Blast Furnace Records. [Volume: 8, Issue: 5, 1889, pp. 272-274]

272

UNITED STATES ASSOCIATION OF

[VOL. 8,

tubing, and there seems no reason to doubt the remarkable strength
which it develops under test. The question as to durability will
naturally arise, but from the figures given it is evident that a liberal
allowance for loss by rust can be made, and still supply a light,
strong pipe. These pipes seem well adapted for conveying steam
or compressed air, and with non-conducting lining (which is now
supplied) they are adaptable for mine drainage, and experiment
will soon demonstrate their utility and durability when buried in
the earth.
Blast Furnace Records.
THE very satisfactory operation of some of our charcoal blastfurnaces encouraged us to make an attempt to present to our readers
some reliable data, showing their average product in tons of iron
made, the average fuel-consumption, etc., and we have asked permission of some of our blast-furnace friends to give to our readers
an authentic statement of the furnace-operations for a term of
years, our desire being to present them in the JOURNAL. In
justice to those who favor us with these figures, we emphasize the
fact that they are given at our urgent request upon the assurance
that they would be of material assistance to the iron trade. We
hope to add other records to those herein given.
The first which we shall present to our readers is the record of a
phenomenally successful blast-furnace erected on Spring Lake, a
feeder of the Grand River, Michigan, through which the plant has
water transportation from the ore-shipping points to docks immediately alongside the stock-house. This furnace is located near
the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, about 10 miles from the city
of Grand Haven. It has both rail and water-communication.
We are indebted to Mr. Joseph C. Ford, manager of the Spring
Lake furnace, for the following data:
" The Spring Lake Iron Company's Furnace at Fruitport, Mich.,
was constructed in 1879-80, first blown in March 4th, 1880, and
is now on the sixth blast. From time of blowing-in of furnace to
September 7th, 1889, a period of 3471 days, the furnace has run