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by government decrease and a further cut of 0.3 per cent was enforced on October 1, 1932. No further wage reductions t ROGRESS made by Japan's chemical in note have been made since, however. Despite a marked increase in chemical dustry in recent years is clearly re manufacturing activity, the average work flected in the country's foreign trade in ing week in 1934 was approximately one chemical products. Formerly a large hour shorter than the average for 1932, importer of chemicals, t he total reaching or 41.25 compared with 42.4S hours, the value of S 128,000,000 in 1920, Japan today not only manufactures the large owing to the employment of a greatly increased number of workers. Gross hulk of its domestic chemical requirements, hut has developed a considerable expo»t wages in different branches of the industry ranged as follows: fertilizer, from 31.85 to trade in such products. Japan's chemical exports during the 45.18 marks per week; dyestulYs, 21.S2 to 43.89; medicinal products, 21.7b to first seven months of the current year reached the value of S 10,180,000, an in 40.50; and in other branches of the chemi crease of 11 per cent over the correspond cal industry from 20.94 to 50.2b marks. ing period of 1934, ami 24 per cent more than the whole of 1932. While nearby countries continue to be Japan's best chemical customers, in 1934 shipments Southern Planl of Palestine valued at 8500,000 were consigned to Potash, Ltd. South America, S 150,000 to Central America, and over $200,000 to Africa. τ Is understood that the construction Japan's chemical imports have also been of the southern plant of Palestine heavier during the current year. The Potash, Ltd., will be completed in the total for the first seven months reached near future. Two pumps are now func the value of 824,916,300, an increase of 20 tioning. They are powered by 175 horse per cent over the same period of 1934. power Diesel engines and are pumping While Japan imports a wide line of chemi water over a canal 0 kilometers long into cals and allied products, the hulk consists 4 évaporât ion pools of 73 acres each. It is of carbon black and other pigments, dyes, estimated that when the plant is comnatural soda ash, borax, and phosphate pleted total production will be in the rock —items not produced in Japan, or neighborhood of 1O0.O00 tons of salts annot available in sufficient quantities for nually. The completed plant at the domestic needs. Japan imports numerous south end of the Dead .Sea will consist of chemical products from the United States, 12 eva porat ion pools, (» pumps, and necesincluding heavy chemicals, dyes and other sary incidental equipment. coal-tar products, paint products, medicinals ami toilet preparations, and ferti lizers. Kxports to the United States con sist largely of py rot h rum flowers, camphor, Giordani-Pomilio Electrolvtic menthol crystals, and matches. Cells Japan's Chemical Industry Growing Fast
P
Τ
Study of Organic Plastics HE National Bureau of Standards, T W a s h i n g t o n , D. C , announces the formation of a new section to carry on
research on organic plastics. The rapid growth of this industry during the past decade, and the increasing use of organic plastic materials by t h e various govern ment departments, coupled with a growing volume of requests for information con cerning these products, made it imperative that a survey of their sources, properties, and uses be made.
