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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 E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y
Vol.
II,
No. 3
EDITORIALS FROM AN “ADOPTED” ONE
On paper bearing a broad margin of black, indicative of the irreparable loss of a father, there came recently t h e following charming, childlike letter. This little link in the chain of international attachment was received b y a member of t h e AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY who had quickly answered the appeal of the American Ouvroir Funds by “adopting” the orphaned son of a French engineer. MON CHER PARRAIN: Maman m’a dit que j’avaisun parrain en Amkrique. Je voudrais bien vous connaftre mais c’est bien loin, l’Am6rique. Quand je serai grand je pourrai peutCtre aller vous voir. Je vais a I’kole. Je travaille bien. Je tPcherai que vous soyez content de moi. Je vous embrasse de tout mon coeur. Votre petit filled MARCEL PIERRON 23 Janvier, ~ 9 1 9 4 rue Gallieni Asnikres, Sene Interest is actively increasing in t h e work of the organization which is placing in our hands in such a dignified and comprehensive manner information concerning these little ones. From the February number of The Catalyst it is learned t h a t the Delaware Section has already raised $ 2 0 0 0 for this purpose and t h a t t h e Philadelphia Section is likewise engaged in raising a goodly sum. Let the good work go on! THE SOLDIER, THE SAILOR, AND THE CHEMIST
An amazing thing about t h e early months of our participation in the war was the slowness with which high officials of the War and Navy Departments waked t o the impdrtance of chemistry in a conflict such as was then raging in Europe. It was not by t h e strictly war-making departments t h a t the first stimulus t o chemistry organization and chemical research was given, but \ y the Interior Department, through its Bureau of Mines. I n view of the comprehensive and vigorous way in which the service of t h e chemist was later utilized by both t h e War and Navy Departments, the question naturally arises: Why were they so tardy in grasping t h e significance of chemistry in this great undertaking? Doubtless the reasons are many, but we believe one of the most fundamental t o be the attenuated character of the chemistry atmosphere a t West Point a n d Annapolis. This statement contains no reflection whatever upon the able instructors in chemistry a t either of t h e great institutions for t h e training of our land and sea officers. These institutions cannot be expected t o t u r n out military or naval chemists, even if there were such things; such instruction as is given must be elementary and more or less superficial, because of , t h e limited time available for the subject. This side of the question gives no worry, for civilian assistance from men with the highest chemical training may always be relied upon when the pinch of war comes.
It is, however, extremely desirable t h a t every student a t West Point and a t Annapolis should receive a clear picture of the chemical industries of this country as a whole, their interrelations, and their function in t h e transformation of raw material into t h e supplies which support a modern army and navy. Then, too, they should be given from time t o time a general view of the trend of chemical research on lines bearing directly upon military a n d naval problems. General surveys of this character, t o be most effective, should be given by t h e recognized leaders in t h e chemical industries and in chemical research. We would like t o suggest, therefore, t h a t the Secret a r y of War and the Secretary of the Navy request t h e President of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETYt o appoint a committee which will give annually, a t West Point a n d a t Annapolis, five or six general lectures. T h e leading chemists of this country would consider i t a patriotic privilege t o participate in the undertaking, a n d our future generals and admirals would set out upon their careers with a clearer grasp a n d a more sympathetic understanding of t h a t science from which war-making can never be divorced.
ARE YOUR NEEDS TAKEN CARE OF?
I n this issue, page 257, there is printed a general schedule of classification of government statistics of imports and exports, followed by schedules of special interest t o every producer of finished products a n d t o every consumer of imported raw material in the chemical industries. These schedules have been prepared under the supervision of Mr. G. B. Roorbach of the U. S. Shipping Board (not of t h e Department of Commerce, as erroneously stated in our last issue). T o those who may wonder why so much space is devoted t o t h e publication of this material, we would say t h a t we consider this one of t h e most important contributions which has ever reached this office. Why? Government statistics of interest t o t h e chemical industries have always been lamentably weak. T h e information has been thrown into basket clauses in a way useless t o one trying t o develop a business intelligently. It has generally been an awful job t o upset the normal practices of humdrum departmental matters in Washington. This time, however, someone has seen the light, and action has sprung from within. T h e various government divisions, hitherto working independently, each under its own system of classification, have realized t h e efficiency of a uniform system, and t h a t t h e industries are entitled t o far more detailed information t h a n has previously been furnished. T h e published material represents a joint effort. Another party t o full cooperation is lacking, t h e individual manufacturer. You are now invited by Mr. Roorbach t o join in t h e project. You know in detail exactly t h e kind of statistical matter you would like
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Mar., 1919
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 CHEMISTRY
t h e Government t o publish regularly and promptly for your information. Look over these lists and see whether t h e items you are interested in are included. If not, write Mr. Roorbach, and write h i m promptly, for t h e final form of t h e system must be quickly determined if instructions are t o reach all foreign consuls in time for t h e necessary changes t,o be made in official procedure, and for t h e new system t o become effective with tlie beginning of t h e next fiscal year.
