screw plugs were provided, which passed through the ganister and boxes.

In the same year he took out two patents relating to the casting of ingots. The first of these describes a mould so arranged as to fill from the bottom to any height desired; the second described suitable moulds, in connection with a solid flask containing suitable runners leading from one mould to another, and lined with a refractory metal to prevent a too rapid abstraction of heat from the molten steel.

In 1873 he patented a stopper for ingot-moulds, supported at different points by elastic flanges or friction-springs, and on the same date an ingot-mould provided with an adjustable cast-iron stopper.

Towards the close of 1873 he obtained a patent on improved rolls, in which the middle roll was adjusted by two screws, one right- and the other left-handed, passing through the bolster at either end, and operated by worm-gearing connected with the pulley above. Fore- and catch-plates were fastened to lugs on the bolster of the middle roll, and carried by these when the roll was adjusted. A stop on the bolster limited the height to which the metal was raised by the table.

Three years later he invented and patented a furnace-construction, in the roof of which were spaces for air, water, or spray conduits for cooling the same.

In 1879 he patented a feeding-device for rolling-mills, in which the feed-rollers were mounted on a special frame provided with suitable mechanism imparting a proper motion, and adapting the apparatus for feeding either long or short pieces. Another device consisted in a rocking frame attached to the housing. The feedroller frame was carried by the rocking frame, and suitable mechanism is described to guide the pieces and impart a rotary motion to the feed-rollers.

Two years later, in 1881-scarcely more than thirteen months ago-he patented a steam-boiler furnace, in which the essential device consists of alternate ports, with a diaphragm so placed over them as to thoroughly mix the gases entering through the ports. The space below the diaphragm constitutes the combustion-chamber in which the gases are burned.

One year and seven days ago* his last patent is dated, which

* April 26th, 1881.

describes the removable converter shell, of which I shall speak somewhat more fully later on.

This, I believe, is a brief record of Holley's work as an inventor of new and patentable devices. The list is not a long one, and the casual reader will not find therein much to sustain a claim to great originality or a talent for discovery. But when we remember what some of these improvements have done for one of the great industries of the country, and how they have helped to place us in the front rank as steel-producers, we see that the world owes Holley more than it does many who anticipate industrial progress, and stake out claims which succeeding generations may perhaps work with profit, but which, when located, lie outside the busy circle of the world's activities and industries. I regard Holley's mechanical talent as eminently practical and characteristically American. He ever sought "convenient means." To facilitate, to simplify, to save labor, to economize where economy was profitable,—these were the ends he strove for and attained. Bessemer probably has more claim to recognition as a great inventor than Holley; but if we compare the two men we see strikingly exemplified the difference between the inventor and the industrious engineer. Where Bessemer left the process which bears his name, Holley's work began. It was full of possibilities which Mr. Bessemer, distracted by a restless ambition to do something new in marine architecture and other lines of experiment, not always judiciously chosen, seems to have aided but little in realizing. Holley was content to be useful; the typical inventor leaves the question of utility for others to answer, and pushes on. It is as an engineer, rather than as an inventor, that Holley must be considered great; and not alone as an engineer, but as a teacher of the accomplished facts of scientific progress. He had a faculty for imparting to others the fruits of study, observation, and experience, which is given to but few men. Not only was he lucid and clear in his description, but even around the dry details of mechanical proportioning and construction he cast a glow of color; and truth, when he presented it, became poetic. How much his writings have enriched the engineering literature of the two continents, I do not need to tell you. Holley's life and work merit all the honor we can pay his memory, and his title to substantial greatness is beyond the reach of question or criticism.

There is something very pathetic to me in all of Holley's deathbed utterances, but especially in those which touched upon his work. "I should like," he said, in effect, "to live ten or fifteen

years longer to aid in realizing the possibilities of the open-hearth process. This would have rounded and completed my professional career; but I am satisfied." To long for an opportunity of further usefulness was natural to one whose life had been so full of great achievements, but to speak of rounding and completing such a professional career seems like wishing to gild fine gold. Not so to Holley! Death to him meant simply leaving undone that for which he had made earnest preparation, and which he desired to do because he could do it best. Others will do good work, great work, but not his work.

