industrial biography-第41节
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air…pipe as it entered the furnace against the action of the intense
heat to which it was subjected； a spiral pipe for a stream of cold
water constantly to play in has been introduced within the sides of
the iron tuyere through which the nozzle passes； by which means the
tuyere is kept comparatively cool； while the nozzle of the air…pipe
is effectually protected。*
＇footnote。。。
The invention of the tubular air…vessels and the water…tuyere
belongs； we believe； to Mr。 John Condie； sometime manager of the
Blair Iron Works。
。。。＇
This valuable invention did not escape the usual fate of successful
patents； and it was on several occasions the subject of protracted
litigation。 The first action occurred in 1832； but the objectors
shortly gave in； and renewed their licence。 In 1839； when the process
had become generally adopted throughout Scotland； and； indeed； was
found absolutely essential for smelting the peculiar ores of that
countrymore especially Mushet's Black Banda powerful combination
was formed amongst the ironmasters to resist the patent。 The
litigation which ensued extended over five years； during which period
some twenty actions were proceeding in Scotland； and several in
England。 Three juries sat upon the subject at different times； and on
three occasions appeals were carried to the House of Lords。 One jury
trial occupied ten days； during which a hundred and two witnesses
were examined； the law costs on both sides amounting； it is supposed；
to at least 40；000L。 The result was； that the novelty and merit of
Mr。 Neilson's invention were finally established； and he was secured
in the enjoyment of the patent right。
We are gratified to add； that； though Mr。 Neilson had to part with
two…thirds of the profits of the invention to secure the capital and
influence necessary to bring it into general use； he realized
sufficient to enable him to enjoy the evening of his life in peace
and comfort。 He retired from active business to an estate which he
purchased in 1851 in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright； where he is
found ready to lend a hand in every good workwhether in
agricultural improvement； railway extension； or the moral and social
good of those about him。 Mindful of the success of his Workmen's
Institution at the Glasgow Gas…Works； he has； almost at his own door；
erected a similar Institution for the use of the parish in which his
property is situated； the beneficial effects of which have been very
marked in the district。 We may add that Mr。 Neilson's merits have
been recognised by many eminent bodiesby the Institution of Civil
Engineers； the Chemical Society； and othersthe last honour
conferred on him being his election as a Member of the Royal Society
in 1846。
The invention of the hot blast； in conjunction with the discovery of
the Black Band ironstone； has had an extra ordinary effect upon the
development of the iron…manufacture of Scotland。 The coals of that
country are generally unfit for coking； and lose as much as 55 per
cent。 in the process。 But by using the hot blast； the coal could be
sent to the blast…furnace in its raw state； by which a large saving
of fuel was effected。*
＇footnote。。。
Mr。 Mushet says； 〃The greatest produce in iron per furnace with the
Black Band and cold blast never exceeded 60 tons a…week。 The produce
per furnace now averages 90 tons a…week。 Ten tons of this I attribute
to the use of raw pit…coal； and the other twenty tons to the use of
hot blast。〃 ＇Papers on Iron and Steel； 127。＇ The produce per furnace
is now 200 tons a…week and upwards。 The hot blast process was
afterwards applied to the making of iron with the anthracite or stone
coal of Wales； for which a patent was taken out by George Crane in
1836。 Before the hot blast was introduced； anthracite coal would not
act as fuel in the blast…furnace。 When put in； it merely had the
effect of putting the fire out。 With the aid of the hot blast；
however； it now proves to be a most valuable fuel in smelting。
。。。＇
Even coals of an inferior quality were by its means made available
for the manufacture of iron。 But one of the peculiar qualities of the
Black Band ironstone is that in many cases it contains sufficient
coaly matter for purposes of calcination； without any admixture of
coal whatever。 Before its discovery； all the iron manufactured in
Scotland was made from clay…band； but the use of the latter has in a
