A VALUABLE DISCOVERY
The metal iridium melted and fused into bars

Cincinnati May 12th - Professor W.L. Dudley announced to the scientific section of the Ohio Mechanics Institute tonight the inmportnat discovery of the process of fusing and molding iridium, a metal which has hitherto been considered as practically incapable of being formed into bars. John Holland of this city who has long used Iridium for pointing gold pens, is the discoverer.

The method consists in applying phosphorous when the ore is brought to a white heat and afterwards eliminating the phosphorous by means of lime applied with great heat. Th enew metal has the appearance of steel, but is much harder, being next in hardness to the ruby. It does not rust, and cannot be injured by acids.

Professor Dudley stated that a bar of iridium had been used with gratifying success, in place of the negative carbon in the electric light. It burned for 60 hours without any loss in weight, or any perceptible change in form.

Iridium cannot be fashioned by hammering while hot, nor can it be filed. It is molded into conveninet forms and then sawed or ground by rapidly revolving copper disks, treated with emery and water.

Great interest has been aroused by this highly practical discover, and already many uses for the metal have been suggested. Besides its applicability to the electric lamp, it has been found to be superior to platinum in telegraph instruments. Professor Dudley gave an interesting history of the experiments of chemists and others with this metal, and he said that it was now undergoing an elaborate examination at the Cincinnati university.

Evening Gazette, Port Jervis, New York