. Mar., 1917
I
T H E J O C R N d L O F I Y D C S T R I A L A N D E,VGINEERIiYG C H E M I S T R Y
REPORT OF AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION ‘ro FRANCE
2 19
I
From t h e few plants visited by t h e Cornmission. we gathered t h e impression t h a t t h e war had convinced many French manufacturers t h a t they were operating on altogether too small a scale, consistent with low cost of production and t h a t , if, after t h e war, they were t o place themselves in a position t o compete with German manufacturers, i t would be essential t o drop certain lines of manufacture and encourage the combination of t h e others as far as possible. I t has been suggested in numerous instances by those well advised t h a t in coordinating t h e more important branches of t h e chemical industries i t will be necessary t o abandon t h e old, inefficient plants as well as those plants illogically located both as t o railway facilities and distribution of finished products. Such statements were made a t many different points during our trip through France b y those best qualified t o judge. Books have been published expressing this opinion N-,W. XICHOLS,Chairman. Vice-president, American Manufacturers’ by some of t h e best advised chemists in France. Export Association, l i e w York. Such statements as these may be found in t h e monthly J. G. BUTLER,JR., Vice-president, Brier Hill Steel Company, Youngstown, Ohio. bulletins of t h e Soci6t6 d‘Ettcouuagement pour L’InS. W. FAIRCHILD,President, Drug Section, N e w York Board of Trade. dust vie N u t io n a1e. A . B. FARQUHAR, Vice-President, Chamber of Commerce of t h e United States. A s regards chemical plant construction, t h e tenG. B. FORD,City Planning Engineer, Member of Geo. B. Post & Sons, dency appears t o be t o erect permanent buildings which S e w York City. compare very favorably with our best types in America. S. F. HOGGSON,President, Hoggson Brothers, New York City. F. J. LEMAISTRE, Consulting Chemical Engineer, E. I. d u P o n t de I n many instances. however, insufficient considernliemours &- Company, Wilmington, Delaware. tion has been given t o possible plant expansion which J. R . MACARTHUR, President, MacArthur Bros., New T o r k City. is in line with the general conservatism of t h e French C. 0. MAILLOUX, Consulting Engineer, New York City. C. G. PFEIFFER,Vice-President. Geo. Borgfeldt & Company, S e w York people. City. France had been a heavy purchaser of chemical, J. E. SAGUE,Former I‘-ew York Public Service Commissioner; former vice-President, American Locomotive Company, New York City from Germany prior t o t h e war. There is now a general E A . W A R R E N Vice-president, , Universal Winding Company, Boston, disposition t o seek American sources of supply. It is Mass. intimated, however, t h a t , if t h e United States is to E. V . DOUGLASS.Secretary, American Manufacturers’ Export Association, l*ew York City. compete with Germany in this respect, i t will be a n E. GARDEN,French Secretary t o t h e Ccmmission. essential prerequisite t h a t the American manufactures The Commission recognized t h a t ;Imerica must study French conditions closely, t h e French being become a n important factor in European reconstruction perfectly candid in their statements t h a t in many after the war and t h a t whatever tends t o throw light instances t h e German chemical manufacturers were on t h e specific needs of one nation cannot fail t o call better informed of their probable requirements t h a n attention t o t h e similar needs of all. they were themselves. Some economists have gone The following survey of t h e chemical a n d allied so far as t o intimate t h a t t h e ultimate success of this industries in France was prepared especially for THIS trade development with France will depend upon the J O U R N A L by l l r . LelIaistre.--[ EDITOR.] proper distribution throughout t h e country of American representatives. conversant with t h e French A SURVEY OF THE CHEMICAL AND ALLIED INDUSTRIES language a n d thoroughly familiar with t h e chemical IN FRANCE DURING T H E WAR trade. Men of wider range of knowledge t h a n those B y F. J. L E ~ I A I S T R E usually assigned t o such tasks must be employed by Member of t h e .imerican Industrial Commission t o France The war has completely changed t h e normal condi- t h e American manufacturer. tions of t h e French chemical industry and greatly The old difficulty of t h e decimal system was reincreased its importance. The follom-ing is but a ferred to, i t being exceedingly difficult for t h e French brief survey of the present conditions of this important people t o understand why so progressive a