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.
IO,
No. 6
EDITORIALS LMERPCA IN SAFE HANDS to all of the uninitiated, and yet as we look back, As Chairman oi the Committep of the AMERICAN t h a t which impressed us most was t h e fine esprit de CHEhiIcAL SOCIETYadvisory t o the United States corps which has been developed, t h e harmonious cooperation of all divisions of t h e work and t h e comBureau of Mines it was our fortunate privilege, through t h e courteous invitation of Director Van. H. Manning, plete sinking of self in t h e spirit of service t o t h e cause to be present a t t h e opening conference between in which we are enlisted. Some day when these buildings are dismantled and t h e leaders of t h e various lines of work a t t h e Bureau of Mines Experiment Station located a t American Uni- when t h e men return t o their peaceful pursuit of versity and the National Committee advisory t o t h a t science, the full story of this work must be written and Experiment Station. I n t h e afternoon a n inspection published t o the world. It will prove one of t h e most was made of t h e entire Experiment Station plant, striking narratives of these stirring days and conwhere field demonstrations were given of t h e various stitute one of t h e most glorious tributes t o t h e genius of t h e American chemist. products there evolved. Utmost secrecy was enjoined as t o every feature WASHINGTON NOTES of t h e day’s program, b u t permission has been given t o speak editorially of t h e impressions gathered on A three-day sojourn in Washington furnished so t h a t most memorable day, Permission was sought many topics for editorial discussion t h a t limited space because it was desired t o share with t h e chemists necessitates brevity. Hence t h e following condensed of t h e country some of t h e inspiration, confidence, and notes: I-A Spring Meeting of t h e AMERICANCHEMICAL enthusiasm gained. These feelings were begot primarily by t h e sight of SOCIETYwas unnecessary. Go t o Washington any t h e men gathered around the conference table. With- old day-you couldn’t tell t h e difference. out attempting a complete enumeratio; we would 2-The colors of t h e Society, cobalt-blue and golden mention the presence of Director Manning, the follow- yellow, have changed their function from t h e decoraing members of t h e Advisory Committee: Doctors tive feature of banquet menu cards t o t h e more apIGchols,Venable, Talbot, Franklin, Hoskins and Parsons propriate r81e of t h e distinctive hat-cord now worn (Dr. T. W. Richards joined t h e group t h e following day), b y t h e enlisted men of t h e Chemical Service Section a n d representative leaders of t h e Experiment Station under due authorization from t h e Secretary of War. work, among whom were Burrell, Bancroft, Norris, Stand b y t h e colors! 3-Lieutenant Colonel Bogert, head of t h e Chemical W. K. Lewis, Cottrell, Hulett, Jennings, Kohler, Richter, Reid, Frazier, Fieldner, Cheney, Henderson, Rowland, Service Section in this country, is no longer with t h e Winternitz, Underhill, H u n t , Marshall. T h e Chemical National Research Council or t h e War Industries Service was represented by Lieutenant Colonel Bogert, Board, b u t is quartered in Unit F, Corridor 5 , Floor 3, and there were present distinguished members of t h e 7th and B Streets, N. W., Washington, D. C. 4-The authorized quota for t h e Chemical Service War and Navy Departments. A glance over this group of more t h a n fifty men Section has been increased t o a total personnel of thrilled us with t h e thought of how great a n asset something over 1300. 5-Organization is sufficiently perfected a n d t h e America possesses in her chemists, men who with characteristic American agility have changed their needs of t h e situation are so clearly understood t h a t whole train of thought from t h e accustomed subjects t h e assignment of all chemists in t h e present draft t o of research t o those pressing problems of modern chemical work is assured. The stock of perforated warfare upon whose prompt and efficient solution filters for such assignment has fortunately been exhausted. depends so much the success of our fighting forces. 6-There is an error somewhere. Major G. F. Tyler, T h a t this thought transference has already borne much fruit, despite t h e brief period of activity, was of t h e office of Assistant Secretary of War Crowel1,stated shown a t t h e Experiment Station grounds, where t h a t i t was t h e conviction of t h e War Department every phase of t h e work was under full headway. t h a t chemists in camps must be transferred t o chemical I n these days oi difficulty in procuring material and work because of t h e scarcity of chemists. I n answer equipment it was amazing t o see how rapidly t h e work t o our suggestion t h a t there were still some three has grown since its inception b y a few foresighted men hundred chemists in camps he stated t h a t t h e records in the Bureau of Mines, immediately upon our entrance had been carefully gone over and t h a t not more t h a n into the war. Financed during t h e early months solely fourteen or fifteen remained. A return visit t o Secrefrom the funds of t h a t Bureau, its resources have now t a r y Parsons’ office confirmed t h e three hundred idea, been greatly increased by large appropriations from the gained originally from t h e careful records which t h e War and Navy Departments. I n spite of t h e necessity Secretary has kept since t h e census of sixteen thousand of constant expansion there was evidenced no slightest chemists was compiled. Get together Messrs. Major sacrifice of t h e painstaking accuracy of the most careful and Secretary and compare notes. Perhaps it would simplify matters if t h e Major would adopt t h e method research. The field demonstrations constituted a n eye-opener of t h e chemist and refilter the solution
