iron and steel By s03712 Period: Mar 3, 1848 to Mar 3, 1877 First attempt first attempt at establishinig iron and steel smelting but was not economical and was closed by 1877 Period: Mar 3, 1875 to Mar 3, 1880 Small fernace built small blast furnace was built in 1875 and operated in the 1880's Mar 3, 1885 BHP first major mining steel production