A method of making iron by subjecting an iron oxide feedstock such as iron ore to a solid reduction with a reducing gas fed from a melt-reducing furnace (herein after referred to sometimes merely as ''melting furnace'') and then supplying the feedstock to the melting furnace for melt reduction thereof. More particularly, it is concerned with a method capable of using a low grade fuel and maintaining and improving the reaction efficiency by applying various controls to evolved gas which is utilized in the reaction. |