its reduetion bas been rendered almost as easy as that of ordiuary iron ore. Qne hundred tons of the ore have recently been takea to Englaad to experiment upon from whieb the results heretolore given have bven obtained. It is proposed, we believe, to work the ores in New Zealand, where there isan abundaaee of fuel in close proximity to the cre. ‘The traets of land where it oecurs belong mostly to the British Government. Parent Oprainen.—Mr. Sanuel Brown, of this city, has obtaiued, tbrough the Mumne ann Scirntiric Press AcEncy, a patent for his “ Disengaging Eye.” This invention was fully descrihed in our issue of December 2d, 1865; a few days previous to whieh date, a practical illustration of the invention was givea on board tbe Revenue Cutter Shubrick, in this harhor. The iavention is designed to secure the instantaneous nnd safe diseagagement of a boat froin a ship or steamer, when under full headway at sea; the object being to effect a greater security to the lives of passengers in leaving a vessel in distress. ‘I'he 1nyeation is pronounced a most valnable one, and measures are being taken to seeure its general introduetion on board of all passenger carrying vessels, FORGING AND WELDING OAST STEEL, George Ede, au English mechanie resident in New York, has given a lurge amouut of praetieal infornution on thu mnuagenient of steel, ia a little pamphlet recently published by D. Appleton & Co. Stecl is one of the most voluxble ond useful netals, and its manugement is quite too littlo understood by most aiechanics. ‘here are tons of the very best steel condemned as bud—when, the fact is, it has heen made bud by forging ; that work having been entrusted to worknien who did not havo x proper kuowledgo of its manngement. It is not nn uncommon thing for a man to soy to his fellow workmen, “ mako it well hot—it will work the easier "—and in so doing destroy the very hest of steel, prononnciug it a bad urtiele, unaware of the fuct that their own ignoranee hus destroyed it. Mr. Ede, in his pamphlet, gives the following directions for FORGING CAST STEEL. “Tn forging of east steel the fire must be regulated by the size of the work ; and in heating the steel, when tho flames begin to break out, beat the coals round the outside of the fire close together with the slice to prevent the heat fron eseaping. ‘I'o save fuel, damp the coal, and throw water on the fire if it extend beyond its proper limits. ‘To ascertain the heat of the steel, drawit out of tbe fire, and that often, for it reqnires to be well watched to heat the steel properly; and if not hot enough, thrust it quickly ia again. Soft coke is even better than coal for the fire. ‘Ibe heat the steel receives is judged of by the eye ; and care should be taken not to nse a higher degree of heat than is absolutely neeessary to effect the desired purpose, and to use as few heats as possible ; too frequent and overheating steel abstraets the earbon, gradually redueing it to the state of forged iron again. It is

an idea of many men, tbat so long as the steel does not fly to pieces when they strike it witb the hammer, itis not too hot; but it is an erroaeous idea, and easily proved when it comes to be used ; still it is an idea that many tnen will maiatain, but only for the want of knowing better, nnd I hope tbat this will bave the effect of alteriug their opinion. J ear safely say that ao man will ever injure the steel by being too eareful how he takes his heats, WELDINO CAST STEEL. According to the same autbority, cast steel may: be welded as readily as iron, and without the use of that metal, by using « flux made after the following receipt: Take sixteen parts of borax and oue of sal-ammoniac, boil them over a slow fire for an hour, and when cold grind it into a powder. The steel must then be made as hot as it will eonveniently bear, and the borax used as sand.” Tur Ust or Steex Raits.—The employment of steel instead of iron for railroad traeks is a matter tbat is awakening eonsiderable iaterest in seientifie eireles, as well as among praetical meehantes and engineers at the East. At tbe regular monthly meeting of the Franklin Institute for Deeember,the Secretary made espeeial referenee to itin his report. Whenever they have been introduced the wear is said to be seareely pereeptible to the elosest serutiuy ; while iron rails, on roads over whieh a large amount of heavy traffic is daily passing, require to be replaeed. as often as once iu eight years. ‘I'here are two objections, however, that still preelude their very extensive use— their liability to break under heavy pressure when subjected to severe frost, aad the great expense of their first cost. The first of tbese objeetions ean be remedied by additional strengtheniag of the supports, and the improvenieats now being introdueed for inereasing tbe toughness of