A particularly ingenious and successful device is in use at the Ducktown Smelter of the D.S.C.I. Co.,[14] Tennessee, where the pyritic process is operated. Careful charging is here held to be one of the great essentials for successful working of the process, especially in the narrow furnaces in use, where the dangers of crusting are greatly increased. The principle of working is, that by dropping the charges vertically downwards, having previously arranged the materials in the desired order across the furnace, they will fall into the position, and be distributed just as desired. The Freeland charger is a kind of conveyor belt made of overlapping steel plates, which is exactly the length and width of the furnace, so that when the machine is brought over it, the furnace opening is entirely covered. The conveyor is carried on a frame mounted on wheels, and this is moved forward and backward by a motor in the front, near which is seated the chargeman who is also the motorman. An independent switch and gearing causes the belt to move round and thus deposit its charge over the end. In front of the frame is a strong catch, fitting into a recess on the cover of the furnace, which is water-cooled and mounted on wheels, so that as the conveyor is brought into position the cover is moved back. All these run along a track which extends below the stock feed bins in the same straight line. The furnace gases are drawn off below the feed-floor. [Illustration: Fig. 48.—End View of Blast Furnace, showing Tilting of Charge Car, Anaconda.] [Illustration: Fig. 49.—Hodge’s Charging Car.]