November 1952
INDUSTRIAL A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
ADAPTABILITY OF WORKERS lable labor reserves in New England, chiefly workers now unemployed, would be qualified for employment in many branches of the chemical industry. It has been the experience in recent years that New England workers displaced by one industry have been readily adaptable to employment in other industries. Many New England towns which were formerly dependent solely upon the textile industry now have a thriving divernified industry, employing workers who formerly were in the textile mills. The Committee of New England sponsored by the National Planning kssociation, which is currently studying the New England economy, is making an analysis of the transferability of displaced workers. While the reaults of their study are not yet available, it is known from experience that these workers are d i l y absorbed in other industries. To quote just one instance, a textile mill recently closed in a small Connecticut town. The Conneeticut State Employment Service there was able to place the textile workers in many industries where they had no experience. A number of women were found adaptable for clerical jobs in insurance companiee. Industries which traditionally employ relatively large proportions of women have always been concentrated in New England. In some of the larger employment centers, more than half of the total work force are women. Today B large proportion of the unemployed workera are women. Even in some of the labor ahortage areas in Connecticut, there is still a reserve of unemployed women which could be drawn upon. There is also an adequate supply of construction workers. Today, unemployment of construction workers is running as high ~ l l Z in 0 some ~ ~ a m . So far as is known,no construction projects have been seriously delayed by labor shortages. A number of plastics manufactum have been able to solve their labor supply problem by moving into New England communities with an abundance of labor supply. In’several instances tbis available labor influenced the decisions of the employera to select these locations. Many leading businesemen refuse to believe that New England bas loat ita punch as a leader in Americnn industry. At a recent meeting in Boston on industrial development a prominent and successful manufacturer declared that New England’s ailments are more paychological than economic.
2535
Resources
Because New England industry is older, it ueed fall apart while o t h e r sections of t h e country are forging ahead. 80 far as the textile industry is concerned, history ia repeating itaelf. Twenty-five years ago, the giant cotton textile industry in New England w a s running down like N a badly oiled piece of machinery. Mill after mill during thia period of industrial decline WKBB either closing down or transferring its operations to the South. However, the region weathered the storm. The great woolen and worsted industry retained its leadmg position, and other types of indus@ies, largely the more stable metal-working trades and electrical trades, gradually tmk up some of the slack of unemployment and began to establia themselves as the mainstay of the economy. New England is not a great raw materials m a nor will it ever be the center of huge electrochemical industries such as are now being developed in the Southwest and the West. However, it ia well adapted to processing and mechanical activities which do not have to be located close to source8 of bulk raw materials. Industries which typically have a high “value added in manufacture” characteristic generally do well in New England. Manufacturers locating here are not plagued by the overcrowded conditions found in areas experiencing a tremendous population growth overnight. Community facilities are generally adequate. New England needs new and divernil3 industries, and the chemical and chemical proceasing activities can 6nd many opportunities here, considering not only the available manpower but also the other facilities required by the induatry.
LITERILTURE CITED (1) Bureau of L s b r Statistics. U. 8. Department of Lnbor, and
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, cemm of manufacturea dsts adjueted to 1939. (a, -, Nm, ,.who.s who in the c6emioslworld,”swial bulletin, 1962. (3) U. 8. Department of Commerce. “Regional Trenda in the United Btates Eaonomy.” 1951. Bmcnvlir, for review Maroh 81. 1062.
Accznmo Augvllt 14,1052.
Educational and Research Resources CHESTER M. ALTER QMDUATE SCHOOL, BOSTON UNNKRSlTf. BOSTON. MASS.
T . HE word
“mourcw” suggests h t such natural mourcea
mmerals, water, fuel, soil, timber, and other natural el* menta with which the earth ia endowed. On further d e c t i o n , 88
mandeveloped resources such KBB power, transportation, finance, and production facilities come to mind. Human rmurces, often r e f d to as manpower, must also be conaidered in a IP view of the available r e s o m of B region or a community. These m o m have finite, measurable qualities, and hmce it ia relatively eaey to compare regiom with mpeot to requhementa in such factors. If it ia desirable to locate a plant in cloae proximity to an adequate supply of cold, fresh water, it is not a dit?icult problem to evaluate the relative merita of the Great Lakes region --ne t.he hot, arid arean of the Southwest.
The purpose of thia paper ia to pment certain facta about other resources of New England-namely, the educational and research rmurces of the region. By their nature, it is far more difficult to objectively evaluate factors that are so much involved in the intangible which we call the cultural environment of a region. This lack of ability to measure the relative merits of regions with respect to their cultural qualities does not, however, detract from their recognized importance. Perhaps in no industry is there greater recognition of the value of these intangible cultural qualitiee than in the chemical industry, together with its sister industries which are largely built on science and technology. Technically trained p p l e like to live and work where there t y p e s of
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2536
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
N e w England presents to t h a t segment of industry which is based on science a n d technology a n environment of trained initiative a n d enterprise. I t s institutions, holding over 20% of t h e nation’s total educational endowment funds, are considered a prime asset, particularly to a n industry so dependent o n technological personnel as is t h e chemical industry. T h e diversity of industry in New England, t h e growth of institutional research groups a n d a stimulating cultural environment contribute to a n atmosphere of scientific industrial personnel, a factor of growing importance i n t h e determination of t h e location of a plant or laboratory.