country industry. I t is t o be regretted t h a t vital statistics as America should be so slow in t h e adoption of the are missing in this report. This is due t o t h e govern- metric system. The chemists of America have here ment regulations prohibiting factories working on a n opportunity t o take t h e initiative in this much orders for t h e government issuing statements of any needed reform in our own country. The present time kind. I n a n analysis of esisting conditions, i t should seems opportune, as many mills and factories with orders not be overlooked t h a t , in many cases, best operating for export have, during t h e past two years, been forced practices have not been selected, due t o stress of pro- t o educate their employees in the metric system. duction a t maximum capacity. The French government recognizes t h e benefits
The American Industrial Commission t o France, organized a n d sent out by t h e American Manufacturers’ Export Association of S e w York City, left S e w York a t the end of August, 1916,and spent seven weeks inspecting the principal industrial centers of France. The itinerary arranged b y t h e French authorities, represented by Mr. Naurice Damour. Deputy for Bordeaux, and Chief of t h e French Industrial Commission t o t h e United States of 1915 , included all oe t h e important industrial cities of France and covered t h e entire range of French industrial activity. The investigatory character a n d large spirit of t h e French Commission, whose visit to America was being repaid, was strictly adhered t o throughout, x i t h gratifying sentimental SUCcess as regards t h e impression created upon t h e members, of t h e inviting Go\-ernment: t h e press, and the French people generally. The personnel of t h e Commission ITas as follows:
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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 CHEMISTRY
derived by the German manufacturers due t o t h e fullest privileges regarding t h e use of denatured alcohol in t h e industries. Recent legislation has been proposed which will undoubtedly place t h e French chemical manufacturer on a more satisfactory basis t h a n heretofore as compared with their German neighbors. Alcohol manufacture and control has received a very close study during t h e past two years. Mr. R. P. Duchemin’s report entitled “L’Emploi e t Le RBgime de L’Alcool dans les Industries Chimiques e t Pharmaceutiques,” appearing in a recent bulletin of t h e Socidtd d’Encouragement Pour L’lndustries Nationale, fully discusses all phases of this problem. It is of interest t o note t h a t about 4,000,000 people are employed in t h e wine industry in France. TECHNICAL EDUCATION
Considerable attention is being given t o t h e important subject of technical education. T h e French people recognize t h a t they are extremely backward in this branch of their educational work and t h a t they compare unfavorably with Germany and Switzerland in numbers of trained chemists. On a unit population basis, Switzerland has 300 chemists a n d Germany 2 5 0 , while France has only 7. It has been suggested t h a t chemical courses in American universities should be made known t o French educationalists and t h a t interchange of professors and advanced students be encouraged. According t o the statement of a professor of one of t h e universities in Paris, t h e present inferiority of t h e French chemical industry is due to: I-Lack of standard factory methods. a-Insw$cient general knowledge. 3-Lack of technical education. 4-Banking conditions. I n t h e readjustment period after t h e war, it is more t h a n possible t h a t t h e United States may receive a number of men for post-graduate work and study in our colleges having chemical engineering departments. The business men of France, as well as those financially interested in t h e chemical industries, appreciate more fully t h a n ever t h a t chemists with only a theoretical knowledge are not competent as plant managers. Men holding such positions must also be thoroughly familiar with engineering. It must be admitted, however, t h a t t h e experience of intensive chemical manufacture in war time has shown t h a t French chemists, when given responsibility, have developed accordingly. It is realized t h a t t h e former common practice of confining t h e chemist t o mere analytical work must not be reverted t o if efficiency is t o be maintained. The more progessive manufacturers appreciate t h e importance of t h e development of industrial research laboratories such as have proven so profitable in Germany, as well as in this country. CHEMICAL LITERATURE