great measure been discontinued wherever a sufficient supply of Black
Band can be obtained。 And it is found to exist very extensively in
most of the midland Scotch counties；the coal and iron measures
stretching in a broad belt from the Firth of Forth to the Irish
Channel at the Firth of Clyde。 At the time when the hot blast was
invented； the fortunes of many of the older works were at a low ebb；
and several of them had been discontinued； but they were speedily
brought to life again wherever Black Band could be found。 In 1829；
the year after Neilson's patent was taken out； the total make of
Scotland was 29；000 tons。 As fresh discoveries of the mineral were
made； in Ayrshire and Lanarkshire； new works were erected； until； in
1845； we find the production of Scotch pig…iron had increased to
475；000 tons。 It has since increased to upwards of a million of tons；
nineteen…twentieths of which are made from Black Band ironstone。*
＇footnote。。。
It is stated in the North British Review for Nov。 1845； that 〃As in
Scotland every furnacewith the exception of one at Carronnow uses
the hot blast the saving on our present produce of 400；000 tons of
pig…iron is 2；000；000 tons of coals； 200；000 tons of limestone； and
#650；000 sterling per annum。〃 But as the Scotch produce is now above
a million tons of pig…iron a year； the above figures will have to be
multiplied by 2 1/2 to give the present annual savings。
。。。＇
Employment has thus been given to vast numbers of our industrial
population； and the wealth and resources of the Scotch iron districts
have been increased to an extraordinary extent。 During the last year
there were 125 furnaces in blast throughout Scotland； each employing
about 400 men in making an average of 200 tons a week； and the money
distributed amongst the workmen may readily be computed from the fact
that； under the most favourable circumstances； the cost of making
iron in wages alone amounts to 36s。 a…ton。*
＇footnote。。。
Papers read by Mr。 Ralph Moore； Mining Engineer； Glasgow； before the
Royal Scottish Society of Arts； Edin。 1861； pp。 13； 14。
。。。＇
An immense additional value was given to all land in which the Black
Band was found。 Mr。 Mushet mentions that in 1839 the proprietor of
the Airdrie estate derived a royalty of 16；500L。 from the mineral；
which had not before its discovery yielded him one farthing。 At the
same time； many fortunes have been made by pushing and energetic men
who have of late years entered upon this new branch of industry。
Amongst these may be mentioned the Bairds of Gartsherrie； who vie
with the Guests and Crawshays of South Wales； and have advanced
themselves in the course of a very few years from the station of
small farmers to that of great capitalists owning estates in many
counties； holding the highest character commercial men； and ranking
among the largest employers of labour in the kingdom。
CHAPTER X。
MECHANICAL INVENTIONS AND INVENTORS。
〃L'invention nest…elle pas la poesie de la science？ 。 。 。 Toutes les
grandes decouvertes portent avec elles la trace ineffacable d'une
pensee poetique。 ll faut etre poete pour creer。 Aussi； sommes…nous
convaincus que si les puissantes machines； veritable source de la
production et de l'industrie de nos jours； doivent recevoir des
modifications radicales； ce sera a des hommes d'imagination； et non
point a dea hommes purement speciaux； que l'on devra cette
transformation。〃E。 M。 BATAILLE； Tr aite des Machines a Vapeur。
Tools have played a highly important part in the history of
civilization。 Without tools and the ability to use them； man were
indeed but a 〃poor； bare； forked animal；〃worse clothed than the
birds； worse housed than the beaver； worse fed than the jackal。 〃Weak
in himself；〃 says Carlyle； 〃and of small stature； he stands on a
basis； at most for the flattest…soled； of some half square foot；
insecurely enough； has to straddle out his legs； Jest the very wind
supplant him。 Feeblest of bipeds！ Three quintals are a crushing load
for him； the steer of the meadow tosses him aloft like a waste rag。
Nevertheless he can use tools； can devise tools： with these the
granite mountain melts into light dust before him； he kneads glowing
iron as if it were soft paste； seas are his smooth highway； winds and
fire his unvarying steeds。 Nowhere do you find him without tools：
without tools he is nothing； with tools he is all。〃 His very first
contrivances to support life were tools of the simplest a