steel; while the inereased facilities for their manufseture is fast obviatiag tbe second difficulty. A New Kwirrino Macuing, for family use, and intended to relieve the ladies of the irksome and unpleasant task of knitting by the hand, such artieles as are needed iu every family, is now being iatroduced into tbe Mastern States. It will in the short space of one balf hour, eonvert a ball of yarn iuto a pair of, stuekings. Jt is eapable of kaitting a great . variety of articles, and can be used by every housekeeper. IJtis simple in construction and its operation ean be easily acquired by aay person of ordin:ry eapaecity and judgement; is neat and ornameatalin its eonstruetion, oeeupies hut little space, and ean be fastened to a table like an ordinury sewiag bird. MINING AND SOIENTIFIO PRESS PATENT AGENCY. For the Pacific Coast. Orrice oF the Mining anp ScreRtme Press—No, 505 Clay street, corner of Sansome, San Francisco. Information for Inventora! Incentora on this coast haring their applications for patents mada ouf through our Agency can sign their papers at once, and thua areure their rights at lost (irce months sooner than by trusting thé same to distant agencies, eituated in New York or Washington. The first anc lom that presents itself to the [nventor, who desirc® to procure a [eee ia: “Can Tobtain a alent?” A positive answer to this questlon is only to be had yy presenting a formal application tora patent to the GovernIncnt,embracing a petition, specification, model, duplicate, drawings, and the payment of the presertbed offietal fees. Aside from thesc steps, all tho Inventor can do fs, to submit his plans to persons experienced in the buslnessof ohtaining patents and sofleit thelr opinion and advice. if the partiea onsulted are honorable men, the Inventor may aoe conndo his ideas to them, and they wilt inform hlm whether or cot his invention ls probably patentable. Those who havo made invent!ons and desire to consnit with us respecting the same, are cordially inviled to do so. We shall he happy to seo them In person at our office, or to advise them by mail, or throngh the Minine anp Scientirio Press. In allcases they may expeet trom us an honest opinion. For thesc consuitations, opinion and adylce, we Mako no chargo. A pean sketch, and description of the invention should besent together wlth astamp for return. perttee: Write pialn ; donot use pencil or pale Ink; he The! Rememher that all business committed to onr care, and all Goisnts, are kept by us secret, and strictly confidenal. Caveata, A Caveat is a confidential commnnication made to the Patent Office, and ls therefore filed within Its secret archives. The privilego secored under a caveat Is, that {it entitles the caveator to recelve notice, for a perlod of ong vent of any: application for a patent subsequentily filed, an which ts adjudred to be novel, and Is llkely to interfore with the InVentlon described {n the caveat, and the cavcator Is thenrequired to complete his application for a patent within three months from the date of said notice. Caveat papers should be very cere oly rer Our fee for the service varies from $10 to $20. The Government fee nnder the new law is reduced to ten dollars; and thissum does not apply, as heretefore, as part of the fee on presenting an app: cation for a patent. inventors will ofttimes find it very Important to take advantage of the caveat system—tho expense nnder the Jaw heing eomparatively small. To enable us to prepare caveat paper, we only require asketch and description of the invention; no model being necessary. Expense of Applying for a Patent, Rejections, ete. Under the new law, the Government fce, on fillng an Ape plication for a patent, is fifteen dollars ; and lf the patent is allowed, twenty dollara additional isrequired. If rejected, the first fee of fifteen dollars is all that is demanded, English, French, Austrlan, Prusslan Spanish, and inventors of every natlonality, may now obtaln patents in the United Stalés upon the same terms as our owy eltizens. The only discrimination made {s against subjects of rovernment that discriminate against the Inhabltants of the United States, To the foregoing official fees must be added the Attorney's fees for preparlng the various documents and drawings. Our charge for preparing a case, presenting itto tho Gov ernment, and Ing to all with It, until a decision ls glven, isfrom $20 to $10. If the ‘patent ts grantted no further agency expenses ensuss, lf the appllcatlon is rciected we cause thorough imrestigation to be made nto the reasons presented to the Commissloner for refusing the patent. 