I n addition t o t h e standard monthly chemical periodicals, there have recently been issued several journals devoted especially t o industrial chemistry, t h e aim being t o publish articles of special interest t o chemical engineers confronted with factory troubles. Publications such as these should be encouraged b y all the interested parties, and if combined with t h e
Vol. 9, No. 3
advantages of a large society made up of research and industrial chemists will do much towards t h e elimination of petty jealousies now existing between t h e several small groups of chemists distributed throughout t h e country. The special traditions of each section of France need not be sacrificed by consolidation into one large society. It is apparent t h a t many of t h e chemists throughout France are not familiar with t h e best thought of their own country, due, in the main, t o the lack of a satisfactory medium of distribution of such information and lack of travel a n d free intercourse. I n our own country, it has been demonstrated t h a t free intercourse among industrial chemists can be had without sacrificing t h e secret processes of t h e different industries represented. It was our observation t h a t very few of t h e French technical men know of our more important chemical journals. This is a condition which could be readily corrected t o our mutual advantage. Under t h e respective headings given below, will be found some general information obtained from those interested in t h e respective industries. On account of t h e broad scope of t h e Commission’s work, these remarks are merely a brief survey of t h e more important branches of the chemical industry. DYES
After the war, France will be in a better position t h a n formerly t o manufacture economically many of t h e chemicals used in large quantities in this industry. The French Commission, appointed t o survey this industry, in their report in t h e July-August issue of t h e Bulletin of the Socidtd d’Encouragement pour L’lndustrie Nationale, s t a t e t h a t “more coke ovens will be required if this industry is t o be placed on a satisfactory commercial basis.” It is also stated t h a t “some agreement must be made with other countries for a steady supply of intermediates.” The development of this industry, however, brings up for discussion t h e question of patents and tariffs, a n d due consideration must be given t o t h e fact t h a t , until t h e outbreak of t h e war, Germany had enjoyed an exceptionally favored position as regards French duties. Under such conditions, t h e French dye industry could not be properly developed. Some consideration has already been given, a t t h e Allies’ Economic Conference a t Paris, t o combining with t h e British dye industries t o work t o a common end, with t h e view of establishing a definite policy of action €or t h e very complicated conditions which must arise after t h e war. Whereas too much confidence is not placed on plans for future action, it is thought t h a t a tariff plan approved by t h e Allies will be better t h a n t h e drifting policy France has followed in t h e past. Statements have also been made t h a t , for some period after the war, there will be a n opportunity for t h e sale of considerable quantities of American dyes in France, because it is t o be expected t h a t time will elapse before t h e newly equipped chemical plants will be capable of furnishing more t h a n a part of t h e requirements of France and her colonies, The problems arising out of t h e development of a thoroughly codrdinated dye industry in a country depleted of
Mar., 1917
T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y
money and men must be classified as among t h e most difficult of France’s commercial problems. I n 1912, France manufactured coke equivalent t o 3,925,000 tons of coal and purchased coke equivalent t o 2,847,000 tons of coal, representing a total coke consumption in t h e metallurgical industries equivalent t o 6,772,000tons of coal or a total t a r production of 505,250 tons. I t is estimated b y one of the foremost industrial chemists in France t h a t by t h e adoption of t h e standard German practice they should have obtained a yield of 53,177 tons of benzol or about four t o five times t h e quantity obtained during 1915. It is further estimated t h a t by t h e adoption of t h e standard method of washing illuminating gas there would be 24,000 tons of benzol available from the j,ooo,ooo tons of coal used in t h e gas industry, which would make a total benzol production for France of about 76,500 tons. On t h e same basis of calculation, there would also be available 31,000tons of naphthalene and 3,100 tons of anthracene.
