Jan., 1915
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
work; they publish the news and each individual should dig out his own information. However, the Federal Government, with its large equipment, can more easily tabulate and classify such material, and print and distribute it better, quicker and cheaper than can any other available agency. It is not to be expected t h a t this additional labor should be performed by the Federal Government without recompense. Probably a moderate subscription fee would be sufficient t o cover this added expense and doubtless there would be enough subscribers to such a special compilation to prevent its being a source of serious loss to the Government. The compilation of import and export statistics is a large task, and changes in it should not be undertaken without thorough consideration. Before requesting any such changes we ourselves should undergo every reasonable labor to ascertain what will better answer our requirements, carefully examine those suggestions and test and re-test them to see that we have made no error, and then submit them to those in charge of the statistical work.
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Suggestions made after such thorough study will no doubt receive correspondingly serious consideration; without some such serious, thoughtful and well-planned suggestion it is not to he expected that the Federal Government will change its present mode of handling the matter. What has been said of import and export statistics is true of our production statistics, i. e . , our Census Reports, and any changes that we may have to suggest in them should be just as thoroughly and thoughtfully prepared, tested and examined as those in the export and import division. The need of a change is apparent; just what that change shall be requires the most thoroughgoing cooperation of as many chemists and chemical manufacturers in this country as can possibly be indnced to cooperate; the initiation of a work of such magnitude is not to be taken up lightly but should be carefully studied, and if positive action be decided upon, all who partake in it must be prepared to sacrifice much time, much thought and much labor. 90
\&‘ILLIAM
STREET, N E W
YORK CITY
THE WAR AND OUR CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES’ The Sortheastern Section of the American Chemical Society devoted its first regular meeting of the I914-19Ij season, on October 16th, a t the Engineers’ Club, Boston, to a symposium on “The Effect of the European,War on the Chemical Industries of the United States.” The speakers were as follows: J. Russel Marble, of J. Russel Marble & Co., STorcester, President of the Sectiun. W. H. Bowker, American Agricultural Chemical Co., Boston. W. D. Livermore, American Woolen Co., Lawrence. C. A. West, of the Eastern Drug Company, Boston. C. H. SVhite, Professor of Metallurgy, Harvard University. H . J. Wheeler, American Agricultural Chemical Co., Boston. THE HEAVY CHEMICALS By J.
.
RUSSELMARBLE
MEMBERS OF THE SECTION: Our topic is one which is of universal interest and your Executive Committee thought it might be wise for the Section to spend an evening discussing the effect of the European war upon the chemical industry of the United States. M y knowledge of the chemical industries of the United States is confined chiefly to what is known to the trade as “Heavy Chemicals,” that is, Soda Ash, Caustic Soda and Bleaching Powder. The Section knows the theory, and the process of manufacture, and the history of the success of this American enterprise much better than I do. The successful introduction into this country of the Solvay Process, some years ago, for treating salt, and the later process for the decomposition of salt by ,electricity, has practically driven from the American market the importations of most forms of soda and bleaching powder. If the reports of the destruction of property abroad are anywhere near correct, it must be a fact that the enormous soda plant of the Solvay Brothers in Belgium has been destroyed. It is impossible for France or Germany to export any of these materials, and the English plants are reported to be running a t only about one-half of their capacities because the employees have left for the army. Fortunately for this country, we have enormous deposits of salt, chiefly located in Northern New York State, under the city .of Detroit, Michigan, and in Kansas and Louisiana, and we have immense water powers from which electricity can be generated. The manufacture of various forms of soda has been especially successful in this country during the last twenty years, and the 1 We are indebted t o Mr. Hermann C. Lythgoe, Treasurer of the Northeastern Section of the A. C. S., for the collection and transmission ‘of the articles included in this symposium.
effect of the European war, in my judgment, will call for very large shipments of these chemicals to the Mediterranean, Australia, South Africa and South $merica, and should lead to the running of the plants in this country to their fullest capacity, so that the immediate effect of the war on the heavy chemical industry will undoubtedly lead to a larger output, and should lead to higher prices and a more profitable business for the American manufacturer. J . RUSSELMARBLE A N D COMPANY WORCESTER ~~
THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES By W. H. BOWKER
The European war affects the agricultural industries of this country in various ways, some for the better and some for the worse. It has improved our market for foodstuffs, but it has injured our market for many raw products, especially our crop of cotton, of which we export about 60 per cent to Europe. I am asked to speak more particularly on the effect of the European war on the fertilizer industry. There are 7,000,000 tons of fertilizer consumed in this country annually, of which probably j,ooo,ooo are what are called complete fertilizers, that is, containing the three essential elements of plant nutrition-nitrogen, phosphorus and potash. Broadly speaking, plants consume these three essential ingredients in about the following proportions: I Phosphorus; z Xitrogen; 3 Potash. Thus potash is a very important element of plant food, and, therefore, of complete fertilizers. Germany, a t the present time, controls the sole commercial source of soluble potash. Until recently there have been no similar deposits discovered in the world. Lately, however, similar deposits have been discovered in Spain. If they prove to be as rich and as soluble and as accessible, and it is believed they are, they will compete with the German deposits. The potash industry has been one of the most profitable in the world. It is said that muriate of potash, the standard grade (50 per cent K20), can be mined and delivered a t the seaboard of this country for $ 1 5 a ton and show a handsome profit. I am told that it was stated in debate in the Reichstag in 1910 that the best mines in Germany could mine the mineral and refine i t for about $8 a ton. The price in cargo lots is from $33 to $34 per ton delivered at seaboard. Through the German Kali Syndicate the production of the mines is limited by allotment and the price arbitrarily fixed. It is stated that there have
