D e c e m b e r ’ s HEADLINES... Events of Interest to Chemists, Chemical Engineers, and EXeCutiVeSNNReviewed6 y the Editors 7 DECEMBER 1. Political and Security Committee, UN General Assembly, turns veto dispute over to 14-nation subcommittee. --International cartels are going concerns in eight major industrial fields, Twentieth Century Fund reports in new research survey.--Civilian Production Administration says streptomycin suppliers will be allowed to distribute it through normal trade outlets for first time this month. “International rubber group estimates 1946 world rubber production, both synthetic and natural, will be 100,000 tons greater than needs. --Government sells Tacoma, Wash., aluminum plant to Permanete Metals Corp.
7 DECEMBER 2. Today marks 4th anniversary of birth of atomic age, for on Dec. 2, 1942, underneath the stands of Stagg Field, University of Chicago campus, man succeeded in operating an atomic furnace.N-Senator Tom Connally tells UN that U. S. wants all weapons brought under arms control, including atomic bomb and other weapons for mass destruction. 7 DECEMBER 3. Wm. R. Boyd, Jr., president American Petroleum Institute, announces formation of committee of top-flight oil men to correct misunderstanding concerning industry and superM. Rugg, vise financing of new public relations program.--Dan vice president and general manager of chemical division, says Koppers Co. plans to build polystyrene plant a t Kobuta, Pa., with annual capacity of 15 million pounds’.
7 DECEMBER 4. Secretary of War Patterson names five generals to study Army’s part in protecting civilian population.--CPA says it will give priorities for paper plant expansion. 7 DECEMBER 5. Bernard M. Baruch appeals to Soviet Union to join with other members of UN Atomic Energy Commission in approving U. S. plans for international atomic control. 7 DECEMBER 6. R. R. Williams, designated to receive Perkin Medal of Society of Chemical Industry for 19462, announces process to enrich rice with vitamin B1, niacin, and iron to combat beri beri, pellagra, and nutritional anemia.
7 DECEMBER 12. A political and security subcommittee of the UN General Assembly reaches unanimous agreement on resolution paving way for world-wide ban on atomic bombs. W-President Truman appoints nine scientists and engineers to advise Atomic Energy Commission. Committee includes J. B. Conant, president Harvard University, Lee A. DuBridge, president California Institute of Technology, ‘Enrico Fermi and I. I. Rabi, Nobel prize winners in physics, J. R. Oppenheimer, University of California, Hartley Rowe, United Fruit Co., Glenn T. Seaborg, University of California, Cyril S. Smith, director Institute of Metals, University of Chicago, Hood Worthington, chemical engineer Du Pant.-NMonsanto Chemical says it expects to meet all normal requirements for saccharin on current basis during early 1947.--War Assets Administration says it will sell almost 2,000,000 gallons of surplus xylidine on competitor bid basis. N N James G. Chesnutt, San Francisco Call Bulletin, gets award from AAAS as author of best newspaper science story.--Office of Rubber Reserve, Reconstruction Finance Corp., says production of synthetic rubber reached an annual rate of more than 1,000,000 long tons before war’s end cutbacks. 7 DECEMBER13. Vannevar Bush, president Carnegie Institution of Washington, in report to trustees says federal support of expanding scientific work is essential but presents many dangers,
l/ DECEMBER 7. Richard M. Gummere, chairman committee on admissions, Harvard, says from 1950 on Harvard College will not Eisenhower denies graduate bachelors of science.“General U. S. has sent atomic bombs overseas.--Du Pont breaks ground for $20,000,000 nylon yarn plant at Chattanooga, Tenn.
7 DECEMBER 14. The 54 members of UN adopt world disarmament resolution which may lead to world-wide reduction of armed forces and instruments of war and to the abolition of atomic bomb.--Navy Department says atom-smashing rays will be tracked this month in flying laboratories 40,000 feet above the Mojave Desert.--Frank D. Fackenthal, acting president of Columbia University, says one of largest cyclotrons planned for peacetime nuclear research will be built a t university as part of research center to be established in cooperation with Office of Naval Research.
7 DECEMBER 8. City-wide School Science Fair opens in Madison Square Garden, New York City.--0. E. Sieder, chairman advisory board on Utilization of Surplus Industrial Facilities of Office of Engineers, War Department, wants U. S. to keep chemical plants since sale as surplus would bring little return. 7 DECEMBER9. Surgeon General’s Office warns Army experience shows streptomycin is not “sure shot” medicine.--Rohm and Haas announce purchase of 500 acres on Houston Ship Channel, Deer Park, Tex., for new chemical plant3.“Trial opens in Nuremberg, Germany, for 23 German doctors, scientists, and medical administrators for “science crimes”.