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The following figures were collected by the International Institute of ’Agriculture: Year 1912 1913
CYANAMID PRODUCTION-MBTRIC TONS France Germany Canada 5000 22,000 32,000 7500 24,000 48,000
WORLD 105,000 155,000
More recent figures indicate t h a t the world production in 1916 was approximately 210,000 metric tons. The bulk of this increase is attributed t o Germany owing t o t h e fact t h a t Germany has had t o depend on artificial nitrates, which was not t h e case in France. PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMICALS
Those interested in this branch of t h e industry are fully cognizant of the fact t h a t , through a lack of initiative on their part, they have allowed the control ’of the manufacture of pharmaceutical chemicals t o go t o Germany. The existing French law does not permit patenting any particular pharmaceutical composition and it is claimed t h a t t h e French tariff has encouraged t h e German manufacturers in t h e manbfacture of these products. A well developed program for t h e manuELECTROCHEMICAL INDUSTRIES facture of pharmaceutical chemicals and synthetic Great activity has been in evidence in these in- perfumes has been outlined which ought t o do much dustries which have a popular interest outside of t h e towards placing these industries on a more permachemical profession. I n t h e French Alps alone t h e nent basis. horse-power development since t h e war started has The French perfume manufacturers consider t h a t , increased from joo,ooo t o 1,500,ooo H. P. and plans on account of climatic conditions, they should have no are under way for further extensions. There are no difficulty in maintaining t h e lead in t h e manufacture figures available t o determine what percentage of this of perfumes. Mr. Justin DuPont estimates t h a t increase has been for t h e chemical industries. Many France exports annually perfumes t o t h e value of new lines of manufacture have been started, some of $~,OOO,OOO t o $6,000,000. Active development now which are fairly established. Many, however, will exists in t h e manufacture of artificial perfumes. have t o be closely investigated, as, under t h e existing SULFURIC ACID MANUFACTURE conditions of operation, cost has been sacrificed in t h e T h e demands of t h e War Department for sulfuric interest of larger production. At one electrochemical acid have been such as t o insure France being entirely plant visited by t h e Commission, magnesium, sodium independent of any outside source of supply of this a n d aluminum were being made, as well as sodium commodity for a long time t o come. The largest hydroxide, compressed oxygen, etc. sulfuric acid plants are located in t h e south of France. ATMOSPHERIC NITRIC ACID
We were informed t h a t extensive developments have been made in t h e manufacture of nitric acid from t h e air during t h e past two years. The government authorities are fully aware of t h e importance of t h e permanent development of this industry on a sound economic basis, inasmuch as upon it are depende n t t h e fertilizer trade a n d t h e manufacture of dyes a n d explosives Prof. Fleurent, in his book entitled “Les Industries Chimiques en France et en Allemagne,” published by the Conservatoire Nationale des Arts et Metiers, 1916,gives a very interesting discussion on t h e following processes for t h e manufacture of nitric acid a n d nitrogen fertilizers from atmospheric nitrogen: Birkeland, Schbnherr, Pauling, Serpek, Haber, Cyanamid. French chemists have given very close s t u d y t o t h e Serpek method of manufacture of nitric acid from t h e air. I n this process bauxite is used. If this process can be worked out on a satisfactory basis, it will connect t h e nitrate industry with t h e very important aluminum industry. As regards Cyanamid manufacture, t h e production in France is small as compared with other countries.
PAPER INDUSTRY
The Commission visited one of t h e more up-to-date paper mills of central France a t which all grades of paper were being made, from the coarse Manila t o the finer grades of writing paper. This plant was operating under water power. The principal woods used were spruce, birch and poplar. P a r t of t h e plant was devoted t o t h e sulfite process. From information gathered, i t appears t h a t France is independent of outside sources of supply of paper. It is of interest t o note t h a t from Algiers, t h e French shipped t o England in 1912, 117,000tons of Esparto grass, commonly known as “Alfa.” This grass grows wild, needs no cultivation and is used by the English in the manufacture of high-grade writing paper. CEMENT MANUFACTURE
No Portland cement plants were visited, but we were advised t h a t France had manufacturing capacity for her own requirements and those of her colonies. Conferences with several members of the Chambers of Commerce interested in this industry indicated t h a t considerable of t h e present cement equipment would have t o be replaced by equipment of larger capacity.
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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Vol. 9 , Xo. 3
R E F I N I N G OF SCGAR
PETROLEUM
On account of government regulation, all refineries are enforced t o sell sugar a t a fixed price. The single refinery visited b y t h e Commission was working on a government order. The by-product, molasses, is used largely for t h e production of alcohol, and, as in this country, t h e residues are employed for combining road materials France in 1903 had 296 factories with a n o u t p u t tons, equivalent t o approxiof raw sugar of ~,oSo,ooo mately 6,315,300tons of beets. France stands second t o Germany in her development of t h e beet sugar industry.
This industry in France is on such a small scale t h a t i t cannot, of course, compare with t h e American petroleum industry. Prior t o t h e war, t h e bulk of t h e crude petroleum was obtained from Russia. The replacement of this b y American crude oil has required considerable change in refining practice. The refining equipment, on t h e whole, is smaller t h a n t h a t used in this country and is not of recent design. The urgent demands of t h e Department of War for motor fuels have necessitated a very active study on t h e part of t h e engineers a n d chemists with a view t o determining t h e relative values of gasoline mixtures, which are termed “Essences.” It is considered t h a t much valuable information has already been collected. This, of course, will be available in times of peace. Given below are t h e official receipts of American petroleum a t t h e port of Marseilles during t h e past five years. Marseilles is t h e second largest city in France and has a population of over 500,ooo.
