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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
PROPOSED PROVISION FOR THE CHEMICAL WARFARE SERVICE The following statement is reprinted from the Senate Committee Print entitled “Army Reorganization Bill-Analytical and Explanatory Statement of the Bill (S. 2715) to Reorganize and Increase the Efficiency of the United States Army, and for Other Purposes, Prepared for the Information of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs,” by Senator George E. Chamberlain, of Oregon, dated September 5, 1919. No provision is made in the pending bill for the maintenance of that important service as developed and organized during the recent war, but i t is understood that it is the purpose of the Secretary of War to assign it permanently to the Engineer Corps, under the general powers proposed to be conferred upon the President by this bill. In consideration of this subject it is of the first importance to bear in mind that such a service must have two separate and distinct functions. One of them is scientific research and the development, production and procurement of necessary materials. The other function is the application of those materials by appropriate troops to military uses, just as the materials developed, produced, and procured by the Ordnance Department are applied to military uses. These two functions of a Chemical Warfare Service should not be combined in one organization or under one head, because there are no officers in the Engineer Corps or elsewhere in the Army whose training and practical experience as chemists fit them either for the performance or the intelligent supervision of the scientific duties of chemical research and production. There should be established in the Army a department of chemistry, along the lines of the Medical and Ordnance Departments, to be filled from top t o bottom with expert professional chemists. To this department should be assigned all duties pertaining to the scientific research required, and to the development, production and procurement of all materials needed for the purposes of chemical warfare, such materials to be supplied to appropriate troops for application to military uses, including the making of the necessary experiments with regard to such uses. To this department should also be transferred, as far as practicable, all work of a chemical nature now done in or under the various bureaus of the War Department.
Vol.
11,
No.
11
NATIONAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS IN CHEMISTRY The National Research Council announces the appointment
of the following additional Fellowships in Chemistry : EDWINJ. COHPJ,of New York City, S.B. (Chicago, ’14),Ph.D.
(Chicago, 1 7 ) , formerly assistant in chemistry a t Harvard University; First Lieutenant, Sanitary Corps, U. S. A. Mr. Cohn will conduct his researches a t the Carlsberg Laboratory, Copenhagen. MORRIS KHARASCH,of Chicago, Ill., S.B. (Chicago, ’17), Ph.D. (Chicago, ’19). Mr. Kharasch will conduct his research work a t the University of Chicago. AXEL R. OLSON,,of Chicago, Ill., S.B. (Chicago, ’ 1 5 ) ~ Ph.D. (California, 171, formerly a Teaching Fellow in Chemistry a t the University of California; recently released from military duty. Mr. Olson will carry on researches a t the University of California. A number of Fello&ships in Physics and Chemistry are still open. Application for them may be made to the Secretary of the Research Fellowship Board, 1201 Sixteenth St., N. W., Washington, D. C.
UNIVERSITY CHEMISTRY CLUBS
Editor of the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry: The Chemistry Club of Akron University desires to communicate with Chemistry Clubs of other universities and colleges. We have a small, but very active Chemistry Club, and it is our hope that by keeping in touch with the doings of other similar societies we shall be able to increase our usefulness to our school and to our own members, and, in a small way, to other societies. Communications should be addressed to Eugene Haas, 2.5 Franklin St., Akron, Ohio. MUNICIPAL UNIVERSITY OF AKRON EUGENE HAAS A K R O N , OHIO September 29, 1919
DEFINITION OF THE TERM “F. 0. B. NEW YO=” Editor of the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry:
PLATINUM THEFT During the week of September thirteenth two platinum The enclosed material was sent to me as Chairman of the crucibles and about 2 5 g. of platinum wire were stolen from Committee on Foreign Chemical Trade of the AMERICAN CHEM- the office of Dr. Roy B. Davis, Department of Chemistry, The icm SOCIETY, and it would seem to me to be of such importance University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn. The work was evithat some publicity should be given in your Journal. dently that of a professional platinum thief, as several grams of WELSBACH COMPANY HARLAN S. MINER, Chairman silver and gold foil were not disturbed. The crucibles and GLOUCESTER, N . 3. covers had a combined weight of approximately 50 g. and were September 18, 1919 of 2 5 cc. capacity.
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The National Foreign Trade Council has received complaints that American manufacturers and exporters who have quoted “F. 0. B. New York” have interpreted that quotation to indude merely delivery within the limits of the port of New York, and not necessarily actual delivery of the merchandise on board the overseas vessel. The contention is that the term “F. 0. B. port” has only one meaning, namely, “Free on board overseas vessel” a t the port named, and that a quotation “F, 0. B. port” means that the purchaser has no charges to meet except those connected with ocean freight, and insurance. It appears that some American manufacturers and exporters who have quoted prices “F. 0. B. New York,” or other port, have contented themselves with the delivery of the goods within the limits of the port named, instead of onboard overseas vessel, with the result that charges for cartage, litherage, storage and other items, have been passed on to the purchaser who had understood that the “F. 0. B. port” quotation covered delivery of the goods on the overseas vessel. The possibility of adverse effect upon American foreign trade in this situation is obvious, and leads the National Foreign Trade Council to urge upon American exporters generally the wisdom of following invariably a practice under which such complaints cannot possibly arise. There is zo question that the original meaning of “F. 0. B. port” was Free onboard ship,” and that that is the general and usual interpretation of it among foreigners.
THE DETERIORATION OF MANUFACTURED CANE SUGAR BY MOLDS-C ORRECTION I n the article of the above title [THISJOURNAL, 1 1 (191g), 845 1, the following correction should be made: Page 846, second column, second footnote, “Louisiana Bulletin, 196,” should read “Louisiana Bulletin, 166.” NICHOLAS KOPELOFF September 20, 19 19
EQUILIBRIUM STUDIES UPON THE BUCHER PROCESSCORRECTION I n the article of the above title [THISJOURNAL, 1 1 (1919), 9461 the following correction should be made: Page 946, first paragraph, fifth line, “Carnegie Institute” should read “Carnegie Institution.” ROBERT B. SOSMAN, Acting Director CARNEGLS INSTITUTE O F WASHINGTON
D. C. October 11, 1919
WASHINGTON,
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