7 DECEMBER 15. George M. Tisdale, vice president U. S. Rubber, upon his return from Europe says there will be a world shortage of natural rubber in 1947. 7 DECEMBER 17. Russia blocks immediate UN vote of U. S. atomic energy plan. ,
ll DECEMBER10. Hydrocarbon Research, Inc., wins War Department’s atomic energy project contract for Brookhaven National Laboratory at Patchogue, L. I. 1
7 DECEMBER 11. Atomic Energy Commission announces it will assume formal control of Army’s atomic energy project about Jan. 1, 1947.--Ralph K. Davies, Petroleum Administrator for War, urges aggressive exploration for new sources of petroleum in domestic regions and increased imports to conserve reserves.-Heyden Chemical officials announce ‘construction of $450,000 plant addition at Fords, N. J., for production of organic chemicals4.--Du Pont reports it is ready to market trioxane, a polymer of formaldehyde, useful as a fuel, solvent, plasticizer, and intermediate in organic reaction processes.--Victor C. Meyers, Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, reports to ACS that shortage of chemists in hospital laboratories is serious threat to public health.--Eastman Kodak makes first shipment of carbon 13, rare new isotope and product of atomic research, to Memorial Hospital, New York6.
7 DECEMBER18. Government declares its $43,000,000 synthetic rubber plant a t Louisville, Ky., operated during the war by
Chem. Eng. N e w s , 24, 3360 (Dee. 25, 1946). (Dec. 10. 1946). I b i d . , 3362 (Dec. 20, 1946).
* Ibid , 3216
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I b i d . 3368 (Dec 25 1946). I b i d . : 3367 (Dec: 25: 1946).
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INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
Du Font, as surplus.N-Johna Hopkins scientists discover that a strip of columbian, smaller than a common pin, treated with nitride to make it superconductive, is a radio receiver through which broadcast waves may be picked up without tubes, electric Tech announces current, antenna, or condensers. --Carnegie plans to build 200,000,000-volt synchrocyclotron mithin next two years. “Carbide and Carbon Chemicals announces construction mill start soon on addition to its Texas City plant as part of its $15,000,000general expansion program.
fl ~)ECEMBER 19. ACS announces election of Charles A. Thomas, vice president and technical director Monsanto Chemical Co. of st. Louis and project director of Monsanto-operated Clinton Laboratories at Oak Ridge, Tenn., as President-Elect of the ACS for 19486.~-U. S. and Canada divide sharply on immediate vote on U. S. plan for International Atomic Energy Control. Charles Pfizer & Co. buys government-owned shipyard at Groton, Conn.N-Supp1ies of most insecticides will remain short through 1947, Lee S. Hitchner, executive secretary Agricultural L. Collyer, Insecticide and Fungicide Association, says.“John B. F. Goodrich president, gets War Department Medal for Merit, for exceptional wartime service.--Aluminum Co. of America proposes t o build two all-aluminum ships. 7 DECEMBER20. Xanufacturing Chemists Association files brief on behalf of chemical industry that the time is not ripe for changcs in tariff rules or classifications of chemicals or chemical prochcts originating from 18 specified countries. --NUN approves U. S. atomic energy plan 10 to 0 with Soviet delegate Gromyko ITithdrawing from discussions and Poland abstaining from voting, and a t suggestion of Canada refers to working committee Baruch’s demand for immediate approval of U. S. plan for interof Temporary Controls national atomic energy control.--Mce ordeis decontrol of lead. --Atomic Energy Committee of New England Council reports atomic piles could operate within five years to produce electric power. --Cabinet council appropriates $1,500,000 to build factory in Rome for production of penicillin. --Carbon and Carbide Chemicals announces it will soon start building new plant units for manufacture of vinylite plastics a t its Texas City plant. 7 DECEMBER 22. Monsanto announces ;183,OOO,OOO plant now under construction in Monsanto, Ill., wiII be in operation in 1947, to expand production of synthetic detergents.--Scientists of General Foods Corp. and Radio Corp. of America announce use of electronic “super eye’’ in research program to improve taste, texture, and appearance of many familiar food products. ‘,i DLCEYBER 23. Office of Temporary Controls frees penicillin from distribution controls. m-Dow Chemical buys surplus portions of Dow Velasco plants at Velasco, Texas, WAA announces and offers for sale two surplus butadiene plants built during war to supply raw material for synthetic rubber.N-Canadian delegation on UN Atomic Energy Commission believes U. S.resolution on establishment of international atomic control should be almost entirely rewritten.
