The Iron and Steel Institute

Abstract

THE annual meeting of this institution was held on Thursday and Friday of last week, at the Institution of Civil Engineers, Sir Frederick Abel, the President, occupying the chair. After the reading of the Council's annual report Sir Frederick Abel delivered his Presidential address. He began with a reference to the losses which the Institute had sustained during the year by the death of some of its eminent members. He spoke especially of the solid services rendered to science by the late Duke of Devonshire. The Duke's wise munificence in the establishment of the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge University, and the important part he took in the labours of the Royal Commission on scientific instruction and the advancement of science, were described as “illustrations of his active participation in a movement of most vital importance to the maintenance of our position and influence among nations.” Sir Frederick also referred to the Duke's ready consent to fill the post of first president of the Iron and Steel Institute as a proof of his appreciation of the high importance to be attached to the successful foundation of an organization of which he predicted that it would prove “a powerful instrument for the advancement and progress of the iron and steel trade of Great Britain, by promoting intercourse and interchange of knowledge between its members”—a prediction which was speedily and amply fulfilled. In his introductory address the Duke had discussed the development of iron-manufacture in most interesting and comprehensive fashion. In referring to the most extraordinary mineral wealth of the United States, he pointed out that although in 1867 the production of pig iron in America had risen to nearly 1,350,000 tons (of 2240 lbs.), the price of labour did not warrant the belief that there was any immediate prospect of the United States competing with the iron-producing countries of Europe in the open markets of the world.