1u making thisexam!nation, our Wash{ington agent has acccss to all tho drawings, models, books and speciticatlons clted In referenec, and we report the result as cariy as possible to our client. If the rejection proves to be ati unjnst one—which somotimes happens—il can generally be reversed, and the patcnt obtained by contesting theease. For this proscention ave charge a fee propertlonate to the extra laborinvolved, payable only on the Issue ofthe patent ; but ow demand will be reasonable and satistactory to our clients, and will be arranged beforehand by spoclal agrecmen The system adopted by us works well, t. D lves general satlsfaction and presents to all applicants, rich or poor, an equal corer of having thelr patent cases prepared, conducted and proseeuted In the best manner, by experlenced attorney’s, upon the most moderate terms. Inycntors who have rejected cases, prepared either by themseives, or for them by other agents, and desire to ascerlaln thetr prospects of success by furthor efforts, are invited to avall themselves of our unequalled facilitles in secorlng favorable roLsitlts. Wo have been successful in securing Letters Patent tn'Ynany cases of such a matter. Our terms for such casos are very moderate, -* Models, Remittances, ete. The law reqnires that tbe inventor shall, in «ll cases, fornish a model, which must not exceed twelve inehes in any of its dimentions; it should be neatly made, of hard wood or metal, or both, varnished or printed; the name of the nvcntor should be engraved or painted on It couspicuously. When the invention consisis of an improvement on some known machine, a full working model ot the whole will not be necessary. it should lic suffielently perfect, however, to show, with clearness, the nature and operation of the invention. be ‘As soon ag the model fs ready, it shonld he carefully hoxed and shipped by express or otherwise, to our address, name. ly: Dewry Co., Mining and Sctentifie Press, No. Clay Street, corner of Sansome, San Franclsco, Cal. Prepay exnenses and send express receipt to us by mail. Simultaneously with the model, the Inventor should send ns the first installment of the Government fee, fifteen dollars. The money may be forwarded either by express with the model, or by inail The safest way to remlt Is hy dratt on San Francisco, payable to.our order. Aeye send a letiter w th the model,and also the remittance stating the name and address of the sendcr. A full description should also bo sent wtth the model, emhodying all the idcas of the inventor respecting the improvement. . On the receipt of the model nnd Government fee, the case is duly registered upon our books, and the application proceeded with asiast as possible. When the documents are ready we send them tothe Inventor by mall, for hls exrminalion, signature and affidavit, with a letter of instruetion, etc. Ourlce for preparing the case Is then due and will he cailed for. Tho case will then be presented to the Patent O2%se, and as soon as the patent {s ordered to be issued the Government fee, namely, twenty dollars. Inventors who de business with us will be notified of the state of thelr application in the Patent Office, whon It ls pos. slble for usto da so. We do not require the personal attend: anee of the inventor, untess it Is one of great complication ; the business can be well done by correspondence, When the invention consists of a new article of mannfacture, or a ucw composition, samples of the separate ingredients, sufficient tomake the experlment, and also of the manufactured article Itself must be furnished. The avernce time required to procure a patent, when the case is conducted at our asency, ls three months, We frequently get then through In less time ; but in other cases, owing to delay on the part of offielals, the period is sometunes extended to four or five Months, and even more. We make a special polnt to torward our cases as rapidly as ssible. aan Patent Office Fees, and How Payable. Nearly all the fecs payablo to the Patent Office are pos!tively required by law to be pald in advance. oie rollowing ls the Government tarlif of fees established by law: On every application fora design, for 3 y'rs and 6 mos.. $10 On every application for a design, for seven years.. 15 On eyery apphoution for a design, for fourteen years. 30 On every application tor a pateut, for seventeen years. Onevery cavea : On issuing each original patent. On fling a disclaimer...-.. On every application lor a re-issne. Ou every additional patent grante On every application for an extension Onthe grant of every extension On appeal te the Commissioner fro: Ts-{n-c! On every appeal to the Judges of Circuit Court, D.C.. 25 We have had successful experience tn conducting these appeals and our services are rendered on moderate terms. N. B.—We make out our own forms for applications, etc., and would respectfully Inform all parties that we have no printed blank torms for sale. DEWEY & CO., Agents, Mining and Selentitic Press Offlee, No. 505 Clay street, corner of Sxueome, San Fronelseo.