GORDON M. KLINE,
the chief of the new section, has been a member of the bureau staff for six j'ears, for five of which he has been engaged in research work on organic plastics. German Chemical Workers' Earnings Continue Downward ESPITE a notable rise in the cost of D living in Germany, earnings of chemical workers have continued down
ward during the past several years owing to wage cuts and shorter working weeks, according to a report to the Commerce Department's Chemical Division. The last official inquiry was conducted in June, 1934, but as no noteworthy changes have occurred since, data obtained at that time can he accepted as accurately reflecting current conditions. An average of 34.71 marks per week was being paid to all workers in the industry, from which 4.49 marks were deducted for taxes and social insurance, leaving an average net wage of 30.22 marks, or about $12 per week available for spending to each worker in the entire German chemical industry. Effective January 1, 1932, wage rates were lowered 14.5 per cent
HROCHUHB printed on paper manu\ factured from straw pulp obtained by the Pomilio chlorine gas process has been issued, describing electrolytic cells according to the Giordani-Pomilio patents for alkali and chlorine production. The text, which is illustrated, gives general data relative to these cells with further information available by addressing Sindacato Eiettrolizzatori Giordani-Pomilio, Casella Postale 637, Naples, Italy. 4 S. T. M. Standards on Preservative j r Y . Coatings for Structural Materials (Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, and Paint Materials). Specifications, Methods of Testing, and Definitions. Committee D-l on Preservative Coatings for Structural Materials. 387 pages. Published by American Society for Testing Materials, 260 South Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa., September, 1935. Price, S 1.75, with special prices offered where orders comprise ten or more copies. THIS second edition on protective coatings (other than metallic coatings) brings together in convenient form all of the 101 specifications, test methods, and definitions which have been developed through the work of this committee. Since the first edition in 1933, many new standards and extensive revisions in existing specifications have been adopted. The 1935 publication gives all items in their latest approved form. Of the standards, 46 cuver various types of pigments; 14 apply to oils and thinners; 14 provide requirements for varnish and varnish materials; 20 pertain to lacquer anil lacquer materials; and 10 cover miscellaneous materials and subjects. New standards included titanium barium and titanium calcium pigments, titanium dioxide, zinc sulfide, high zinc sulfide
16
lithopiitie. blue lead basic sulfate, atnyl acetate, and several new methods of test, including «me for comparative hiding power of white pigments and a procedure for testing oleoresin«»us varnishes. Since the first edition, revisions have been made in a number of the standards including those for dry bleached shellac, shellac varnish, petroleum spirit >. basic carbonate white lead, and test methods involving tinting strength of white pigments, mass color, and tinting strength of dry color pigments or paster», testing nitrocellulose lacquers, and lacquer enamels.
Financial News AMKKIC.W
A o i t h TLTl'KAL·
ClfKMh \L
Co. has placed its Mock on a S3 basis with a quarterly declaration of 75 cents. AMBKHWN* CY.WAMID Co. has increased
its dividend to 15 cents on class A and H common stocks, compared with 10 cents paid in the four previous quarters. The dividends are payable December 31 to stock of record December 14. COHX Puonrc rs RKFINIXC. CO.
For t he
three months em led September 30. 1935, earnings and business reached the lowest levels for many years, the net profit being equal to 42 cents a share on common stock. The first nine months of 1935 showed earnings of SI.01 a common share against $2.34 in the first nine months of 1934. Husiness of foreign affiliates has been much better this year than in 1934. Renewed buying of refined corn products since September makes possible a better showing for the final quarter of 1935 than for the corresponding period of 1934. GLIDDEN C O . has placed its common stock on a S2 annual basis with a quarterly declaration of 50 cents. This compares with a previous SI annual rate and extra payment of 15 cents in the five preceding quarters. HERCULES POWDER CO., INC. Directors
have declared the regular quarterly dividend of 75 cents a share and an extra dividend of 50 cents a share on common stock, payable December 20 to stockholders of record December 9. LIQUID CARBONIC CORP. and subsidiaries
for the fiscal vear ended September 30, 1935, show net income of S903,273 after depreciation, federal taxes, etc., equivalent to S2.57 a share on 350,000 no-par shares. This compares with $463,212 or S 1.32 per share in thp preceding year. Net sales amounted to S11,012,808, compared with $9,210,443. October, 1935, net shipmentsTshowed an increase of 17 per cent over October, 1934. Capital expenditures of $1,450,000 were made during the year for new buildings and equipment, but the company closed its fiscal year with net working capital only a little less than a year ago. VICK CHEMICAL, INC., and subsidiaries
report for the quarter ended September 30, 1935, net profit of $840.104 after depreciation, taxes, etc., compared with $325,736 in the preceding quarter and $631,919 for September, 1934. For the nine months ended September 30, 1935, the net profit was $1,884,855. VIRGINIA-CAROLINA
CHEMICAL
CORP.
has issued notice of a special meeting of stockholders on December 17 to vote upon amendments to the constitution and upon removal of directors of the corporation elected at the meeting of the corporation on October 9, 1935.
