Dolores Jean Buceas age 12  of Loudonville. N. Y...

What is pig iron?

Pig iron is the metal that runs out from a smelting furnace. Iron ore is shoveled into this furnace along with quantities of limestone and coke. The mixture is heated to a very high temperature. It melts aid the molten substances react upon each other. Waste materials float to the top of the brew. Molten iron sinks to the bottom.

At the proper times the molten iron is run off from the bottom of the furnace. In the early method of smelting this iron was run into a row of small troughs. Lined up waiting for their filly these troughs reminded the iron workers of a row of little pigs. They looked for all the world like a family of piglets lined up alongside Mama Pig waiting for lunch.

The troughs were called pigs. And the fresh molten iron that went into them was called pig iron Not that pigs are in any way interested in pig iron.