T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING C H E M I S T R Y
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I n itself this promotion is t h e natural outcome of t h e broad vision of a chemist as t o his possibilities of usefulnessto t h e railroad which employed him a n d t o t h e count r y traversed b y t h a t railroad. I n t u r n he has always received t h e generous support of officials in t h e adequate supply of laboratory equipment, services of assistants a n d freedom in t h e working out of his plans for industrial development. While the promotion is therefore perfectly logical, nevertheless i t carries with i t much food for profitable reflection, both on t h e part of railway officials and of t h e chemists in their employ. This business of pioneering is not new t o hlr. Kelsey, for he was t h e first chemist t o be p u t in charge of a n exhibit of natural resources, by a railway company, a t t h e National Exposition of Chemical Industries. We beg t o extend best wishes for his success in t h e new position a n d confidently predict t h a t through his thorough surveys, interpreted by sound chemical common sense, many new industries will arise. From such industries t h e country will receive needed finished products, manufactured from raw materials which so long have lain dormant. ~
A REGRETTABLE FAILURE TO COOPERATE During t h e past two years we have continuously pleaded for cooperation as t h e most effective means for chemical progress. It has been our pleasure t o record many forward-looking movementsbased primarily upon this rational principle. I t is, therefore, with keen regret t h a t we now record a failure t o inaugurate a n important work in which codperation was t h e essential factor. We refer t o t h e matter of cooperation on t h e part of t h e chemical industries with t h e U. S. Bureau of Foreign a n d Domestic Commerce in t h e compilation of a fully itemized census of chemicals other t h a n dyestuffs during a typical pre-war fiscal year such as 1913-14. The importance of such a census was discussed in t h e editorial section of the March 1917 issue of THISJ O U R N A L . A committee was appointed by t h e American Chemical Society t o raise $2000 from the chemical industries. This amount was t o be added t o a similar s u m which t h e Bureau of Foreign a n d Domestic Commerce agreed t o set aside out of its present appropriations. T h e joint amount, $4000, had been estimated by t h e Bureau as t h e cost of t h e preparation of t h e census from t h e Treasury records. The census was t o be published b y t h e Bureau and t o be available t o all a t t h e usual price of such government publications-fifteen cents. I n order t o raise t h e required $ 2 0 0 0 from t h e chemical interests, t h e committee asked by letter more t h a n one hundred firms t o contribute fifty dollars each, believing t h a t sufficient favorable replies would be received t o cover fully t h e amount needed. Any excess was t o be returned t o t h e contributors. T h e committee’s confidence, however, was not justified by t h e results, as only a little more t h a n half t h e required amount was raised.
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Vol. 9, No. 6
Having failed through this method, i t was hoped t h a t t h e balance might be subscribed by t h e National Association of Manufacturing Chemists. I t s officers replied t h a t as a n Association i t had no funds which could be used for such a purpose and t h a t they considered this t o be a matter for subscription by individual firms. Loath t o give up t h e effort we again conferred with Dr. P r a t t , t h e Chief of t h e Bureau, laid t h e facts before him a n d urged t h a t in view of t h e need of such government statistics t h e work be undertaken solely from government funds. I n his courteous reply he pointed out t h a t he would gladly authorize t h e undertaking if congressional appropriation could be obtained, b u t t h a t present appropriations did not justify t h e favoring of t h e chemical industries with such expenditure of funds, while other industries were freely cooperating financially with t h e Bureau. The argument was sound, t h e position reasonable. So ended t h e effort. We take pleasure in recording here t h e list of those who have subscribed t o this f u n d : The Barrett Company The Calco Chemical Company ‘ Corning Glass Works The Dow Chemical Company General Chemical Company Globe Soap Company
Madero Brothers Mallinckrodt Chemical Works Merck & Company National Aniline & Chemical Compaw National Gum & Mica Company The New Process Metals Company Pfaudler Company Company Hooker Electrochemical Company Chas. Pfizer & Company The Institute of Industrial Research Smith, Kline & French Co. Solvay Process Company Eli Lilly & Company Arthur H. Thomas Company
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However deeply we are convinced of t h e fundamental need of such a census of imports and however important this step might prove as a preliminary t o more adequate current statistics for t h e chemical industries, we do not feel t h a t t h e raising of this $ 2 0 0 0 is a matter of a house-to-house canvass. If, therefore, no further interest is developed in t h e matter, t h e committee will on June 15th return t h e subscriptions already made, which subscriptions were originally asked on t h e condition t h a t the full amount be secured. We still have hopes!
PROSPECTIVE ENLARGEMENT OF CHEMISTS’ CLUB BUILDING The growth of t h e membership of t h e Chemists’ Club, now numbering nearly fifteen hundred, a n d t h e large proportion of non-resident members, give t o t h e record of t h e annual meeting of t h a t organization on May 2 , 1917, national rather t h a n mere local interest. The reports of its officers showed strength in all t h e departments of this unique organization. Under t h e wise a n d effective leadership of President M. c. Whitaker, t h e finances have been placed upon a sound basis, and his unanimous re-election for t h e ensuing year assures t h e continued growth of t h e Club a n d t h e safe administration of its affairs.
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