Vol. 44, No. 11
nation, the plants and endowment of the colleges and universities represent a book value of well over a billion dollars. I t is iiitcresting t.o consider the fact that all types of New England educational instit’utions attract st’udents from outside the region. In 1950, seventeen of the 4-year colleges, six of t,hejunior college., eight of the professional schools, and thirty-seven of the private schools drew over 50% of their students from outside Sew England. I t has been edmated that these institutions brought in over 50,000 students in the academic year 1949-50 from other sections and from abroad and t,hat this group of st,udents alone spent over $85,000,000 for board, room, tuition, and for personal expenses during that year. The total enrollment in the Keir England private schools, 0 colleges, and universities for 1949-50 was in excess of 200,000 students. The payroll of these institutions for that year was are other technically trained people. Such people want for over $110,000,000 and n-ent to nearly 50,000 employees. Other their children the opportunities afforded by good school systems expenditures of these indtutions n-ere over $100,000,000. These . on elementary, secondary, and college levels. They appreciate t,otals, which are minima, represent a vast amount of money the existence of other cultural facilities such as museums, conpoured into economic systems of a region. As Wells has pointed cert halls, lecture platforms, a wide variety of recreational faciliout ( I ) , “It would be difficult to find any other activity m-hich ties, in all seasons, both indoors and out of doors. Perhaps generates so much income in itself, Tyhich helps so many people nothing inspires research more than does the nearby presence of t o improve t,heir 0m-n economic welfare, and in which the officers, other research and researchers. In spite of our excellent technidirectors, and staff employees retain so little for themselves.” cal publications which carry the results of research, social and proThese figures are certainly impressive from an economic point fessional meetings with others working in the same or related of view but there is another type of contribution TT-hich t’hese sciences contribute much t o the inspiration of research personnel. NeTy England institutions are making to the total economy and of More and more industrial and business organization? are paying interest to industrial management. In addition to the 50,000 attention to cultural environment XT-hen choosing the location students from outside SeTr England and the more than 150,000 of a plant or research laborat,ory. This is a factor IThich must from within the region who are being educated each year by t,hese not be lost sight of in institutions, thousands of evaluating all the resources young people and adults iir which any region can offer. the many urban centers Modern management rechave the opportunity of ognizes that “point of attending the late afterview” is an important innoon, evening, and extengredient in successful indussion classes, thus increasing trial operation. Scientific their knowledge and impoint of view, that modern proving their status. More v e r s i o n of Y a n k e e i n than one national organizagenuity, in the individual tion >\it11 a Sew England or in the organization, deplant or branch has found pends in no small degree on that it is easy t o transfer an employee t o this location the environment of the region. New England, rich because of the part-time educational opportunities in colleges and universities, he will find here. The active in diverse research existence of such facilities interests in institutional, in many parts of Kew consulting, and industrial England has undoubtedly laboratories, and favored by contributed substantially extraordinary recreational to the profitable operation facilities is a region where of many industrial enterscientists and engineers can prises, enjoy their work and their Colleges and Universities living. The diversity of inmust be looked upon as a dustry in New England is a source of labor s u p p l y . factor rrhich contributes This may be considered a t also to an atmosphere of t x o levels. Each instituscientific inquiry which is tion serves as a source of Stone Science Building a t Boston University both psychologically stimupart-time employees who lating and convenient to can perform many types technical uersonnel. This of services, in some cases in highly specialized types of Bhortfactor alone has been responsible for several large research term jobs n-here the normal labor supply would be inadequate laboratories being located in Nem- England in recent years. or unqualified. Many of these part-time employees have In a recent study prepared for the Kern England Council the gained experience and skill to such a degree that they have beBureau of Business Research of Boston university ( 1 ) published come highly sought as full-time employees after graduation an analysis of the economic importance of S e w England educaand because of their education and training have risen rapidly tional institutions. Thie analysis shows that higher education in their organization. This pool of highly diversified personnel is one of the really large enterprises of Xew England. Worlring being educated in the Yew England colleges and universities year in and year out for the benefit of the region as well as the
+
Norember 1952
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
