Philadelphia Meeting (00100df1-7936-4f3b-81d7-852175f56e60)

THE Institute assembled on Tuesday evening, October 24th, in the hall of the Franklin Institute, Mr. Frank Firmstone, Vice-President, in the chair. Mr.. J. Price Wetherill, of Tremont, Pa., read a paper on An Outline of Anthracite Coal Mining in Schuylkill County, Pa. The paper was discussed by Messrs. Coxe, Rothwell, Heinrich, Harden, and Symons. The second session was held on Thursday evening. Mr. A. L. Holley, Chairman of the International Committee, appointed by the Institute to consider the nomenclature of iron and steel, offered the following report of the committee, signed by all the members: WHEREAS, The recent production of soft, cast, malleable compounds of iron by the Bessemer, the Siemens-Martin, and the crucible steel processes appears to demand a new nomenclature of iron compounds, for the following reasons : 1st. The term "steel," by which these soft products are commercially and professionally designated in England and in the United States, does not completely distinguish them from previously existing "steel" which would harden and temper. 2d. A nomenclature recognized in all languages seems desirable, as well for commercial as for scientific purposes, especially as lawsuits, already commenced, depend on the meaning of the term "steel." 3d. Although homogeneity, due to fusion, is usually recognized, and is by this committee recognized as the most definite characteristic of both bard and soft steel, this quality may be equally well expressed in other terms, thus leaving the old term, "steel," to define the malleable compounds of iron, which will harden and temper. Therefore, resolved, That this committee recommends the following nomenclature : 1. That all malleable compounds of iron with its ordinary ingredients, which are aggregated from pasty masses, or from piles, or from any forms of iron not in a fluid state, and which will not sensibly harden and temper, and which generally resemble what is called " wrought iron," shall be called WELD IRON (German, Sehweisseisen; French, fer soudé) 2. That such compounds, when they will from any cause harden and temper, and which resemble what is now called "puddled steel," shall be called WELD STEEL (German, Schweiss stahl; French, acier soudé).