RAW SUGAR OUTPUT IN
Year 1840 1850 1860 1870 1890 1903 1905 1906 1909
France 22784 62165 126480 262136 750000 1080000 ,
...
,
730000 807500
TONS
.
Germany 14200 53300 126520 126000 1336000 1921000 1605000 2400000 2037400
---GERMANY-Sugar yield per 100 kg. beets 5 . 9 kg. 7.3 8.6 8.6 12.5 14.4 14.9 14.7 16.3
Annual consumption per head 2 . 5 kg. 3.1 4.3 4.7 8.5 13.0 14.9 17.0 19.5
I n 1908,there were approximately 38,000 employees occupied in t h e beet sugar industry for a period of two months with a n average wage of $0.73 per day. T h e 5 2 0 , 0 0 0 acres under cultivation in France in 1907 was increased i n 1910 t o 580,ooo acres. I n t h e period 1903 t o 1914,t h e manufacturing t a x on beet sugar was reduced b y 40 per cent. During this period, t h e consumption increased 61 per cent. I n Germany, during t h e same period, there was a 3~. 3 per cent reduction in taxation, with a n increase in consumption of 60 per cent. The following tabulation indicates t h e relative importance of t h e beet sugar industry: ~
TOTAL WORLDPRODUCTION Year 1866 1878 I887 1893 1899 1901 1911 1913 1915
OP CANEAND BEET SUGAR 1866 TO 1915 Total Production Percentage Represented by Beet Sugar 30.7 44.0 53.8 53.0 62.6 62.5 50.4 49.3 44.9
MANUFACTURE O F BUTTER SUBSTITUTES A N D TABLE O I L S
A t t h e city of Marseilles there is a n extensive production of a number of butter substitutes a n d table oils, which are sold under various t r a d e names. These are consumed b y t h e poorer classes of t h e community for table use, replacing t h e more costly butter a n d olive oil, a n d b y t h e hotels for culinary purposes, Copra, palm kernels a n d peanuts from t h e Orient are t h e crude materials used in these refineries. The refining of t h e oils is carried on under very strict inspection a n d numerous government investigations have been made t o determine t h e nutritious properties of these products. We were informed t h a t t h e permanent success of this industry h a d been largely due t o t h e careful chemical control enforced b y t h e majority of t h e plants. At t h e early stages of t h e development of this industry, i t was not considered t h a t chemists were necessary. Practically all t h e plants of t h e Marseilles district were operating t o maximum capacity on government orders.
........ 1911 ... 18,302
Year Tons ....,
1912 21,657
1913 24,700
1914 18,674
1915 33,902
Total 1911-35 117,235
PORCELAIN
I n t h e Limoges district, several of t h e porcelain factories have been turned over entirely t o t h e manufacture of chemical-ware for t h e Department of War. They have overcome t h e initial difficulties of this new line of manufacture a n d now make chemical-ware equal t o t h e best English a n d German grades. The manufacture of porcelain-ware for t h e laboratory has received very close study. T h e French manufacturers claim t h a t they will be i n a position after t h e war t o meet t h e strictest specifications for this line of goods. Remarkable development has also been made in t h e manufacture of optical instruments. This industry will be on a very permanent basis after t h e war. CELLULOID
France has been a leading nation in this manufacture for years, This special industry is a t a standstill a t t h e present time as t h e government has called upon all these manufacturers t o make nitrocotton. SODA INDUSTRY
These plants, many of which are located i n t h e south of France, have been taxed t o capacity during t h e past two yea-?. This is also true of t h e chlorine industry, these h,zavy chemicals being made on a scale many times greater t h a n ever before. I n 1912, France imported 344,348tons of soda. Of this amount, about 40,000 tons were used in t h e chemical industries. SANITATION A N D HEALTH
I n France, sanitation a n d health do not receive t h e same attention as in America. This is especially true in t h e chemical industry. I n more t h a n one instance, operators were kept in poorly equipped rooms, handling toxic chemicals without adequate supervision. Reference is not made here t o exigencies which have developed as a result of t h e war, b u t t o regular operating conditions. WILYINGTON. DELAWARE
