"Completes Dietrich's work". - Lot 151

"Completes Dietrich's work". FRANÇOIS DE NEUFCHATEAU (Jean Jules) Recherches sur le Gisement et le traitement direct des Minerais de Fer dans les Pyrénées et particulièrement dans l'Ariège, followed by Considérations historiques, économiques et pratiques sur le travail du fer et de l'acier dans les Pyrénées. Avec Planches et dessins au microscope par M. Ferdinand MERCADIER. Paris, Carilian-Goeury, 1843. 2 parts in one volume in-4: X, 1f., 404pp. - Atlas in folio: 2f. 19 engraved plates, 4 of which folding and 2 in color, including folding map of the department (figs. A-F and I-XIII). Scattered spotting. ½ brown chagrin, black titles on spine, gilt fillets. Very rare. The author (1808-1890), Polytechnicien in 1828, Inspecteur général de première classe, had started out in the Ariège department, "on which the Rancié mines depended. FRANCOIS was initially concerned with the issues raised by the operation of these mines, as well as more general questions relating to ironmaking in the Pyrenees. He published a major work on this subject, which summarizes the first part of his career. In 1845, when he had already turned his attention to mineral waters, he responded with great accuracy to Le Play's theories on steels and steel propensity. FRANCOIS carried out spring tapping according to the ideas and procedures he had actually initiated in Luchon, and for which he deserves full creditIt took a great deal of faith in his idea and singular audacity for the young engineer to propose (in 1837) and carry out (in 1838-39), according to these principles, real mining work on the precious waters of Luchon, at a time when, everywhere, the mysterious fear bequeathed by the past was still alive".