V$. 15, No. 12
I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
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in the same manner would be justified.
This conclusion is substantiated in the case of basswood and incense cedar, but not in the case of tan oak. In Table VI it will be noted that the chlorination periods were shortened in going from basswood to incense cedar. I n basswood the 30 and 45-minute samples were not extracted with sodium sulfite after the first 15-minute chlorination, although they were stirred a t 5-minute intervals. Columns 1 and 2, Table V, show very little lignin and methoxyl removed by the second 1Bminute chlorination. The tan oak TABLE V-DISTRIBUTION OF METHOXYL IN PRODUCTS OF WOOD
DISTILLATION (Figures in percentages of dry weight of wood distilled) Hard Maple White Oak Incense 6 . 0 9 Per 5 . 1 2 Per Cedar 5 . 9 Per cent-CHaO cent-CHaO cent-CHaO PRODUCTS Blank Blank Blank Pyroligneous acid 1.62 1.16 0.97 Dissolved tar 0.34 0.22 0.10 Settled tar 0.52 0.46 1.04 Gas (calculated as CHd 1.31 1.34 1.60 Total methoxyl recovered in volatile aroducts 3.79 3.18 3.71 Volatile C H ~ O 62 62 63 Total - CHsO
-
and incense cedar show how more frequent alternation of chlorination and sodium sulfite extraction may reduce the actual chlorination period in isolating cellulose. This has been studied more fully end will appear in a separate paper. TABLE VI-RELATION O F METHOXYL TO 1,IGNIN (Figures are percentages calculated on dry weight of wood) Residual Residual CHsO X 100 Lignin X 100 CHsO X 100 Lignin CHaO Lignin Total Lignin Total CHaO Basswood Original wood 15-minute chlorination 30-minute chlorinationa 45-minure chlorination
20.7
6.02 5.16 1.23 5.06 1.01 3.39 0.78
24.2 23.8 20.0 23.0
Tan oak 5.31 Original wood 23.7 IO-minute chlorination 5 . 2 9 2 . 3 4 15-minute chlorination 1 . 7 8 0 . 3 3 20-minute chlorination 1 . 3 8 0 . 1 7
22.4 44.2 18.5 12.3 Incense cedar 16.3 Original wood 37.73 6 . 1 4 1.10 10.3 5-minute chlorination 1 0 . 7 0.43 15.4 10-minute chlorination 2 . 8 16.0 15-minute chlorination 1 . 0 0 . 1 6 12.8 20-minute chlorination 0 . 7 5 0 . 0 9 6 o N o t extracted with sodium sulfite.
...
24.9 24.4 16.3
...
22.3 7.5 5.8
...
28.3 7.4 2.6 1.9
...
24.5 20.1 15.5
...
44.0 6.2 3.2 1+:9
7.0 2.6 1.6
Charles Proteus Steinmetz
vv
HEN
Charles Proteus Steinmetz died on October 26, 1923, science lost one of its unique figures. Born a t Breslau, Germany, April 9, 1865, Dr. Steinmetz studied mathematics, physics, and kindred subjects at the University of Breslau, and it is curious to note that so great a mathematician in his younger years experienced much difficulty in learning the multiplication table. While a t the university he espoused the cause of socialism, fell under the ban of the German Government, and was forced to leave the university and to flee the country. He continued his studies in Switzeriand and was persuaded by an American student a t the Polytechnic a t Zurich to accompany him to America. He narrowly escaped rejection at the hands of the immigration officials, but within two weeks after admission was devoting his talents to the improvement of the electric street cars at Yonkers. In 1893 he joined the staff of the General Electric Company, and there found the congenial environment and support necessary for a genius like his to accomplish most for the benefit of mankind. Freed from financial worries, with the resources of a great corporation in cooperation with him, and provided with facilities for the furtherance of research, he was able to overcome one after another many of the obstacles in the way of electrical progress. His investigation in the field of magnetism, which led to formulating and determining the laws governing the losses in iron subjected to varying magnetic induction, was one of his first great pieces of work. It made possible the improvement of electrical machinery with the reduction in the weight and the cost. He abolished the mystery an$ obscurity
surrounding alternating current apparatus and did much to teacb engineers how to design machines with as much ease and certainty as those employing the familiar direct current. Of late years; when alternating current power transmission lines carrying large amounts of energy spread over the country, he turned his talents to the study of the problem of protecting such lines from lightning. His study of the phenomena produced by lightning effects led him to prcduce his famous lightning generator which has been so much discussed in the public press. Dr. Steinmetz’s practical inventions literally cover the entire field of electrical applications, and of the two hundred or more patents in his name perhaps most important are the induction regulator, the method of phase transformation as from two phases to three phases, and the metallic electrode arc lamp. He was a prolific inventor, a skilled mathematician, a trained engineer, and an inspiring teacher, not only possessing marvelous insight into scientific phenomena, but a wonderful ability to explain in simple language the most difficultand abstruse problems. He was the author of many original scientific papers and books, was an ardent believer in the value of education, and was always willing to share his great gifts with any who sought his counsel. He was a patient, sympathetic, and cheerful man, with a fine appreciation of nature, and one who constantly made friends with children. He was an earnest, simple man, who devoted his mind and talents to the service of his fellow-men to an extraordinary degree. His life was a successful one for he accomplished that for which he worked, and lived as pleased him.
