DECEMBER 20,1939
NEWS EDITION
N e w Census Schedules Prepared for Chemical Survey OMPLETED after extended consultation with leaders in the chemical industry, the new schedules prepared by the U. S. Census Bureau for the comprehensive chemical survey to be taken under the Sixteenth Decennial Census in 1940 are much simpler, and in many cases shorter, than the forms used in the 1937 census. Also, because of changes in classifications in the industry, more specific interpretations of certain facts for particular branches of the field will be available. The general classification for bulk chemicals and products, for instance, used in 1937, has oeen broken down to give separate statistics on "Plastic Materials", "Coal Tar Products (crude and intermediate)", and "Chemicals not Elsewhere Classified". The former grouping of "Paints, Pigments, and Varnishes" has been broadened and now, in two classes, it covers "Paints, Varnishes, and Lacquers" and "Colors and Pigments". Another change for simplicity is in the former "Wood Distillation and Charcoal Manufacture" title, which now is "Hardwood Distillation and Charcoal Manufacturing" and "Wood Naval Stores". "Turpentine and Rosin" have been reclassified into "Gum Naval Stores (processing but not gathering or warehousing)". Oils, previously listed under four classifications, have been increased to six, the original groups having been rearranged to good advantage and separations made for soybeans and for fish oils and products. For the 1940 census, there will be 36 chemical classifications: Paints, varnishes, and lacquers; colors and pigments: cottonseed products, oil, cake, meal, and unters; linseed products, oil, cake, and meal; soybean products, oil, cake, and meal; essential oils; fish and other marine oils, cake, and meal; animal and vegetable oils not elsewhere classified; drugs and medicines (including drug grinding); perfumes, cosmetics, and other toilet preparations; insecticides, fungicides, and related industrial and household compounds. Also included are soap and glycerol: rayon and allied products; hardwood distillation and charcoal manufacture; wood naval stores; gum naval stores (processing but not gathering or warehousing); fertilizers; tanning materials, natural dyestuffs, mordants and assistants, and sizes; coal-tar products (crude and intermediate); plastic materials; explosives (including blasting caps and fuses); salt; compressed and liquefied gases not made in petroleum refineries or in natural gasoline plants. Additional classifications cover bone black, carbon black, and lamp black: printing ink; ammunition; cleaning and polishing preparations, blackings, and dressings; glue and gelatin; grease and tallow (except lubricating grease); lubricating oils and greases not made in petroleum refineries; fireworks; candles; bluing, mucilage, paste, and other adhesives, except glue and rubber cement; writing ink; and chemicals not elsewhere classified. "Drug Grinding", previously covered as a separate industry, has been combined with "Drugs and Medicines". In 1937, but 21 drug-grinding establishments reported; their products were valued at a little less than $8,000,000, whereas firms manufacturing drugs and medicines, numbering 1013 in 1937, turned out products
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to a total of nearly $346,000,000 selling value at the plant. The chemical census will begin in January, 1940, and, since the enumerating procedure differs from that used in 1937, basic statistics for the chemical industry will be ready for release even before the end of 1940, provided the manufacturers cooperate as they have always done in the past. The schedules will be delivered by enumerators personally, who will then stand by to assist in the prompt filling out of the forms. The reports can thus be forwarded immediately to Washington, quickly combined, tabulated, analyzed, and released to the industry. The alert chemical, oil, or paint man of whatever type can use the reports t o good advantage. Here's a town or city, unnoticed before, perhaps, but which now is showing a rise in its industrial figures. What are its industries? What raw materials does it use? Anything we can sell there? Are we represented there? Or perhaps a subplant is indicated. Where to put it? Where might we establish t o take the best advantage of supply of materials, labor costs, transportation, low taxes, and so on? What other industries are in the towns we're selecting? Would they hurt us—or help us? And, perhaps closer to the manufacturing end—what are the trends in chemical uses, or disuses? Is our main product being used more, or less? Is the demand dying, or growing? Should we plan toward other products for the future, or put all we've got into our current program? Answers to these questions and countless others will be found in 1940 census reports which will give new facts, up-todate facts, of vital interest and import t o the chemical industry. Since 1940 is a decennial census year, reporting is mandatory on the part of every firm and individual in the country. However, the same act of Congress that requires reporting also gives protection. It prohibits the use of census statements for any purpose other than for broad statistics. All census employees are sworn to strict secrecy. Census data cannot be seen or used By any other government or private agency or individual nor can they be used for taxation, regulation, legal procedures, or anything of the kind.
785 New Motion Picture Film Available The Random Interchange of Organic Radicals HE Research Laboratories of the Ethyl Gasoline Corp. have just completed the preparation of a 1-reel sound film under the above title. This is an expanded version of the film used by George Galmgaert in his disclosure of the subject at the Boston meeting of the
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AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY in Septem-
ber, 1939. The subject matter is that outlined in the first three papers published by the Ethyl Gasoline Corp. Laboratories, and which have appeared in the October, 1939, issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society. The film with the running talk constitutes a brief but complete lecture on the subject and therefore does not require any oral presentation. However, the interest of the audience, as well as the benefit derived from the film, is likely to be enhanced if the section provides a commentator who is ready to enlarge and comment upon the material as given in the film. This film may be borrowed for presentation at meetings of the local sections of the SOCIETY, student chapter meetings, chemical colloquia, etc. It is available in both 35- and 16-mm. safety film. A double-face 12-inch, 78 r. p. m. record has been prepared and can be used when a sound projector is not available. Application for this film should be addressed to Dr. George Calingaert, Ethyl Gasoline Corp., 723 East Milwaukee Ave.. Detroit, Mich. It will be sent by parcel post. Thenorrower is expected to assume postage charges. U s e s for N e o p r e n e
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EOPRENE chemical rubber has found application as an elastic material for springs, and now supplements rubber and metallic materials for cushioning and mounting purposes. Felix L. Yerzley, physicist of the Rubber Chemicals Division of E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc., reported in a paper presented December 7 before the 60th annual meeting of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The greater hysteresis loss or damping action of neoprene compounds has been demonstrated by a new oscillograph which accurately compares the damping action of small test pellets. Other tests have shown that the shear modulus of neoprene can be varied over the same range as that of rubber—for example, for practical purposes from 50 to 350 pounds per square inch. Similarities between the elastic characteristics of neoprene and rubber permit the design and application of neoprene springs by the same methods developed for rubber.
E. P . Painter, who received his doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Minnesota, has been appointed assistant chemist in the Division of Chemistry, Agricultural Experiment Station, State College of Washington, Pullman, Wash. • Dr. Painter succeeds J. W. Cook, who has joined the staff of the United States Food and Drug Administration at Seattle, Wash. David C. Williams, sales representative of the Tennessee Eastman Corp., has opened an office at 1508 Rand J Buffalo, N. Y.
