ABSTRACT
The whole world is indebted to the British iron industry for providing the necessary impetus for the growth of this key industry of the modern industrial world. Peat and anthracite are the extreme types, while between these two are a whole range of various type bituminous coals. In 1820 the first experiments in smelting iron ore with anthracite coal were commenced, but they met with little success or approval, though this coal contained fewer deleterious ingredients than other type fuel. The introduction of Neilson's hot-blast provided for furthur gains, while coal consumption was reduced for each ton of iron produced. The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company directors calculated the success in revenue for their company which would be based upon the tolls from the transport of coal, ore, and limestone, as well as the hauling of pig iron. The census of 1810 listed 153 charcoal blast furnaces in operation in the United States that produced 53,908 tons of pig iron.