66 The unfinished window of Aladdin's tower
Unfinished must remain."

Holley's connection with the Society of Mechanical Engineers is a memory of which we may well be proud. Perhaps to him, more. than to any other member, its success is due. His active interest in the project was in itself an assurance that it would realize the objects of its organization, and his name created confidence in all departments of the profession. Some of us, but probably not many, know what effort he made to secure a good attendance at the Hartford meeting, and how anxious he was that the dinner should be a complete and memorable success. He knew better than most of us the value of recreation as a preparation for the serious work of life, and long experience had taught him that to make the social features of our society-meetings delightful was the surest way to make such meetings successful. In our dinners we have a perpetual memorial of Holley. On such occasions he enjoyed life at its best, and how much his presence added to our pleasure I do not need to say. Unfortunately, failing health deprived him of the opportunity of contributing liberally to our transactions, but, had he been spared, he would have aided materially in giving us a high place among the great technical societies of the world. I have lately re-read with pleasure and profit his address as chairman of the preliminary meeting in February, 1880, on "The Field of Mechanical Engineering," which is charming in its simple earnestness and brimming with valuable suggestions to officers and members.

We have also on our records the fullest, and, I believe, the first description of his last great improvement,* which is in a striking

* "An adaptation of Bessemer Plant to the Basic Process." Read at the Annual Meeting Soc. Mech. Eng., February, 1880.

degree characteristic. Convinced from examination that the basic process was a chemical success, he also saw that it presented difficulties which threatened to make it useless in this country. Having brought the Bessemer practice up to the high perfection which it had attained in the working of the so-called acid process, he recognized the impracticability of restricting a steel plant in the United States to the comparatively small productions which satisfied English engineers and capitalists. When Thomas was in this country, he and Holley were at Troy together. Thomas was greatly interested in all he saw, and while in the converter-house he remarked that he "should like nothing better than to sit down on an ingotmould and watch the work all day." "If you want to find an ingot-mould cool enough to sit on," replied Holley, "you will have to send to England for it." Holley's improvements had rendered impossible the delays which would have resulted from the frequent relining of converters, and to perfect the basic process he had hit upon the clever expedient of making the linings detachable, so that with very little delay a new lining could be substituted for one burned out, and the work go on, enabling our steel-makers to adopt the basic process, when it is to their interest to do so, without sacrifice of product. This was the crowning work of Holley's life, and to us he gave the paper which would have been welcomed by the greatest technical societies of the world.

It is much to be regretted that petty jealousies led to the decision to withhold from Holley the Bessemer medal, which he, more than any engineer, had earned; but he was too great a man to be made unhappy by the fact that he had excited in weaker minds feelings which found no place in his own great, loving heart. The consciousness that he merited the honor was worth more to him than to have had it grudgingly bestowed by those who knew, but dare not confess, that he towered high above those who sat in judgment on his claims to recognition. The love of his friends was always worth more to Holley than barren compliment, and he died without uttering a word to indicate that he had known a disappointment in life. Even in the detention of his stricken family, who were hurrying to his bedside, he saw a blessing for them which outweighed the satisfaction it would have given him to look once more upon those nearest and dearest to him; and among his last words was a message that he died without disappointment, knowing that it would be less a shock to them to find their worst fears realized than it would be to find him unconscious, and see him die with

out even a look of recognition or a word expressing the infinite tenderness of his love. One capable of such forgetfulness of self in the presence of the awful reality of death could look with equanimity on the petty annoyances which make weaker natures unhappy.

Of Holley's personal character, I can speak only as a friend and best describe him as he seemed to me. Perhaps I owe him more than I would care to tell. He won my confidence and regard years ago, when with nothing but youth and inexperience to commend me to his consideration, I sought his counsel and was freely admitted to his confidence. You can estimate better than I can describe the value of such a friend to one weighted with grave and anxious responsibilities, and impressed with a sense of the inadequacy of his preparation for the work devolving upon him. It is the experience of the journalist that truth is sometimes difficult of access. The statements made to him are often colored by a regard for real or supposed self-interest, and misrepresentation masquerades in the garb of frankness and confidence. But when I met Holley and sat with him for half an hour in conference, I would have pinned my faith to his deliberate statement, otherwise unsupported, against the oaths of all the world. Holley was to me a revelation. Not only was he a man of whose sincerity no one could entertain a doubt, but he was one who dared to put confidence in the sincerity and honesty of others. It was as refreshing to talk with him as to pass from the gray shadows of a closed chamber into the full glow of sunshine, from the chill of reserve and suspicion into the genial warmth of outspoken frankness. Others I have found honest and true, others have won my love by unselfish service, others have given me wise counsel and judicious advice. Their sincerity I have proved; Holley's sincerity needed no proof.

During the twelve years of an acquaintance which I shall always remember with pleasure, it was my privilege to learn by observation and experience the generous side of Holley's nature. Never have I known him too busy to see one who needed his assistance; never did he promise aid without rendering it. In our great metallurgical establishments are scores of young men who have reason to bless the memory of this unselfish friend, whose timely assistance opened the way to honorable professional success. With Holley there was nothing perfunctory in this service for others. It was his pleasure in a peculiar degree to confer benefit, and he was never so happy as when it was in his power to bring happiness to others.