JERNKONTORET conditions. Several plans were then discussed with a view to support the iron trade and to prevent too great fluctuations in the iron prices. It should namely be born in mind that the iron works were small and the resources regarding capital did at those times not permit the works to store their products in expectation of better prices. The results of these discussions was the formation of an association of iron masters. The regulations stipulated that for each ship-pound iron, the buyer had to pay a certain due, one "daler" coppermint equal to about 0'60 kronor per ton, in order to form a capital for the association. This due is still paid by the works, introduced in the association. The plan was that an ironmaster should be entitled to a loan at 4 % in the National Bank to the amount of 7/8 of the value of the iron. The interest thus paid to the bank, was afterwards refunded by Jernkontoret. In case of need, Jernkontoret was also to buy iron itself in order to prevent drop in prices. After some years, however, when funds began to accumulate, these funds were lent against securities to private persons. Jernkontoret was thus started as a purely economical association, but it did not last long before it was recognized that cheap loans and reasonable prices of the products was not enough support to the iron industry: it needed development also in technical respect. It was found necessary to obtain knowledge of the iron industry of other countries, to develop better methods for charcoal making, pigiron making, forging, &c. Already 1751 a special functionary was appointed as chief inspector of the blast furnaces in the Kingdom. This man was Sven Rinman, the celebrated metallurgist. This was the origin to a practice, later highly developed, to attach to the Jernkontoret prominent men for the technical assistance of the iron masters introduced in the association. As the funds of the Jernkontoret were growing, means became accessible to promote the industry also in other respects. We shall only mention the great number of scientific researches, which have been supported or arranged by Jernkontoret and the numerous cases, when new inventions of special interest to the industry as a whole have been investigated at its expense. When the Bessemerprocess had been invented, it was through the financial aid of Jernkontoret that it was made a success, when the open hearth process was tried in Sweden it was equally Jernkontoret, who arranged it, and when electric pig iron making was suggested, Jernkontoret took the leading part. It would carry us to far to try to give even the faintest idea of all the occasions when the initiativ of the Jernkontoret has been of decisive importance for the industry it represents. Only a few words may be added to explain what Jernkontoret means to day. It is still an association of iron masters, where each member pays a certain due for each centner of iron for which he is introduced. The funds amount to about 10.000.000