Edition
News Published by the American Chemical Society Vol. 1, No. 23
DECEMBER 10, 1923
learnijïg their lessons. But this is as nothing to the resolution of ignorance in industry to keep out "the theorist." And any man of science who is familiar A Discussion of What We Owe to Posterity, How We Should Safe- with what intrenched ignorance cannot understand is very likely to be called a guard the Research Worker and Some Good Advice to theorist. Budding Chemists Who Wish to Make Their A young man once asked the writer to Mark in Industry use his influence to g e t him a post as chemist in his home town. There were only two concerns in the city that emB Y ELWOOD H E N D R I C K ployed chemists and each had its full N E W YORK CITY complement of professional men. "Is there anything wrong with the men Modern civilization with its machinery myself that these have become really m y they have?" was asked. N o , the young and mass production has so interlocked leading moments of enlightenment." man did not know anything against them. N would engineer Then he was asked if h e were better than society that we are far more dependent ~~o w what * " "an efficiency ~ on one another for the fulfilment of obli- do with that? Would he demand that the men employed, and again he did not gations than was the case a century and the gentleman shave b y the time clock? know that he was. H e had a diploma more ago. Our obligations are more Would he be called on to shave four or from a good school of chemistry, that was numerous and are constantly in play. five times a day? all. Indeed he could give no adequate All rights and privileges spring from The fact is, original work in chemistry reason why he should b e employed. obligations previously fulfilled by gener- is professional work and whoever regards "See that big laundry over yonder," ations of the dead. If everybody had it as a trade is wholly wrong. Whenever he was asked. "And that big bread looked out only for himself we should we see anything like the goose-step intro- bakery? And around the corner is headstill be nomads in the woods. The duced into laboratory practice so far as quarters for a big chain of restaurants, a present tendency to run t o cover has professional men are concerned, it is a large establishment. "Why don't you get a brought about a dangerous situation that sign of danger. job with one of these? men of science should study and endeavor When any efficiency system reaches the "But they don't want any chemists," to correct. fulfilment of its purpose and usually be- exclaimed the youngster. "That's your We have as chemists professional ob- fore that point is reached, it becomes great opportunity," was t h e reply. "If ligations among ourselves. Without en- destructive because it kills initiative. any of them needed a chemist they would tering into a discussion of any code of A ruling was made in the laboratories of not take you. The baker would want ethics, let us consider our obligations to the U. S. N a v y Department some time ago some one who had .worked with Dr. Barthe man engaged in major research. H e requiring that whoever left the laboratory nard at Chicago or as a Ward Fellow at the is in an interesting condition. He is must check out by the time clock and be Mellon Institute. T h e laundry would pregnant with a n idea. H e should not "docked" for time lost. Accordingly, want somebody who had been at work on be nagged because nagging is fatal. if a man happens to be trying to solve a laundry problems. Your chance is to Therefore we should look after him and difficult problem and the laboratory is get in any one of these places at any old guard h i m ; otherwise the idea is likely to noisy and the noise disturbs him and he job, keep your eyes open, read up and be injured before it is born. goes out and sits under a greenwood tree, study up until you know something, find We should also set our faces against thus coordinating his thoughts and reach- out some way to improve quality or that type of lunatics on system and ing a positive result, he is "docked" for yield—which is easy in a concern that order who think that one hour is the same the time in which he finally accomplished lacks scientific control—and then go to headquarters with your proposition for as any other hour. This kind of efficiency his purpose. engineer is often the worst enemy of reAnother man eminently successful at improvements after you've got it all search. System is absolutely necessary research lately said, "I don't want any worked out. It's a great ppportunity." for progress and without it we invite cheese. I want to get out of this trap." Of course he could not see it. No inchaos, but it must be developed with under- H e could invent, and he could negotiate, itiative nor ginger, no "pep" nor anystanding. A large number of efficiency but he could not do both at once, and while thing! Why do such persons study engineers are wholly ignorant of the he was able and competent, he was cor- chemistry? nature of scientific research and consider nered. The ways of material are different When Hugh K. Moore had graduated • it just as they would riveting or drilling from the ways of men. Given the same from "Tech" in Boston he wanted to get or making up packages. They cannot material, the same physical state and con- into a sulfite pulp industry. The owners sense the nature of the thought that must dition and matter will conform. We can of the mill were absent, so he took a job trust matter if we know enough about it. rustling logs that nearly broke his back. direct the work. The case of a man of great ability who But we can't always trust a man to be the But while doing this he discovered where was peculiarly successful in solving diffi- same under given temperature and pres- and'how the concern was losing $80,000 to cult problems in