csnnot be overlooked as an important factor in the cousideratiou of New England as a potential Site for the expamion of the chemical industry. It ia a commou experience for young men coming to a New England college or university from another regiou finding themaelves, on graduation, preferring to remain in New England. In view of the high percentage of in-migration to our New England inatitutiona of higher learning, this factor is more important that in aome other S ~ C ~ ~ O U SFor . instance in 194960 there were 42,218 students from outside of New England registerea in New England colleges and universities, hut fewer than 30,000 students from New England regiatered in o u h f New England collegiate inatitutiona, a net gaiu of over 12,000. Only one state in the Union haa a larger excess of in-migration over ou&migratiou of college atudents than haa Maswhusetts. For fear that them 6gures might be interpreted as indicating that the educational institutions are for the hen& of the New England region alone, it should be emphasized that many of ihwe institutions are considered national in scope. Thia is true at the underpduate level, hut perhaps even more so at the graduate and professional level. These institutions continue to attract large gifts for operation and endowments from residents of other states. These gifts indicate that these institutions are Considered by men of wealth, by industries, and by foundations w being dedicated to the end that all of society will benefit from such w k use of their funds. Another lpsoulc~of New England that ia nation-wide in its inauence is the high coucentration of research personnel and facilities. Although the benefits from theae active research centera are spread all over the nation, it ia obvious that their presence has potentially greatest cultural and environmental inhence on the region itself. T h e National Research Council ( 8 ) liats a total of 2845 industrial (including cousulting) laboratories in the United States. Of them 377 or 13.2% of the total are in the six New England States. New England has about 6.20/, of the national population,a b u t 10% of the total employed in manufacture, and about 8.470 of the t o h l manufacturing establishments. The National Research Council also lists 29 colleges and universities in New England, as compared with 282 in the United States as a whole, which have indicated that they will accept or coneider research projects sponsored by industry or government in accord with inatitutional policies and available facilities. One of these institutions is at the present time apending at the rate of well ovw $1,000,000 per month on spnaored research. The region ia fortunate in having a wide variety of consulting 6rrm h g not only New England hut also having clients in all parts of the United States as well as abroad. The preaence of these consulting lalmratoriea, together with institutions supporting many hundreds of scientists and engineers, provides
2537
for industry a tremendous pool of technical know-how-~ow and exmrience in a very wide variety of fielda. Although New England ia geographically on the periphery of the nation, because of the wide diversity of industrial operations here and the existence of so many NE outetanding educational and r e search inatitutiona, it can be said that this region ia truly on the “main line” as far 88 the travels of the nation’s leading technical personnel is concerned. This viaiting for buainess and profeadona1 purpoees has been of great benefit to scores of industrial concerns located in the region. With the number of scientiata living in t h i s region, it ia not swprking that there should be active scientific and professional oraanizatious at work. The American Academy of Arts and %&mea, the second oldest scholarly academyin the Unitedstates, recently compiled a list of 156 auch organhationa meeting regularly within 50 miles of Boston. Theae societies contribute greatly to the cultural and scientific environment and constitute one of New England’s fine resourn. In a similar manner there are a hoat of unorganized but highly efiective groups meeting regularly for the mutual benefit of the participants. For instance, the Research Directors Club of Boston bae been the sorewce of great help to its members in the field of management of research during recent years. There are well over 200 libraries in the region, most of which are open to representatives of businem and industrial personnel for reference work. Many of these are outstanding in the technical and acieutilic fields and are widely used by the scientists working in the region. At least one industrial research laboratory waarecently located primarily because the Site was near a highly specialized technical library. In couclusiou, New England presents to that segmeut of industry which is based on science and teohnology an environment of trained initiative and euterpriae. These factore, combined with the other resources which the region offers, point to the possibility of still greater growth in those industries which depend in large degree on the continuing contributions of science and technology.
Resaurces
GLAND
L I T E R A T W ~CITED (1) Boston University, Boston, Maea., Bureau of Buainaaa Research
Re~t.”Emnomio Value of Educationsl Institutions to New En-&nd,” 1961. (2) National Reaesmh Council, Waebgton, D.C., “Induetrial ResSemh e m h Laboratories Lahoratorieaof the United States.” Stam,” 1960. RZCElsmD
for review M m h 31, 1862.
ACCEPTZD 8eptember 10, 1852.
* * * * * The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston recently made public the results of a survey of new developments for the industrial growth of New England which was conducted for the bank by Arthur D. Little, Inc., of Cambridge, Maw. More than 200 scientific and tecbnid people took part in the Btudy in which New England was treated as an industrial 6rm looking for new pmducts to broaden its line. Among its recommendations for new developments, the report inchzdesr Atomic Energy: It is mmmendcd that at least one team of New England industrial and utility mmpanien study developmentofatomic power now LY) that results of this work may be rapidly applied to New England. If industrialatomic power is developed to a point whereitcanproduceelectrioityat rates below those ofcommeroial plants, New England probably will he de&ed more than some central higher cost of electricity. and western areas in the country becauseof its p-ut Titanium: If p-nt technical work on the Kmll profor reduction of titanium is s u d u l , the possibility of New England as the location for a reduction plant would appear feasible. The Kroll process involves a combination of chemicals and titanium at high temperatures. New England is strategidy located with respect to one of the more prominent and growing soof titanium materiale, the deposits at S o d , Quebec. Titanium metal has a possible application potential equal to that of stainless stal, and its corrosion resistance is outstanding.
