1060
I N D U S T K I A I, A N I)
E N G I N 1:' E H I N (;
c 1-1 E NI r s T R
Y
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25,
No. 9
t'e ter Spence (21diris t HE chemical engineering profession knows him :is the Big
It was the southenr states that he wiuhed to reach, so he de1,ittle Chief. Small of stature, Peter Spence Gilchrist clined to remain identified with the New York organization. must be measured by the hreadthof hisaccomplishments. He opened an office in Baltimore, hut later selected Charlotte, His associates often marvel a t the unlimited energy he possesses. N. C., as the potential center of sulfuric manufacture for the lir his avid desire for results he will drive his colleagues to ex- southmstcm &ates. His faiith in the prospects of this industry haustion, while apparently he remains immune to fatigue. His m d tho South ylere justified. Re designed at least fift,y plants hair is white and his complexion a ruddy pink, an irievititble clue that pmdueed in wecvs of 2400 tons of 80" Bo. acid n day. to his English birth. To guess his age, you These were mostly built to utilise the pyrites might sugggcst fifty-five, or mayhe sixty, but. burner of his inther. In the course of his innever seventy-two! We w a s h o r n i n Manthnsivc service in this field, he forwarded ideas chester, England, in 1861, of Scotch parentage. thst have now hocomc stnridsrd wherever SUIHis father was an engineer, so this son early furic wid plants are built. FertiliEer plants imbibed the desire also to be an engineer. I l i a naturally fell to his lot, arid hc designed a desiie was mi eager om, a relentletis one. €10 large percentnge of these. 1Ie was one of the WBS not strong in childhood, but this handipiunccrs of the phosphate plants in the South, cap seemed to strengthen his d>ility to asand mme of t,he great phosphate mining Iilarrts similate his lessons. Manchester educated him, in Florida were crented under his direction. and he arose to the heights that, d l young engiHis field was not in the South alone; soon liiv neers of England dream about. He competed .services were in demand throughout the entire for the Queen's Medal and Award, t.lien greatly United States and abroad. coveted and only made possible by the dint of In 1914 the Chemical Construcbion Cumyany Severe application and real ingenuit,y. Quoen wxs founded by Gilchriat, 1. Hechenbleikncr. Victoria p r e s e n t e d this medal through the T. C. Oliver, and A. M. Wehh, Gilchrist heEnelish Government. and it marked a momcnt coniine " .. nre?ident. The work of this comnanv that was forever to he an inspiration. P E T E R SPENCE GlLCHXlST in heavy acids is well known. While he has Like so many Ihglishmcn, he cast his eyes to had i n n u m e r a b l e opportunities to become far horimns, and in 1880 he came to America to install the first ' -affiliated with other organizations, he has ohosen to concentrate hi8 mechanical pyritesfurnace in this country. He was tweiity years endr:waru in thiscompany. oldat the timeandlooked even younger. While hepossessed areal Simply to give this chronological account of the man's proconfidence in his own nhilit,y, there was a lurking fear that on fessional c ~ r e e is r to leave most unsaid. He has hoen a pioneer of account of his youthful appearance he would not be able to t,he boldest type; his construobive ideas have blazed m m y a path command the respect of his clients. A red mustache w&9reared where industries have followed. This long trail is marked with for the occasion for dignity's sake, but i t failed mi.8ernbly to iillay t,est,imoniriJsof its creator. To know Gilchrist, one almost overits owiier's extremc youth. Since this lad IVLW installing the looks those professional aecornplishment,~,for they me i i a n r f d in furnace that was invented by his father, it WBS something really comparison with the things of life that r d l y mattor. Nere is B personat. This first unit was built in Richmond, Va. Here, he man who ha8 brushed aside the thought of pcrsonal gain. He firat viewed the South and mentally rcsulved that mme day he truly lives for others. He has endeared himself to all who know would return. him for his unselfishness. He lives simply content to gain his On returning to Eiigl:land, he was retained by Maysworth and plezasures among his family. In his work he has made many Wilson to erect pyrites burners in the company's plants through- friends. They respect him and love him, for always he places out England. While installing one of these units a t the North Christian principles above the desire for gain. Hiscommunity Dean plant,, the manager died and Gilchrist was appointed in knows him 9s a philenthropist who gives without ostentation. his place. Were he perfected and put into commercial use the When a movement begins that is constructive and goyd, Gilchrist first sulfuric acid plant in the world to produce acid from spent is often a p a r t of it. A Scotch Presbyterian, he has worked long oxide. In 18% he W R E mide manager of the Peter Spence Alum and untiringly for his church. He has been a ruling elder for Works a t Goale. Hero he niet the girl who was later to become almost twenty years; he is on the Board of the Preshyteritln his wife. Mr. Gilchrist remained in Goale until 1889. At. this Foundation, of the TJnited Welfare Association, arid of Quoens period he agnirr turned longing eyes to the west. The inemcry Chicora College for Women. of that visit to the States now amounted to nostalgia. At home Where other men make golf, hunting, or fishing t.heir hobbies, there WIYS a settled position and apparent safety forever. Over Gilchrist hRs the Y. M. C. A. He is president of the local Y. M. the At,lantic lay adventure and promise. That same year he C. A. and has been on the board of directors for twenty years. came again to America and was a t once appointed in charge of a His name appears on innumerable committees throughout the large fertilizer plant on Long Islnnd. South in this work. A.M. WEBB
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Increased Corisurnpt.ion Improves World Synthetic Nitrogen Outlook The belief that the world synthetic nitiogcii indiistry pniised its low point in 1930-31 is supported by the rising t,rend in world consumption of synthetic nitroKen, wlrich for the first time in
year will record again of from 5 t o 10 per cent above the 325,000 tons (N) for 1931-32. The ohanaed trend in world consiimpt,ion is emouraging in
fi&xes are not Get availnbie io; the 1932-33 fertilizer year, hut it is evident that synthetic oonsurnpt,ion is recording B still frirtlrer increase above 1931-32 levels. In Germany, principal world consumer, indicnfioni are t,hnt mrrsumption for the current
duct,ion facilities continues to weigh'heady up& the world industry, eontrihutingto increasing unit production costs and exerting a steady pressure on countries for measures t,o further their own iintional industries.
