662
ISDUSTRIAL A S D E,VGINEERISG CHEMISTRY
East surpass exports to this region, although by less than %4,000,000in 1926. The trade in both directions has jumped, imports rising from $8,800,000 in 1899 to S16,000,000 in 1913, and $43,000,000 in 1926. Again a few commodities needed by American industry account for the changes. Partially offsetting the indigo imported from British India in 1899, exceedingly large amounts of shellac are now taken annually by the United States. From China direct and by trans-shipment through Hongkong, the United States receives exceptionally big consignments of China wood oil for use of paint manufacturers, while camphor and menthol are the chief items purchased from Japan. The large increase in exports t o the Far East-from $3,000,000 in 1899 to $7,600,000 in 1913, and $39,400,000 in 1926-are largely confined to sales of dyes to British India, China, and Japan for their big cotton-dyeing industries, and of fertilizers especially ammonium sulfate t o Japan, the Philippine Islands, and Netherlands East Indies. China also buys the
Vol. 20, No. 6
bulk of the exports of ginseng, which helps to bring up its total figure. Japan buys considerable amounts of the general run of industrial chemicals as well as medicinal and toilet preparations. In fact, all countries buy these last-mentioned commodities. ARRIca-L%frica, as yet undeveloped along industrial lines, has not looked to the United States for any large amounts of chemicals, although it is probable that sales to this continent are above the figures shown. I n all probability some of the goods destined to Europe are for trans-shipment to Africa. The Union of South Africa is the outstanding market and offers the best opportunities for American exporters, eapecially as this country is growing industrially. At present the bulk of shipments is comprised of medicinal and toilet preparations. Imports are rather unimportant, being confined chiefly to the copal and other varnish gums from the Congo, small amounts of flower oils from Algeria and Madagascar, and gum arabic from Egypt.
AMERICAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES Monsanto Chemical Works
I
N 1901, outside the heavy chemical field
After many years, the later ones in exand a very few specialties, chemical ecutive positions with well-known and wellmanufacturing in the United States was established houses, Mr. Queeny was mature not even an infant industry. Monsanto, both in age and experience when the vision having celebrated her silver anniversary, came true, and a very small chemical works therefore is, relatively speaking, old and exwas established. To avoid comment and to perienced in the manufacture of fine and protect the house with which he was still medicinal chemicals in America. In fact, associated at the time, Mr. Queeny did not the name “Monsanto” is known in the chemigive the new plant his own name, but chose that of Mrs. Queeny’s family-Monsanto. cal trade throughout the world. The start was far from pretentious. The The question of location may or may not first small building housed the modest equiphave been studied. If we assume that it ment for making saccharin, the founder and was, then the forecast of developments has a young Swiss chemist, Louis Veillon, who been amply confirmed. Only a few years was to make his mark later, and an oil stove. ago we were forcibly, if unwillingly, imThe total investment did not exceed fifteen pressed with the industrial importance of hundred dollars and there was no need for a the Ruhr region in Germany, and about the safe. same time we began to appreciate the importance of coal and its by-products and Success was not awaiting the new indusof sulfur, salt, and limestone as basic crude John Francis Queeny try. It was only after laborious weeks and materials for the manufacture of synthetic months that success was achieved. The organic chemicals. All of these are products of the middle-west manufacture of saccharin, an American discovery, but up to or southwest states and are conveniently and economically avail- Monsanto’s entry manufactured exclusively in Germany, was only the beginning. One product after another was added, inable t o St. Louis. It is worthy of note that Monsanto has been active in reviving Mississippi River shipping, and uses water cluding in the approximate order undertaken-vanillin, chloral hydrate, caffeine, glycerophosphates, phenolphthalein, coumarin, transportation extensively for bulk shipments of crude materials and acetphenetidin (phenacetin). Later there followed salisuch as sulfur, and also far finished products going to Europe, the Orient, and the Pacific Coast. cylic acid and the salicylate group of medicinals, including acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), and other products of commercial A favorable location was only a contributing factor. Real success is traced to the foresight, purpose, resourcefulness of a importance. Seldom, if ever, was a product added without a conflict with man and his ability t o surround himself with loyal and capable European manufacturers. Before Monsanto entered the field associates. It may be said truthfully that Monsanto Chemical Works was born of the indomitable will, native ability, and knowl- the market price of chloral hydrate was 85 to 90 cents per pound. edge of the drug and chemical trade of John Francis Queeny. Finding it profitable a t 60 cents per pound, American consumers were given the benefit of the saving; then the price for the imMr. Queeny began his career in a wholesale drug house in 1872. He was ambitious as a youth. His first employer told ported product was dropped to 18 cents a pound, which was below the cost of manufacture. When Monsanto withdrew from the writer several years ago that young Queeny wore out more the field temporarily, as was later proved, the price promptly wagons than any boy he ever had. His sole interest and his rose again t o 50 cents per pound. This is but an example of hobby was business.
rnadc t" 1 r1,cricnce in ICCCllt yi.ais has demonstrated that compctitioo w 1 have a wl,,,leso*,,e eficct on domestic ixiccs. and tlyat protection from sudi w e r witat lial>peilrd il, many iiistaiices when atteriipts were
foioid an American clicmical industry.
hearing tactics as just outlined is economically soond. A i iricident in the manufacture of chloral hydrate was the rarly USC ai, aiid therefore encouragement given to, tlhe shipment and w e or liquid chlorine. If not the firit, Monsanto was certainly anioiig the earliest regular users. Rlr. Queeny SBW clearly the appeal which quality woiild make, and constantly insisted that stzandards k raised. I t is a trihutc l i , this policy that the standards of purity set by Moiisaiito for h w s d liave hcrn iiiflriential in bringing about tliost higher stsiidarils fauild in the last two decennial revisions of the U . S. f'liarmacopeia. In syritlictic orgaltic chemical nianufacturing in America we are prome to consider the year 1914 as the date of the "creation." r. Monsarito Chcrnifal Works was a going ~oiiceni. It is true that to a large extent operations were carried out with purchased intermediates. This was eqitivalent to buying materials half made and Iiuisfiing them. 'I'hc rcal test came when these intermediates were no longer available from linrope, and if this industry was to continue, it was necessary to build tlic IxodItcts entirely. A tryiirg period followed. Tliirc was plenty of expericiice with t e x t b o o k p r o c e s s e s which, coupled with i i n p r c c e d e n t e d m ~ e n c y made , the p r o h l c t n s difficult. One of tire best CLanlpIes of work done under pressure, but whicli was wcll done, and enccpt for later refinement has c o n t i n u e d and promise.? to endure, is tlie manufacturc of phthalicanhydride. Morisarrto had been obtaining p h t h a l i c anhydride for the irianiifactrirc Plant of Graenser-Monsanfo North %I p h e n o l p h t h a l e i n f r o m I