industrial chemistry sure. $200,000 a year. H e worked out a plan We must protect the man engaged in to remedy the loss and save the dollars comes t o mind. His ideas were like and how much the changes would cost. real research, because he is a sacred posflashes of light. The writer asked him Then he went t o headquarters where they once under what conditions he was best session of his generation. In regard to the industries, our obliga- understood figures and machinery and the able to reach his solutions to problems— that is, if there were a n y recognizable tions are usually like those of a teacher at legend is that he has done well. conditions especially favorable. Dr. Arthur D . Little was coming in from school. Industry does not usually know, "Curiously enough," said the man of and we must teach with patience and Boston to N e w York one afternoon, and research, "I've got my best notions so understanding. Boys and girls at school in the seat opposite was the head of a often in the mornings while I am shaving often seem to be in a conspiracy to avoid great department store. "I'm not afraid
Obligations in Physical Science
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INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
of you chemists/' said his companion. "There isn't any money you can get from me." "Want to bet a nice little dinner on it?" asked the doctor. "Don't mind," said the other. "Well, I'll send a man around to your place a t no cost t o you. If I can save you $1000 a year you can pay our fee and also for the dinner, but if I cannot save that amount there will not be any fee and I'll pay for the dinner." It was agreed between them, and the result was a saving of some $6000 a year, merely in paper, twine, washing powders, cleansers and the like. Many chemists need a good jolt. They forget how big chemistry is and that it is a game, a sport, as well as a profession; that if they only remember what they have learned in books they are not real chemists. They expect that if they get a post somebody will look after them and steer them into prosperity. Nobody will and nobody does. Those fellows are not chemical timber. They are not even chemical slats. They are chemical sawdust. The only chance for that kind is to marry rich and to keep on good terms with wifeyl Let us imagine rich old Uncle Dannel Dollardoodle and his brickyard and that we collectively are his nephew and his hopeful heir. Suppose we had graduated in chemistry anywhere and were of the sort just considered—one of the kind that needs shaking down. Uncle Dannel would say, "Now, boy, get on your overalls and let's see you get to work." Uncle Dannel and his kind are remarkably keen about overalls. They have an obsession that there is magic in them on any ambitious young man. As soon as they see overalls and a jumper on him they feel that he is beginning "at the bottom of the ladder." The dirtier he gets, the more merit they see in the young man. I t is a curious illusion, but it does no harm t o humor the old gentlemen. Being a young chemist in need of a jolt, then, we should probably rig up a little laboratory in the yard and proceed to analyze clay. And a lot of good that would do us. But if we were of the other kind, the kind that is needed, we should probably put off for Washington as soon as we could, get an interview with Dr. Washburn and ask him what we should do to be saved. Following this, we should probably go to Urbana for an intensive course, visit a number of modern and progressive establishments, and then go back to Uncle Dannel, put on overalls t o placate him, and study conditions with.all our might and main. The chances are we should soon have a proposal to make with costs figured out that would improve either the quality or the yield or both. And Uncle Dannel understands figures. We must have some wit besides the remembrance of what w e learned in our course, and if we want t o get into industry the way to do it is to get into it. If we cannot, the fault is ours.
Feed Control Officials Hold Convention in Washington The Association of Feed Officials held its annual meeting at the Hotel Raleigh, Washington, D. C , on November 22 and 23, about 28 states being represented. A number of changes in the present» definitions for feeds were made and some new definitions considered.
"Berichte" Available for Fifty New Subscribers at Special Rate Fifty new subscriptions to the Berichte der Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschajt are made available to our members at a reduced rate through a cooperative arrangement made between Prof. Lamb, Editor of the Journal of the American Chemical Society, and Prof. Haber of the German Chemical Society. An exchange of fifty copies of the Journals of the two societies has been arranged whereby these journals are made available to the scientific men of Germany and America. The Berichte der Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschajt up to the limit of this exchange can now be obtained through the Secretary of the American Chemical Society by new subscribers in America, for $8.50 a year including postage. This offer applies at present to the year 1924 only and to new subscribers to the German journal. This price is a considerable saving over the regular price, which has to be paid to the Germans direct for this journal. Orders should be sent t o American Chemical Society, Mills Bldg., Washington, D. C , accompanied by remittance of $8.50. The journals will then be sent as received from Germany. It is expected that these journals will be received regularly but the American Chemical Society assumes no responsibility other than a pro rata refund for any numbers not received in America. Since the total number of subscriptions available is only 50, subscribers will be given preference in the order of application.
