Iron and Steel #251725

Iron is the most important of all the metals that have been pressed into the service of man, which is due, not only to its great abundance in Nature, but also to its unique properties. The result of this is that no one metal has received so much attention from both practical men and scientists, as is shown by the fact that some of the most prominent men in Europe and America are investigating the many chemical and physical properties of the metal and its application to the requirements of civilisation. Thus an enormous mass of information has accumulated, and is to be found in original papers and books. Portions of the subject are still in their youth and are growing vigorously, so that the teacher of to-day must become the student of to-morrow. On the other hand, parts of it are so old that their origin is lost in the mists of time, and dates back to the first glimmerings of that intelligence which now enables man to utilise to the fullest extent the valuable properties of the metal.