Dec., 1917
T H E JOURNAL OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
available source of ammonia through nitrogen fixation. At this writing no official statement of plans has been published by the War Department, but it is understood t h a t a cyanam;de plant will also be located a t Muscle Shoals, utilizing surplus power of adjacent hydroelectric developments and supplementing this by a steam plant. We are confident t h a t the entire Nation will support the policy of the War Department in leaving no stone unturned to secure ammonia from every possible source. Meanwhile, the operation of the two methods, the synthetic and the cyanamide, side b y side a t Muscle Shoals, will furnish abundant facts as to the relative merits of each for nitrogen fixation under American conditions.
1085
THE CHEMIST, THE DRAFT, AND PATRIOTISM
In the June issue of THIS J O U R N A L we wrote under the title “In the Light of Experience,” urging upon all in authority to conserve for the best interests of the country the chemically ,trained men, using them in, or not calling them from, work for which their chemical training fitted them. May we now address a word to those chemically trained young Americans within the age limits subjecting them t o the operations of the selective draft? We have no desire to criticize and we sympathize fully with the fine spirit which prompts every young man to wish to get t o the front and offer his life for the cause of his country. Nevertheless we know, personally, chemically trained men who have avowedly hurriedly sought commissions in whatever line of the THE PLATINUM SITUATION service offered a chance for such, rather than risk From one who is in close touch with all phases of the serving as a private through the selective draft law. platinum situation we have learned t h a t a decrease of If this country had a surplus supply of chemists, about forty per cent in the use of platinum for certain and if chemistry played no especial r81e in this war, lines of bulky jewelry has resulted from the patriotic such action would be purely personal and not rightly stand taken last spring by t h e jewelers. That is subject t o comment. I n view, however, of the present fine as far as it goes. great dearth of chemists, of the practical exodus of Our Washington correspondent points out in this all advanced students of chemistry from our universiissue t h a t there is a possibility of complications in ties, of the recognized vital importance of the work of shipments of platinum from Colombia. This gives the chemist both in the government service and in rise t o apprehensions. the industries, we do not hesitate t o say t h a t such Platinum jewelry is now being extensively advertised abandonment of opportunity for chemical service for in many periodicals. Without any attempt a t a sys- the sake of insuring a commission is not patriotism tematic survey we have read recently the advertise- but selfishness. This may sound harsh, but it is a ments of the Charles L. Trout Company in the New time for plain speaking. York Times of November 18, 1917, Daniel Low and The events of the last few weeks have convinced Company in Scribner’s Magazine for November, 1917, all t h a t we must prepare for a long war and throw into Sallan’s touchingly illustrated adveI tisements of platthe scales the full resources of this great country The inum engagement rings in the illustrated section of the selective draft ir the officially adopted method f w Detroit Free Press of November 1 1 , 1917,the James R. raising our army. We have believed in its principles Armiger Company’s well displayed advertisement of from the first. The Nation is indebted t o President “Fine Platinum Jewelry” in the Baltimore Sun of Wilson for his foresight and broad grasp of the part November 6, 1917, etc. These advertirements seem America is t o play in the war when he so consistently t o indicate an aggressive sale of platinum jewelry. and persistently urged the adoption by Congress of the Meanwhile war developments of the last two months selective draft rather than the volunteer principle. point clearly to the fact that chemical activities inOnly through this means can this country contribute volving the use of platinum, both within and without its maximum share. Government circles, must be enormously expanded if To those chemists, therefore, who have asked our the great army we are now beginning to raise is to be thoroughly supplied with essential war materials. I n advice, we repeat, and t o those who will soon be subspite of all efforts to remedy the situation, platinum jected t o the second call under the draft law we urge: is bringing to-day (November 19,1917) $98 per ounce. “Wait for the operation of the draft law! Do not sacrifice the right of our country to your chemical * These are facts. Assuming the correctness of the decrease by forty training for the sake of a commission in the field service. per rent of the use of platinum in bulky articles, this Be prepared t o serve wherever and in whatever capacity continued high price is indicative of either diminishing your country may most need you!” imports (we have no figures at hand), absorption by the expanding chemical industries, increased manufacAN APPEAL TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ture of platinum jewelry (not included in the list of the RETAIL DRUGGISTS Jeweler’s Committee), or perhaps hoarding of platinum. The spirit of cooperation is so keenly alive a t the Whatever the explanation, i t would seem that we are rapidly approaching the point where our Govern- present t h a t the time seems appropriate t o make an ment may be compelled to follow the example of appeal which we have long had in mind. Will not England in taking over all domestic supplies of plati- the National Association of Retail Druggists cooperate num and apportioning them t o the various industries with the chemists by discouraging the use of the word in conformity with the interests of the national welfare. “chemist” on the signboards of retail drug stores? 1
