This comprehensive history of the iron industry in the United States offers a fascinating look at one of the country's most important economic sectors. Swank provides a detailed account of the rise of iron production, the role of coal mining in supporting this industry, and the many challenges and obstacles faced by iron manufacturers over the years. This book is an essential resource for anyone interested in the history of American industry and technology. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.