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INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
Thanks, Northeastern Section I T H an official communication to the SOCIETY, the Kortheastern Section has transmitted a check for one thousand dollars to be added to the endowment fund of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. This money is a part of the unexpended balance remaining from the funds received by the general committee a t the Swampscott meeting and follows a precedent established a few years ago by the Washington Section, when it set aside a surplus from the spring meeting in the interest of a national headquarters building in Washington. Additions to the endowment fund have been made by the Philadelphia, Delaware, Richmond, and Detroit Sections where income from registration greatly exceeded expectations and generous local support was given to the national meeting. The generous action of the Xortheastern Section has been reported in the Nucleus. It is good news for the entire SOCIETY, the thanks of which we are glad t o express.
Vol. 21, No. 1
With the initiation of this new service, INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY still more firmly establishes itself as a unique publication. Industry and chemical technology are served by our industrial edition, which appears the first of every month. The news of chemistry reaches you through the twenty-four issues of the News Edition, and now analytical methods and improvements in analytical apparatus will come to you quarterly in the Analytical Edition. We believe these services will prove of signal value in advancing chemistry. The steady growth in the circulation of INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY, together with the extent t o which articles are reprinted from its pages, speak eloquently of the appreciation with which the publication is generally received.
Duplication T T H E second session of the Institute of Chemistry of A the American Chemical Society held last year at Northwestern University, in a round-table discussion on research
with special reference to government activities the subject of duplication in laboratories of various bureaus naturally arose. It is appreciated that often a certain duplication is ITHOUT regard to the way in which the work of desirable to insure adequate checking, accuracy, and security chemistry may be classified or subdivided, analytical against the omission of important data by a single group of chemistry is vital t o all. Its accomplishments may not be investigators. On the other hand there have been cases spectacular, much of it seems routine, and usually the part of appropriation of promising problems, particularly where i t contributes to the success of important work is unnoticed. success might lead to valuable publicity and increased funds. The contributions of analytical chemistry may not be appre- The questions turned to what is done elsewhere and Sir James ciated by the plant manager, nor by the director of the labora- Irvine, our guest from St. Andrews, told something of the tory, nor the chief of the bureau, but every chemist knows British machinery for dealing with research conducted with t o what extent we depend upon accuracy in this field of work. public funds. What is done in Great Britain might not For a number of years the leaders in this important part of fully apply to American conditions, but the plan should be our science have stressed the need for the segregation of carefully studied by those in authority for constructive articles primarily of importance to the analyst, pointing out ideas. the greater ease with which they could then be made available To begin with, the Department of Scientific and Industrial to him and the wider utility they might be expected to have Research, which began as an honorary council during the in every field of chemistry. It has not been possible here- war, has been set up to encourage, organize, and assist in the tofore to meet this need. The matter has been the subject direction of work in government departments, as well as in of many conversations with those interested, and more trade association laboratories established with government recently we have devoted much thought to the possibilities. aid. The department is under the guidance of an advisory Several plans have been discussed with the Executive Com- council, which has very wide powers and which is composed mittee of the SOCIETY and a long contemplated step has of men, distinguished in science or business, who are appointed now been authorized by the Directors, who have reached by the Lord President of the Privy Council-at the moment their decision not alone on the basis of service to be rendered Earl Balfour. The National Chemical Laboratory and the but upon financial grounds as well. National Physical Laboratory are managed by the CounBeginning with the current year, articles on analysis which cil, as are the laboratories of twenty research associations. AND EKGINEERING ordinarily would appear in IKDUSTRIAL The Council is grouped into numerous committees and augCHEMISTRY will be segregated in an Analytical Edition of mented with cooperative members t o form boards, the work INDUSTRIAL AND ENGIXEERING CHEMISTRY, which is to appear of which is familiar in reports on fuel, building, food research, quarterly. This will go without charge to all those receiving etc. INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY, but it Will a h 0 As all committees and boards in research associations report have a separate subscription list. This is for the purpose of through the Council, it is an easy matter to note the tendency making it available to the many analysts of the country who toward duplication, and indeed all research programs being are not members of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY,and submitted in advance t o Council for the sake of obtaining the whose principal interest is in analytical chemistry. Teachers necessary financing make it a simple matter to prevent duwho may wish to do so can secure copies of the Analytical plication in cases where it is not considered best. It must Edition for the use of students, and directors of industrial be remembered that all this refers only to activities directly laboratories may wish to place separates in the hands of the under government supervision, or carried on in cooperation analytical staff. with government officials. Private establishments conduct For the present the amount of space to be devoted to their programs of research in their own way, but even here analytical articles will be no greater than the average in many a piece of needless work may be saved by discussing INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEhlISTRY for the past few projects with those in position to know what is in progress. years. It is simply a segregation under another cover of Various conditions require different treatment and the articles dealing with analysis. While it will have its own British plan could not be adopted in detail in America. Could not a group of disinterested scientists and business pagination, the format will be identical with INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY,so it may be bound with the men be brought together to study plans for research as inindustrial edition or separately as may be preferred. itiated by the various government bureaus, and advise upon
Improved Service
