Extract from a Letter Received by Mr. W. Webster from Messrs. Fielding & Platt, Atlas Iron-works, Gloucester.

With regard to the blast-furnaces, we have had considerable experience in the erection and working of them, and machinery connected therewith, and shall be glad to furnish plans and estimates if you will give us particulars of the kind of fuel, ore, and whether the coal will be used raw or "coked," and just an outline of the ground.

We enclose estimate which we have just got out for the Forest of Dean District, in this country, for two small furnaces and appliances, where a very first-class hæmatite iron is made (suitable for Bessemer steel); and also cost of producing the iron, which at the present time is selling at £9 per ton. The ore holds a great deal of water, and much of it is very fine or small, so that it cannot be calcined, and consequently furnaces of small capacity are used. The dimensions are—50 feet high × 15 feet diameter of boshes, 6 feet hearth.

The gases are taken off and utilized under the boilers; but as the Forest ores require so much time to flux them, the gas is not reliable for the stoves. In most other English districts the gas is sufficient for stoves and boilers. The water-pressure you mention, if in sufficient quantity, would be an economical blowing power, and our water-engine is very well adapted for the purpose, and would come in at a very moderate price. The furnace, plant, &c., we refer to is for a first-class job; iron-cased furnaces, gas apparatus, stoves, duplicates, blowing-engines, and everything to put them to work. By reference to the enclosed estimate of the working of two furnaces, as before described, you will see that iron-making is a most lucrative business in this country, even with the competition there is; and in your country we should say it would be still better, providing fuel is suitable and iron of good quality. With regard to working plans, we could supply these at anything from £20 to £200, according to the amount of details and completeness. However, we could make them, so that any practical engineer could carry out the work from them in every detail for about £50.