THE WOMAN CHEMIST HAS COME TO STAY
War brought woman into industrial chemistry. The draft of t h e men of t h e laboratories into war service made necessary her increased employment. Many were tlie misgivings, b u t these have proved groundless. Evidence from all sides warrants t h e statement t h a t in this comparatively new line she has abundantly made good. Perhaps t h e most interesting testimony is offered b y Mr. William M. Brady, chief chemist of t h e Illinois Steel Company, in a statement published i n t h e February number of The Chicago Chemical Bulletin. . Speaking of t h e women in his laboratory, Mr. Brady says: They learned the work as quickly as any men of like training codd have learned it. * * * They were and are careful, conscientious, reliable workers in the field of industrial chemistry, taking their turns at night work cheerfully, and so far as I can learn, contentedly. As t o capacity for work, Mr. Brady does not deal in generalities b u t gives convincing figures: During the month of July there were employed on iron and steel work, thirty-one men and seven women. Total number of determinations made in July on iron and steel, 68,798-made by women, 10,741, or 15.6 per cent of the total. Per cent of women employed, 18.5-not quite their share; they were learning the work. During the month of October there were thirty-six men and an average of six and a half women employed on iron and steel work, three women leaving during the month, two to go back to school, one securing a better position. This to explain the one-half woman. Total number of determinations made in October on iron and steel, 66,956; made by women, 10,721, or 16 per cent of the total. Percentage of women employed, 15.3. From this it is readily seen that as soon as the women learned the woi k, they carried their share of the work. During the hot weather of last summer, when to sleep, for those working at night, was almost impossible, the percentage of women off duty was less than the men. The percentage of women off duty on account of sickness is not greater than the men. In fact it has not equaled the men in our particular case, several of our men being on extended sick leave. Reqhests for days off duty by women are not excessive, and are not more than those of men. I n conclusion he pays t h e following tribute t o his women chemists: They have added tone to our laboratory by their pleasing personalities. They have proved beyond a doubt that they can do and will do a t any hour of the day or night, careful, conscientious, reliable chemical work. They have passed the crucial test of service. They have been weighed in the chemical balance and not found wanting. Such testimony means only one thing: The woman chemist has come t o stay. This of course increases t h e present oversupply of chemists, and adds another point t o t h e argument in last month’s editorial, “Back t o t h e Colleges a n d Universities.” Read page z j j of this issue.
183
“AM I MY BROTHER’S KEEPER? ”
When a n accident of a n unusual and unexpected character occurs in a laboratory, particularly a university laboratory, t h e details are frequently written up for publication in the journals, so t h a t fellow-chemists, working with t h e same substance or under t h e same set of conditions, may profit by t h e unfortunate experience. The same cannot be said of accidents in industrial plants. Here a shroud of secrecy seems t o be t h e rule. It is a phase of t h a t same unfortunate psychology which has proved so detrimental t o t h e industry in many other matters. This subject was discussed a t length and from every angle a t t h e February meeting of t h e Advisory Committee, and it was t h e unanimous opinion of t h e Committee t h a t full publicity regarding details of accidents in t h e chemical industries is extremely desirable. For this reason a section of THISJ O U R N A L will be set aside for the prompt publication of such matter whenever i t can be legitimately obtained. Communications on this subject are urgently requested. If t h e life of one workman is saved through this publicity, t h e reward will be ample.
NEEDED REFORMS 1N THE PATENT OFFICE
Patent matters are t o t h e fore nowadays: not in matters of litigation b u t in careful study of t h e system. For some time past a committee of t h e National Research Council has been thoroughly investigating t h e matter from every standpoint, with t h e sympathetic desire t o accomplish changes which will bring t h e office into more perfect accord with present conditions and insure its yielding t h a t full measure of usefulness which its founders hoped. The report of t h e committee is published on page 2 5 0 of this issue t o enable general participation in t h e further discussion of t h e subject, and i t is asked t h a t all suggestions be forwarded direct t o t h e acting chairman of t h e committee. As a further contribution t o this subject there is printed on page 237 of this issue t h e forceful address of Mr. Thomas Ewing, former Commissioner of Patents, on “The Needs of t h e U. S. Patent Office,” before t h e War Emergency Reconstruction Conference a t Atlantic City last December. Because of his many years of successful conduct of t h e office of Patent Commissioner, Mr. Ewing speaks from a n intimate knowledge of the situation, and, being no longer connected with t h e office, with an engaging frankness and earnestness which carry conviction. Mr. Ewing pleads for t h e pressure of well-informed public opinion t o be brought to bear upon Congress in order t o secure t h e needed reforms. To develop such pressure i t will first be necessary t o convince t h e public t h a t t h e most efficient working of t h e Patent Office is one which directly benefits each and every citizen. O n this subject we stated in 1916 at Seattle, during t h e course of a presidential address: The value of the patent system as a national asset lies not only in the constant additions to daily welfare, but also in the eventual public ownership of the new ideas underlying these