7 I~ECEMBER 24. Office of Temporary Controls announces it my11 soon free lead for use in chemicals and in the ethyl fluid used
in blending high-octane gasoline.
‘1 DECEMBER 25. Office of International Trade announces termination of all export restrictions on penicillin.
7 DEcmfBER26. Without dissent Atomic Energy Commission’s Committee 2 adopts comprehensive draft report on international atomic controls.--Carborundum Co., Niagara Falls, officials disclose plan for expansion to meet growing demand of buyers market. “Standard Oil (Tu’. J.) and Socony-Vacuum Oil announce preliminary agreement has been reached whereby each will purchase a substantial volume of crude oil from Anglo 8
Chem Eng S e w s , 24, 3306 (Dec. 25, 1946).
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Iranian Oil Co. over next 10 to 20 years.--National Association of Manufacturers urges strike moratorium so industry can gain peak production.
u.
7 DECERLBER 27. Baruch warns S.will not take part III any atomic control plan unless it contains specific iron-clad guarantees that veto could not be used to protect violators.---WAA renews call for bids for purchase of big and little inch pipelines.-Ciba Pharmaceutical Products, Inc., Summit, N. J., a t meeting of American Association for Advancement of Science in Boston, exhibits new drug which it claims Fill bring relief to 85 to 95V0 of hay fever victims.--CPh drops lead use curbs.
7 DECEMBER 28. Senator Vandenberg tells Baruch Senate will not ratify any international system of atomic energy control that leaves loopholes for violators to escape punishment. DECEMBER 29. WT’hA offers prepared and packaged photo graphic chemicals for sale as surplus.--Goodyear Tire and Rubber announces $1,850,000 modernization and expansion program for its Jackson, Mich., plant, which will complete a reconversion plan to increase tire and tube production 28y0 over prewar level. “First sizable chemical shipment from Germany since prewar days, 7334 bags of urea, arrives in U.S.--Vannevar Bush, president Carnegie Institution of Washington and director Office of Scientific Research and Development, is iiamed t o receive Hoover Medal, outstanding honor in engineering field, as a mark of distinguished public service.--Secret;ary of Commerce Harriman and Sir Stafford Cripps, president Great Britain’s board of trade, in joint statement announce U. P.Britain agree to exchange of German technical information acquired by both nations since V-E Day.--P. G. Agnew, vice president and secretaiy American Standards Association, says C.S. is first country to ratify pact setting up 25-nation internationai organization for standardization.
fl DECEMBER30.
With Soviet Union and Poland abstaining
UN Atomic Energy Commission approves plan for international atomic control conforming exactly with original proposals presented by Baruch at Commission’s opening session June 14. “President Truman names Carroll Louis Wilson, right-hand man of Vannevar Bush in development of scientific weapons during the war and consultant to C. S. Atomic Energy Commission since its appointment in October, as Commission’s general manager..u-In nationwide poll of chemists and chemical engineers conducted by ACS, Glenn T. Seaborg, University of California, and codiscoverer of plutonium, is chosen chemist of the year.” John L. Collyer, president B. F. Goodrich Co., says America’s rubber industry operated a t a record high in 1946, when consumption topped 1,000,000tons with about 7.370 American-made. --Lianufacturing Chemists Association opposes reduction of tariffs on chemical imports before removal of wwtime barriers. “Manson Benedict, director of development for hydrocarbon research, Inc., and design supervisor for $500,000,000 gaseous diffusion plant at Oak Ridge, Tenn., at dinner in connection with 13th annual chemical engineering symposium sponsored by ACS Division of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, reveals new class of plastics, solvents, and lubricants with immediate applications have been made available through research in preparation of uranium for atomic bomb.
fl DECEMBER31. U. S. proposes UN Security Council give first priority to U. S. plan for international atomic controlapproved unanimously yesterday by Atomic Energy Commission. “President Truman signs executive order transferring, Army’s so-called Manhattan District from the War Department to the recently appointed U. S. Atomic Energy Commission, headed by David E. LilienthaLwNState Department announces that rubber purchasing agreements with Ecuador, Haiti, and Bolivia expire today.
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