524
T H E JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
No, t h e opposition has so far prevented a vote; i t has raised a smoke screen about t h e Levinstein agreement and about t h e Weston letter, which Senator Kenyon said General Wood resented, b u t about which General Wood is quoted in t h e New York WorJd of May 9, 1 9 2 0 , as saying: “Of t h e letter published this morning I knew nothing until I saw i t in t h e papers,” b u t such matters cannot cloud t h e real issue. Meanwhile t h e delay is hurting. T h e publication on May I O , 1 9 2 0 , by t h e New York Journal of Cornmerce of t h e 1 9 2 0 monthly totals of capital authorized in t h e chemical, drug and dye industries is extremely suggestive:
.. .
4,670,000
T h a t April figure tells a story!
DR. MANNING RETIRES To-day marks the retirement of D ~van . H. ~~~~i~~ from t h e Directorship of t h e U. s. Bureau of Mines t o assume his new position of Director of Research for t h e American Petroleum Institute. Succeeding Dr. Joseph A. Holmes, t h e first Director of t h a t Bureau, Dr. Manning has carried forward steadily and with constant initiative t h e work of t h e Bureau of Mines which has proved itself so potent a factor in t h e economic development of t h e natural He has infused t h e perof t h e country. sonnel of t h e Bureau with an de corps which has greatly facilitated its usefulness and proved him a born organizer. him, The chief obligation which ,.he country however, is for t h e part he played in inaugurating t h e first developments of chemical warfare in this country. With clear prevision he joined heartily with t h e members of his staff in inaugurating t h e work of t h e American University Experiment Station. Bureaucratic methods were minimized a n d results, therefore, rapidly obtained. It is as t h e real founder of t h e Chemical Warfare Service t h a t we shall always think of him, and he may rest assured t h a t he carries with him into his new work t h e best of good wishes from all who were associated with him in this patriotic and timely service. NOTES
New chemical laboratories continue t o be provided a t our universities. T h e latest good news is from t h e University of Mississippi. The Legislature has appropriated $35o,ooo for a new building for t h e departments of chemistry and pharmacy. Professor Swan’s good work has made its impress. The award of t h e Remington Honor Medal in Pharmacy t o Dr. John Uri Lloyd, of Cincinnati, was a n event which brought happiness t o t h e many friends of t h a t genial soul and indefatigable worker. His work will prove of enduring value t o pharmacy, and his happiness over t h e medal award will be shared b y his “children,” who always “listen” when he raises his good right arm.
Vol.
12,
No. 6
According t o Consul Henry B. Hitchcock, of Taihoku, Taiwan, the Japan Camphor Monopoly Office has guaranteed a minimum allotment of camphor t o t h e United States for t h e period of April, May, and June 1 9 2 0 , of 3 2 7 , 3 8 6 pounds, with t h e possible, though not probable, likelihood of permitting a maximum allotment t o t h e United States of 349,000pounds. T h e prices per hundred weight are given as 2 2 7 yen ($113.16) for grade B and 2 5 5 yen ($127.12) forgrade BB. Doubtless we ought t o be grateful t o t h e Camphor Monopoly for granting t o America t h e privilege of securing this many pounds of grade B and t h a t many pounds of grade BB, a t prices which t h e Monopoly fixes. As a matter of f a c t we are not grateful; on t h e contrary, t h e statement riles us. Where is t h e spirit of American economic independence? Camphor can be made from spirits of turpentine, a crude material produced chiefly in this country. No one expects t h e present abnormally high price of turpentine t o hold indefinitely. I n a previous issue we urged t h e development here of synthetic camphor manufacture. T h a t urging is repeated, and with even greater emphasis. The printing ink manufacturers are plain-spoken men. They never straddle a question. One has only t o know Phil Ruxton, their leader, t o appreciate t h e accuracy of this characterization. It is therefore of particular significance t h a t a t their annual convention in New City On May 11, I g 2 0 , the was adopted and promptly forwarded t o members of t h e United States Senate: Resolved that it is the unanimous sense of this meeting t h a t this association petition United States Senate to pass immediately coal-tar dye H. R. eight naught seven eight as reported by the sub-finance committee of the Senate. -~
I n our address a t t h e General Meeting in St. Louis appreciative attention was called t o t h e liberal regulations of t h e U. S. Bureau of Internal Revenue for t h e administration of t h e special section of t h e National Prohibition Act which provides for t h e production, sale, and use of an ample supply of alcohol for industrial and scientific purposes. So far, so good. But there are indications of a fly in t h e ointment. Just at present it looks a little as though t h e Deputy Commissioners are so busy trying t o enforce t h e prohibition side of t h e matter t h a t not one of t h e m has time t o give especial attention t o t h e administration of t h e chemical end of t h e question. Possibly we are overanxious. I t is t o be hoped
