Nov., 1917
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T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING C H E M I S T R Y
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THIRD EXPOSITION OF CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES
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T h e T h i r d N a t i o n a l Exposition of C h e m i c a l Ind u s t r i e s w a s h e l d i n Grand Central Palace, New Y o r k C i t y , S e p t e m b e r 2 4 t o 2 9 , 1917. The varied and a t t r a c t i v e e x h i b i t s p r o v e d a v e r i t a b l e i n s p i r a t i o n t o the t h o u s a n d s w h o d a i l y t h r o n g e d t h e building and f u r n i s h e d c o n c r e t e evidence of the tremendous strides f o r w a r d of t h e chemical i n d u s t r i e s d u r i n g the p a s t year. Brilliant as the spectacle was, however, i t is p r o b a b l e that the l a s t i n g impression of t h e Ex-
position will lie i n t h e m a n y t h o u g h t f u l addresses given d u r i n g t h e week, not o n l y by men closely identified w i t h t h e s e industries, b u t also by publicists, government officials, b a n k e r s a n d o t h e r s , all of w h o m recognized t h e m a n y fields of h u m a n e n d e a v o r t o u c h e d b y chemistry. For t h e p r e s e r v a t i o n of t h i s t h o u g h t record we r e p r o d u c e h e r e as given, or in abstracted form, these addresses. [EDITOR.]
OPENING ADDRESSES
In the second place, this army has its camp followers-men who, under the guise of chemistry, seek to enlist capital in developments bearing all the earmarks of get-rich-quick schemes, the disastrous out-working of which may, perhaps, shake that confidence between capital and chemists which should grow daily stronger if this battle is t o be fully won. And it must be won. Only patriotic motives underlie that conviction. It is the nation’s service t o which we are called and to that service the good faith and untiring zeal of the American chemist is pledged.
September 24, 1917 T H E BATTLE OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL INDUSTBIES By CRAS. H. HERTY Chairman Advisory Committee of the Chemical Exposition
The battle for national self-containedness, in that portion of the line held by the American chemist, is progressing favorably. It is not yet won, but many heights have been conquered, many formidable streams crossed, and the open plains of full national service are almost in sight. This Exposition, increasing in magnitude each year by one hundred per cent of its original size, constitutes the bulletin by which the nation is informed of the progress made. I n the center, the advance up the steep slopes of “capitalization” has been marked. I n 1915there was added t o the chemical industries $65,565,000; in 1916,$99,244,000, and in 1917,up to September I, $65,861,000, a total gain of $230,670,000. On the extreme right the forces of “Empiricism” have steadily yielded ground to the advances of our research chemists. More and more called upon for utmost effort, they have never failed t o respond. On the left flank a steadily increasing force of the ablest American chemists is being gathered to capture the hill of “Obsoletism of Army Equipment” and is providing the great armies we are now raising with the most efficient forms of modern chemical means for both offensive and defensive warfare. On the right center the terrain of “Congressional Apathy” has been partly won, as typified by favorable protective legislation for our dyestuff industry and by the guarding of the all-important electrochemical industries a t Niagara Falls from power shortage, due to lapsing legislation. On the left center, the quagmire plains of “Public Indifference” have been largely dried and made passable through the clearing skies of a sympathetic daily press. which has constantly einphasized the value to the independence of the nation of a full-rounded chemical industry. Finally, the counter-attacks of subtle propaganda against the ability of American chemists and the worthiness of our products, such as American dyestuffs, have ingloriously failed. The optimism engendered by such splendid progress will prove, however, a curse indeed if it leads us to overlook two features of the present situation. I n the first place, in order to man the present lines of this battle of the chemical industries, we have already drawn heavily upon our reserves in the universities throughout the country. Many professors, advanced students, and even only partly trained students, have been called into the industries. This, together with the losses by enlistment, has created a serious shortage of chemists whose replacement through all favoring means should be a constant charge upon the liberality of the leaders of ourgchemical industry, and the far-sightedness of those vested with the powers of national administration.
AMERICAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRY AND THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY By JULIUS STIBGLITZ President American Chemical Society
Every cloud has its silver lining, and even the great black cloud of war, which has been oppressing the world these three years, has been penetrated, here and there, by bright rays Qf good accomplished. One of these brighter effects of the disaster, as far as this country is concerned, has been the influence of the war on our chemical industries. Facing the necessity not only of very greatly expanding their output, but also of developing many new products and of making older products of a far higher grade in quality than ever before, our American industries, as evidenced by the three expositions held in this place, have met and conquered one great problem after the other. Itre may confidently expect. and, indeed, we must insist. that out of this period of forced effort we shall emerge independent of all foreign nations in regard to our ability to supply the basic chemical needs of our country, not only in quantity, but also in quality. As a single instance of the progress these years have witnessed in a field we must continue to hold after the war, let me recall the dismay of our universities-and I am sure, also of our industrial laboratories-when, early in 1915, we saw the supplies of Jena glass and of other finer glass cut off. Yet to-day we are manufacturing in the United States glassware fully as good as, if not indeed superior to, the German brands we thought we never could do without. When the war is over, no matter how fierce trade competition may be, we must see to it that our new industries survive, that we do not relapse into our old dependence on European sources for almost every article in which quality, highest quality, is essential. I n the heat of effort of these years only the most urgent and immediate of our needs have been met; some of these results still depend for their stability upon war conditions; they are still too liable to collapse when the world returns to its normal life and trade is free once more. In this situation, fraught with magnificent possibilities for much greater chemical achievements, but also with great dangers for the permanency of some of the American chemical industries, the American Chemical Society, for which I am speaking, sees its opportunity of being of new and still greater service to the country.
