June, 1917
T H E J O C R N A L OF I N D C S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING C H E M I S T R Y
The most striking item in the report of t h e House Committee was t h e over-demand for bedrooms in t h e Club building. This feature of t h e Club, regarding t h e wisdom of which there was a t first so much skepticism, has proved t o be a success far beyond t h e highest expectations. For t h e visiting chemist, t h e isolation of New York Hotel existence has been changed t o t h e more congenial atmosphere of club life. Indeed, so successful has this feature proved t h a t it is seldom there is a vacant room, a n d many applications for rooms have t o be denied. T o meet this condition, t h e trustees of .,he Club have, upon t h e recommendation of t h e members present a t t h e annual meeting, promptly taken steps t o secure by lease or purchase t h e four-story building adjoining 011 t h e west side. The two buildings could easily be thrown into one, and, by slight rearrangement of t h e annex, twenty-seven extra bedrooms could be provided. I t is believed that t h e negotiations now in progress will be successfully terminated a t a n early datlAN EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES
T h e opening sentence of t h e last annual report of Secretary Parsons was as follows: “ T h e growth of t h e American Chemical Society during t h e year 1916 has broken all precedents.” I n support of this statement i t was shown t h a t t h e membership h a d increased during t h e year from 7417 t o 83jj. All who have followed closely t h e growth of t h e Society felt t h a t this increase probably would mark t h e high point in t h e curve of numbers of members, t h a t 1916 would always be characterized as t h e “Banner Year’’ in t h e Society’s growth. On May 11th we were informed by t h e Secret a r y t h a t t h e Society’s membership h a d increased t o 932 j, exceeding even a t t h a t early date t h e increase for t h e entire previous year. What t h e final showing for 1917 will be is a purely speculative, b u t highly entertaining a n d enthusing matter. As indicative, however, :of t h e outcome i t is extremely interesting t o learn t h a t t h e increase during t h e past month has been twice as great as during t h e corresponding period in 1916. One result of this expansion is t h e complete upsetting of all estimates of t h e number of copies of each of t h e Society’s publications which would be necessary t o meet current demands. T h e necessity of such estimates will be readily recognized, especially a t this time, in view of t h e increased cost of materials, labor, etc. Secretary Parsons now finds t h a t i t is impossible to supply new members with t h e early issues of this year, and writes us as follows: “ T h e half-year membership will begin for members elected after June I , 1917: t h a t is, dues will be five dollars a n d t h e journals will be furnished from July I , 1917. Of course, all members elected on this basis will be expected to continue as regular members and pay t e n dollars covering 1918 dues upon receipt of statement.” I n connection with t h e question of nevi members we wish t h a t some Local Section would a t t e m p t t h e
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following simple experiment: get each member t o agree t o carry a membership application blank in his pocket for one month, provided he has not prior t o t h e expiration of t h a t month forwarded i t t o t h e Secretary filled out with t h e requisite d a t a for action by t h e Membership Committee. X e are confident t h a t t h e psychological effect of t h e constant presence of t h a t paper would result in stimulating initiative in getting new members where in many cases i t had not previously existed. Such initiative is all t h a t is needed t o increase t h e membership far beyond t h e loyal hopes a n d expectations of even t h e most optimistic.
AN ADVANCE IN ADVERTISING RATES
At t h e Urbana Meeting, -4pri1, 1916, t h e Directors passed a resolution urging the Advertising Committee t o advance t h e advertising rates as soon as practicable. I n view of impending changes in t h e management of THIS J O U R N A L t h e Committee felt that i t would not be wise t o make such advances until the new organization was completed and familiar v i t h the details of t h e work. .it a meeting held on May j . 1917, t h e Committee decided t h a t a n advance in rates should a t once become effective a n d fixed t h e amount of t h e advance a t a forty per cent increase over existing rates, providing, of course, t h a t existing contracts should be filled as per contract. The justification of this advance lay in t h e marked increase in t h e circulation of t h e journals incident t o t h e rapid growth of t h e membership of t h e Society; its necessity was made evident by t h e cost sheets exhibited b y t h e Advertising Manager. Members of t h e Society can render valuable aid a t this time by using their persuasive powers in holding all former advertisers t o their appreciated connection with t h e Society’s publications and by urging t h e establishment of such connections b y those firms which a t present do not utilize this valuable medium of publicity.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Beginning with t h e July issue we shall publish each month a Washington letter. Mr. Paul Wooton, Metropolitan Bank Building, Washington, D. C., has been engaged as our special correspondent. Mr. Wooton is a n experienced journalist in thorough touch with matters legislative a n d scientific. Even under normal conditions, Washington news is of great interest t o -4merican chemists; and especially is this true a t t h e present time when so much activity is centered there a n d when so many matters of deep concern t o chemists are in process of development. Too often these topics are completely overlooked b y t h e daily press correspondents. I t is hoped through this monthly letter t o furnish our readers with a n accurate account of what is taking place in t h e National Capital of interest t o chemists.