Lectures at Massachusetts "Tech" The following lectures are announced by the Society of Arts of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology: December 16, "The Age of the Earth as Revealed b y Geology and RadioActivity, " by Prof Hervey W. Shimer, Ph.D. January 13, "Fire and Fire Prevention," b y Prof. G, B. Wilkes, S.B. February 10, "Photography and Some Recent Applications/' by Prof. A. C. Hardy, M.A. March 9, "Molecules, Atoms, and Electrons," by Prof. James F. Norris, Ph.D. All of these lectures are given on the Friday and Saturday afternoons preceding the dates mentioned in the above list, as well as on the dates given. These lectures are for high school students of Boston and vicinity, and the Sunday lectures are given t o a more mature audience, although no change whatever is made in the nature of the material given. According t o preliminary figures just released by the Department of Commerce, the output of turpentine and rosin from crude gum for the producing season ended March 31, 1923, by 1219 establishments was 22,394,137 gallons of turpentine and 1,499,533 barrels (500 pounds each) of rosin. The production of these commodities during 1922 b y wood distillation plants was 1,850,698 gallons of turpentine and 152,257 barrels of rosin.
News Edition
Northeastern Section Meeting A t the regular meeting of t h e Northeastern Section of the A. C. S. in Boston, November 9th, Prof. J. F. Norris aroused enthusiasm by outlining the plans afoot for the publication of a bulletin b y several New England Sections of t h e Society. Two developments in chemical manufacture were then described b y representatives of the Merrimac Chemical Co. Dr. L. A. Pratt outlined a method of sodium hydrosulfite manufacture as carried out by the Merrimac Company. Mr. F. G. Stantial described a recent i m provement in the chamber process oy which sulfuric acid may be produced directly from the Glover tower a t 66° instead of at 60°, as previously possible. The program for the balance of t h e season has been outlined as follows : December 7, 1923. A Special Meeting for Students. General Subject: "Some Accomplishments and Some Opportunities for Chemistry in Business and in Industry." Speakers: W. Irving Bullard, v i c e president, Merchants National Bank of Boston; William E. McKay, president, Beacon Oil Company, Boston; Robert W. Neff. January 12, 1924. An Inter-Sectional Symposium on "Catalysis." Professor Wilder D. Bancroft, of Cornell, is t o present a paper and to preside at t h e meetings. Papers have also been promised by Professor Hugh Taylor of Princeton University and Dr. Larsen of the Fixed Nitrogen Research l a b o r a tory. Other speakers will Ibe a n nounced later. There will be afternoon and evening sessions. A buffet lunch will be served at one o'clock and dinner for those who make reservations a t 6:30 in the evening. February 8, 1924. Professor Lyman C . Newell, Boston University, "The Founders of American Chemistry." February 29, 1924. First Quadrennial Leap Year Party. March 14,1924. Professor Charles James, New Hampshire State University, ' T h e Rare Earth Metals." April 11, 1924. Mr. W. Malcolm Corse, National Research Council, "Nickel," to be illustrated with moving pictures showing the nickel industry from t h e mining of the ore to the finished product. May 9, 1924. Speaker to b e announced. June 1924. Annual outing w i t h t h e Rhode Island Section. Place and date to be announced.
Iowa Section Meeting The November meeting of t h e Iowa Section was held in Blair Hall, Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa, Friday afternoon, November 23. Luncheon was served in the dormitory at 12:30. The following program was announced for the meeting: "The Soda Pulp Process a n d B y product Recovery," by H. F. Lewis and Garrett Thiessen. "Some Laboratory Conveniences," b y W. S. Hendrixson. "The Conductance of Certain Klectrolytes in Furfural/' by J. N. Pearce. The mileage of surfaced roads in t h e United States including sand-clay, gravel, macadam as well as those which have been paved, is well over 400,000 miles.
