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The Discovery of Cheap Steel 31 extensive automatic plant for its production. He established a factory in St. Pancras, and, assisted by one or two relations, he installed the machines for the manufacture of the substance. Bessemer, remem- bering his former experience with a valuable inven- tion, spared no effort to prevent any details of this secret, or of its special machinery, leaking out. The latter was even built secretly, the cautious inventor ordering certain parts from one firm, others from another, and so on, while assembling was carried out by himself and his colleagues. An interesting sidelight upon Bessemer’s good- heartedness, which, by the way, was frequently mani- fested during his later years, was revealed in con- nection with this industry. When his attention be- came centred upon the steel invention and its financial success was assured, his relatives continued the bronze factory for him. One by one they died, until at last only two remained, and they had grown old in the service. Bessemer forthwith rewarded them for their steadfast assistance and loyalty to him by presenting them with the business, lock, stock, and barrel, including the secret of the process. During its early days, however, the bronze-powder factory was absolutely indispensable to him, because it furnished him with the money whereby he was able to carry out his costly experiments in connection with the production of steel. Bessemer’s thoughts were attracted to this new field from the search which was being made by the French Emperor Napoleon III. for a material from which improved artillery might be built. The prob- lem fascinated him, and thereupon he concentrated