THE JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL A N D ENGIXEERING C H E X I S T R Y
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Vol. 14, No. 2
NOTES AND CORRESP’ONDENCE A Foreign Opinion of the American Chemical Society Editor of the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry: Dr. Herty in his last editorial, and in his genial way, gave us a short sketchTof the work accomplished by the American Chemical Society during these latter years. May I call your attention to the published opinion of our distinguished fellow chemists in France and in Britain, From that excellent French publication, Chimie et Industrie, 6 (October 1921), 418, I make the following free translation of a report of the annual meeting of the SociittC de Chimie Industrielle: Among the ideas presented by pen or word duriqg this convention, there is one which seems of foremost importance for our country. It was expressed by Sir William Pope, to whom our Society has just awarded its Grand Medal of Honor, when he made the following statement in the presence of the Minister of Agriculture: The American Chemical Society with its 17,000 members represents collectively all the interests of American Chemistry. On this account, it has become, in a way, the dielomatic corps of Chemistry in the United States, and every time the government has before itself questions where chemistry enters into play, senators and politicians immediately ask information and advice from the American Chemical Society. If ever the SociCtit de Chimie Industrielle of France saw itself honored as such an authority, what valuable services would our country obtain thereby! Of course we all know that our politicians are not so ever ready to consult the American Chemical Society, but it is undeniable that since the growth and importance of our Society, its advice and opinion have frequently guided the Government and the better of our politicians. I,.H. BAEKELAND YONKERS,N Y . December 3, 1921
The Chemical Industries of Holland Editor of the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry: As a chemist subscriber of The Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, I read the article on the “Chemical Industry and Trade of Holland” in your July number with much interest, Generally speaking, your correspondent has very well represented the leading points, but I should greatly appreciate it if you would rectify or add a few points. Under the heading of “Dyestuffs,” it is said that the production thereof is insignificant and will probably remain so unless the Germans find it advisable to have plants in Holland. Your correspondent is probably not aware of the fact that, apart from a few smaller works which produced dyes even during the war, a company was founded about a year ago with the purpose of taking up the production of dyes with purely Dutch capital. This is the N. V. Nederlandsche Kleurstoffenfabriek (Dutch Dyestuffs Factory). The large banking houses, such as the well-known Twentsche Bank, Messrs. Mees & Co., large industrial concerns, such as the Bataafsche Petroleum Co , and other leading firms have all given money for establishing this national industry. Further, your correspondent does not touch upon the large sugar factories which we have here in Holland. A large part of colonial sugar is refined here, and we have also some twenty beet-sugar factories. A fair amount of concentration has been effected of late in this i n d u s t r y h a n y beet-sugar factories having combined with the largest refining company under the name of “Centrale Suiker Maatschappy.” It is very interesting to
see that this concentration has taken place although the tendency of the sugarmaking process is undoubtedly to make white sugar under the same roof with the beet sugar, so that each beet-sugar factory would make its own white sugar and not send its raw sugar to a refinery. The largest refinery here, probably having foreseen this, secured the necessary beet-sugar factories in the above-named company. E. J. TOBI CEINTUURBAAN 213 AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND August 24, 1921
Ceramic Research Colloquium Held November 16 and 17, 1921, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohro under auspzces of Amerzcan Ceramzc Soczety Commzttee on Resrarch and Development Central Ohio Local Section and Ohio State Unzverszty Student Branch of fhk Sorzety.
The Committee on Research devoted all day Wednesdav and Thursday forenoon to the general question of policies and procedures most practical for stimulating ceramic research. Research can be defined as systematic search for best ways and means of accomplishing some definite thing. A thoughtful study of and practice in best methods of accounting, marketing, etc., is research. Diligent thinking, experimenting and inventing of materials, mixtures, processes, and equipment for producing ceramic wares is ceramic research. It is only in these latter research problems that the Society is interested.. The American Ceramic Society was founded for and has continued to he engaged in the promotion of the ceramic arts and sciences through stimulation of research by individuals, corporations, governmental departments, universitics, and associations of manufacturers. Holding of meetings for open discussions; planning by committees for unity in efforts; encouraging and assisting in cooperative efforts to ascertain facts relating to manufacturing; publication of literature, are examples of the means employed by the Society to promote ceramic arts and sciences through research. The Society is divided into industrial divisions for the purpose of having more intimate contact with and knowledge of man ufacturing problems. The divisional committees on research are requested to submit a list of research problems with a description of each item, suggestions as to where the problems might be undertaken and such suggestions and recomrnendations as they care to make. These lists will be studied and a grand program of activities planned, which program will again be submitted to the divisions for amendment or adoption. Some of the divisions already have such a list and have proceeded in interesting universities, governmental departments and associations. One of the contacts sought by the Research Committee is that of the users of ceramic products. I t is necessary, for instance, to understand the requirements of boiler refractories in order to know how to manufacture bricks for this purpose. The American Ceramic Society offers the best opportunity for the producers and users to meet in joint effort to solve the problems of the consumers. A well-rounded sales promotion plan includes detail study of consumers’ requirements. Sales promotion without this would not be successful. This is equally true in ceramic research. The interest of the consumer, which has for the most part been neglected in the past, will now receive adequate attention by the ceramists through the agency of the research committees of the Society and the divisions. Actual contact will be had with the members of the Society
