January, 1924
I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
factory high capacity and high extraction go together, and that high capacity does not mean a sacrifice in permitting sugar losses to go up. The plan has now been in effect for four years, and in every case the factory which won the pennant has had a very high performance, combined with a high daily slicing. The pennant has never been won by a performance factor of less than 98 per cent, even though 95 per cent makes the factory eligible. This is important, because when the plan was first promulgated many of the operating men thought that maximum capacities could be attained only by a sacrifice in extraction, and this opinion is still held by many in the sugar industry. Another very important result of the plan has been the constant search for the weak and limiting stations in each factory and the steps taken to strengthen them. The improvements made have been relatively small as far as expenditures go, the average annual expenditure for this purpose for the four years having been less than normal, but the increase in capacity has been noteworthy. Other measures, such as the adoption of the eight-hour shift and a campaign of education in sugar technology of all permanent men, have also had their influence on the results, but the realization of the value of maximum production has probably been the largest factor. When the pennant plan was inaugurated for the 1919-20 campaign, the slicing standards then set called for a daily slicing of 23,035 tons for the sixteen plants. The standards set for this next campaign for the same factories will call for 28,700 tons.
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While the actual difference in slicing for the two campaigns in question will probably not be quite so great as the difference in standards set, the figures give some idea of what has actually been accomplished. One would naturally expect that this increased production would be reflected in the number of man-hours of labor, or minutes required to produce a bag of sugar. In the earlier history of the company it often required the labor of one man for one hour for the factory operation of producing one bag of sugar, and individual factories had figures as high as one and one-half hours per bag. The majority of European factories today are said to require from one to two man-hours per bag of sugar. During the last two campaigns all the factories have averaged the time of 36 minutes for one man to produce one bag and the factories with the best records have done this in 29 minutes. As far as is known, this figure of 29 minutes of operating labor per bag of sugar has not been surpassed by any beet sugar factory anywhere. However, the greatest gain to the beet sugar industry by emphasis on production does not lie alone in these results, but in the reduction of the loss in sugar which now takes place between the harvesting of the beets and the slicing of them. This problem can only be solved by the complete cooperation of grower and factory, the grower delivering the beets with the minimum of‘ storage and the factory slicing them at maximum speed. When this is worked out to the fullest extent, a large economic loss will be eliminated and all factors in the industry will benefit.
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AMERICAN CONTEMPORARIES William P. Mason
While interested in the material that has flowed from his pen from time to time, the writer, on searching the older files STRANGER in Troy, N. Y . , inquiring for the loca- of the Journal of the American Chemical Society, found several interesting things. In September, 1878, Dr. tion of the chemical laboratory of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, is told “Just Mason became a member of the SOCIETY, up the hill.” He takes a deep breath, tightens and for several years after his election, little his belt, and takes a long climb up, step after was heard of his scientific achievements; then step. On his arrival near the top, almost there began to appear notes, articles, and breathltss, he sees his goal. It is here that one abstracts in a few of the technical publications finds Dr. William Pitt Mason, professor of of the day. These writings seem to have Chemistry and head of the Department of reached a high point in 1888, for the volume of Chemicttl Engineering. Hale and hearty a t that year consisted of one hundred and ninetythree score and ten, the years have not dimmed eight pages, and scattered throughout the entire his keen interest in all that is new in chemistry, year are to be found sixty-five abstracts and nor lessened his ability and popularity as a one paper on carbon monoxide poisoning lecturer credited to him. Few scientists can lag claim to Should it happen to be approaching a lecture greater versatility than Dr Mason, for in 1898 period when one arrives to see the Doctor, we find in the same journal eight articles conthere arc: no long periods of waiting, but always a cerning such subjects as assaying, toxicology, cordial invitation to sit in and listen, and such water analysis, water supply, legal testimony, invitations are seldom declined. A short time W. P.MASON and industrial chemistry. T o catalog all his is consumed in outlining the subject matter writings would occupy more space than is and then the lecturer launches out into the details and theory available a t this time. When Dr. Mason became a member of the Chemistry Deof the reactions, so that the veriest beginner cannot fail to grasp the important steps. There are no dry spots in any of partment at Rensselaer, the student body number:d two hundred; the lectures, whether the subject be water or drying. And as to today there are eleven hundred students and a staff ol eleven water, a brief glance through the periodicals devoted to water men. At any time during the student year Dr. Mason can be and sanitation will convince the most skeptical that Dr. Mason found in the Walker Laboratory lecturing to his large classes or in surely knows water and its uses far better than most of us do. his private office planning improvements for the Department of Dr. Mason is one of the most pleasant and affable men to Chemical Engineering. As the years have gone from 1874 to meet whom one may find in long travel, as a host of his friends 1923 his capacity for hard work has increased steadily and the will testify. A member of many societies, he is not a mere courses offered ever keep abreast with the progress in chemistry dues-paying one, but always takes an interest in their meetings and chemical engineering. and coniributes generously to their scientific programs. F. W. SCHWARTZ
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