Events during the Month, of Interest to Chemists, Ch&ical Engineers, Executives
204
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
been granted oil concessions covering approximately 1,000,000 acres by Government of Venemela, H. D. Collier, president of Standard of Calif., announces. 7 JANUARY 15. Byrnes calls on Director of Selective Service Hershey to apply a priority system to control induction of more than 200,000 men of 26 through 29 age group from essential industry to meet manpower requirements of armed services; asks Hershey to set up five categories, with most essential men last2. 7 JANUARY 16. Arthur E. Corbin, district chief of general salvage branch, SVPB, eddressing Associated Printing Salesmen, says because of supply problem in Pacific, paper and pulp needs of Government will not diminish to any extent, even after Germany is defeated. --Secretary of Commerce Jones says U. S. plants are capable of producing a million tons of synthetic rubber a year and some government-owned factories are producing synthetic a t less than cost of natural rubber before war.--X7ar Manpower Commission, in new classification guide for induction boards, excepts as a critical activity all technical, scientific, and research personnel engaged in scientific activities listed as either essential or critical.--New petroleum refinery with 50,000barrel daily capacity, near completion on Persian Gulf, is being built by U. S. engineers for Arabian American Oil Co.--Aluminum Co. of America announces program for re-employment of 26,000 workers now in armed forces.--War Food Administration 1945 naval stores conservation program will be essentially 8ame as last year, except for changes in participation requirements to lift rosin output. 7 JANUARY 17. J. P. Seiberling, president, Seiberling Rubber Co., announces $1,000,000 expansion of its Barberton plant.-President Roosevelt asks Congress to speed passage of work-orfight legislation for men between 18 and 45. 7 JANUARY18. Surplus Property Board authorizes Metals Reserve Co. to sell aluminum scrap now in storage to stretch supply of metal needed for production of war equipment.--January holiday from industrial alcohol making for whisky distillers will probably be last this year, WPB Chairman Krug indicates.-Production of key chemicals is interrupted, particularly in Cleveland, Buffalo, and Niagara Falls areas, because of disrupted rail traffic.--Former Senator Guy hI. Gillette unanimously confirmed by Senate as member of Surplus Property Board. 7 JANUARY19. Eighteen steel manufacturers, including Carnegie-Illinois, Republic, and Bethlehem, charged by Federal Government with conspiracy t o restrain trade and fix price‘s in stainless steel industry.--Industrial workers in the 26 t o 29 age group who can be replaced should be classified for induction regardless of their status on the new WMC list of critical occupations, Lewis B. Hershey tells local draft boards in letter of instructions.--WPB’s Metals and Minerals Division says production of primary aluminum in first quarter of 1945 will reach estimated 275 million pounds, or about 100 million less than indicated requirements. JANUARY 20. Copper industry’s stepchild selenium may make i t possible t o drive automobiles additional miles between oil changes, research results a t Battelle Memorial Institute indicate; selenium will keep crankcases free from sludge and piston rings and cylinder walls bright and free from “varnish”. 7 JANUARY 22. Houdry Process Corp. announces a royalty financial arrangement for licenses of Houdry catalytic cracking processes.--All-plastic artificial eyes, said to duplicate fit and appearance of the real eye more closely than glass eyes, are announced by American Optical Co. and will be available this year. “Department of Justice announces opening a sealed indictment returned by federal grand jury a t Newark, charging Ferris Instrument Corp. and two of its officers with conspiracy to defraud Government in connection with the renegotiation of contracts. --Harvard President James B. Conant urges revision of GI
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Chem. Eng. News, 23, 172 (Jan. 25, 1945).
Vol. 31, No. 2
Bill of Rights to assure professional training, a t government expense, for veterans of exceptional ability.--Senate subcommittee on war mobilization says more than $600,000,000 being spent by 40 government scientific research agencies.,--House Military Affairs Committee tentatively approves jail-backed manpower control bill embodying anticlosed shop amendment,
7 JANUARY 23. WM Director Byrnes issues major order governing policies to be followed in termination of contracts and emphasizes that primary consideration must be given promotion of maximum employment and equalization of production load. 7 JANUARY 24. D. P. Morgan, director of WPB Chemicals Bureau, says bad weather has interrupted grain deliveries for production of beverage alcohol during January liquor-making holiday, and that production probably will be less than that during August holiday.--Attorney General Biddle declares America must beware of attempt by trusts and cartels, largely of British origin, to control business in postwar period.--Lawrence Ottinger, president U. S. Plywood Corp., says company has contracted to buy 44,000 acres of timberIand in Ontario.--B. F. Goodrich and Firestone Tire & Rubber announce purchase of basic patents covering electronic vulcanization of rubber and other materials.--FEA invites importers to enter into contract with U. S. Commercial Co. to import oils from France, essential to manufacture of perfumes, soaps, and toilet Jyaters of prewar quality.--Studies by Governments of United Kingdom, Ketherlands, and U. S. in past 5 months indicate that heavy reliance must be placed on synthetic rubber for remainder of war. 7 JANUARY 25. Secretary of Commerce appoints committee of 8 industrial executives, with C. E. Wilson, president of General Electric, as chairman to advise Department of Commerce and American Standards Association on future standards, including consumer goods.-FNew synthetic latex, a modified butadienestyrene type, is being produced at Government’s synthetic plant a t Naugatuck, Conn., according to J. P. Coe, general manager of U. S. Rubber Co.’s Naugatuck division. 7 JANUARY 26. Vannevar Bush, director, Office of Scientific Research and Development, J. 0. Hunsaker, chairman, National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, and Karl T. Compton, president, MIT, appearing before House Committee on Postwar Military Policy, agree on imperative necessity for establishing a research board for national security in peacetime. 7 J A N U ~ R Y27. Judge Philip L.Sullivan rules President Roosevelt’s seizure of Montgomery Ward properties in Chicago and six other cities, because of G I 0 labor dispute, is unlawful.-Wilbur F. Burt, vice president in charge of manufacturing, Socony Vacuum Oil, announces inexpensive method developed for producing thiophene from petroleum. f[ JANUARY 28. T P B cancels outstanding authorizations for use of tin that existed prior to September 1, 1944. 7 JANUARY 29. British, American, and Dutch rubber experts, who have just finished a week’s meeting in Washington, foresee a possible world surplus of about 1.3 tons of rubber a year, 3 or 4 years after liberation of East Indies and hIa1aya.N-F. B. Davis, chairman of U. S. Rubber, estimates it will take 5 years t o restore natural rubber plantations to capacity production.-WPB bans filling stainless steel orders subject t o deferred allotments. --Antitrust Division, Department of Justice, acts to end illegal patent licensing restrictions in reconversion. 7 JANUARY30. WPB announces extension of three additional tire plants as part of Government’s $70,000,000 program to boost military tire output by 25%. 7 JAKUARY 31. U. S. Rubber announces immediate construction of a factory in Havana, Cuba, for production of tire recapping materials and synthetic rubber soles. --Government carries its appeal in Montgomery Ward case from U. S. District Court t o Circuit Court of Appeals.
