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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 E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y
Vol.
II,
No. 3
EDITORIALS FROM AN “ADOPTED” ONE
On paper bearing a broad margin of black, indicative of the irreparable loss of a father, there came recently the following charming, childlike letter. This little link in the chain of international attachment was received b y a member of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY who had quickly answered the appeal of the American Ouvroir Funds by “adopting” the orphaned son of a French engineer. MON CHER PARRAIN: Maman m’a dit que j’avaisun parrain en Amkrique. Je voudrais bien vous connaftre mais c’est bien loin, l’Am6rique. Quand je serai grand je pourrai peutCtre aller vous voir. Je vais a I’kole. Je travaille bien. Je tPcherai que vous soyez content de moi. Je vous embrasse de tout mon coeur. Votre petit filled MARCEL PIERRON 23 Janvier, ~ 9 1 9 4 rue Gallieni Asnikres, Sene Interest is actively increasing in the work of the organization which is placing in our hands in such a dignified and comprehensive manner information concerning these little ones. From the February number of The Catalyst it is learned t h a t the Delaware Section has already raised $ 2 0 0 0 for this purpose and t h a t the Philadelphia Section is likewise engaged in raising a goodly sum. Let the good work go on! THE SOLDIER, THE SAILOR, AND THE CHEMIST
An amazing thing about the early months of our participation in the war was the slowness with which high officials of the War and Navy Departments waked t o the impdrtance of chemistry in a conflict such as was then raging in Europe. It was not by the strictly war-making departments t h a t the first stimulus t o chemistry organization and chemical research was given, but \y the Interior Department, through its Bureau of Mines. I n view of the comprehensive and vigorous way in which the service of the chemist was later utilized by both the War and Navy Departments, the question naturally arises: Why were they so tardy in grasping the significance of chemistry in this great undertaking? Doubtless the reasons are many, but we believe one of the most fundamental t o be the attenuated character of the chemistry atmosphere a t West Point and Annapolis. This statement contains no reflection whatever upon the able instructors in chemistry a t either of the great institutions for the training of our land and sea officers. These institutions cannot be expected t o t u r n out military or naval chemists, even if there were such things; such instruction as is given must be elementary and more or less superficial, because of , t h e limited time available for the subject. This side of the question gives no worry, for civilian assistance from men with the highest chemical training may always be relied upon when the pinch of war comes.
It is, however, extremely desirable t h a t every student a t West Point and a t Annapolis should receive a clear picture of the chemical industries of this country as a whole, their interrelations, and their function in the transformation of raw material into the supplies which support a modern army and navy. Then, too, they should be given from time t o time a general view of the trend of chemical research on lines bearing directly upon military and naval problems. General surveys of this character, t o be most effective, should be given by the recognized leaders in the chemical industries and in chemical research. We would like t o suggest, therefore, t h a t the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy request the President of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETYt o appoint a committee which will give annually, a t West Point and a t Annapolis, five or six general lectures. The leading chemists of this country would consider i t a patriotic privilege t o participate in the undertaking, and our future generals and admirals would set out upon their careers with a clearer grasp and a more sympathetic understanding of t h a t science from which war-making can never be divorced.
ARE YOUR NEEDS TAKEN CARE OF?
I n this issue, page 257, there is printed a general schedule of classification of government statistics of imports and exports, followed by schedules of special interest t o every producer of finished products and t o every consumer of imported raw material in the chemical industries. These schedules have been prepared under the supervision of Mr. G. B. Roorbach of the U. S. Shipping Board (not of the Department of Commerce, as erroneously stated in our last issue). To those who may wonder why so much space is devoted t o the publication of this material, we would say t h a t we consider this one of the most important contributions which has ever reached this office. Why? Government statistics of interest t o the chemical industries have always been lamentably weak. The information has been thrown into basket clauses in a way useless t o one trying t o develop a business intelligently. It has generally been an awful job t o upset the normal practices of humdrum departmental matters in Washington. This time, however, someone has seen the light, and action has sprung from within. The various government divisions, hitherto working independently, each under its own system of classification, have realized the efficiency of a uniform system, and t h a t the industries are entitled t o far more detailed information than has previously been furnished. T h e published material represents a joint effort. Another party t o full cooperation is lacking, the individual manufacturer. You are now invited by Mr. Roorbach t o join in the project. You know in detail exactly the kind of statistical matter you would like
