774
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
Vol. 17, No. 8
At Last
it that economy in government expenditure is not allowed to hamper constructive work. Less than one hundred million dollars, and probably less E HAVE yet to find a chemist sincerely interested in than seventy million dollars, depending upon definition or the progress of legitimate chemical industry who has the work, is spent annually by the Government in productive not felt outraged a t the type of propaganda circulated by the services. In the conduct of scientific work and similar ac- Burnham Chemical Company, with headquarters at Reno, tivities a direct investment is made which brings an increment Nevada. Our office has had frequent complaints from those of national wealth and saves great sums to our people. The who have a t various times received the circular “The Lake Department of Commerce has spent approximately one of Treasure,” urging the use of the wires that a golden ophundred thousand dollars a year in an effort to eliminate portunity might not be lost. Shrewd promoters are skilled waste in industry. Standards have been established; econ- in the art of keeping within the law and a t the same time omies in production and distribution have been brought misleading the small investor. It is therefore gratifying to about; the numbers of varieties have been decreased; speci- read in the current press that the use of the mails has been fications have been established; with the result that the Secre- denied and a fraud order issued on June 23, a t Washington, tary of Commerce estimates the national saving in excess by the Post Office Department against the Burnham Chemof six hundred million dollars. This is but one example of ical Company and G. B. Burnham, president, Reno, Nevada. the wise investment of government funds. The State of Missouri has issued a cease and desist order It is difficult to estimate what expenditures in the Depart- against the company, stopping its sale of stock in Missouri ments of Agriculture, the Treasury, and the Interior mean because of failure to apply for and receive a permit. in terms of national wealth, public health, and the encourageIt takes a long time to rid our industrial fabric of such ment of industry. And yet when economies are in order blemishes, and we can only express regret that there has been there is a tendency to begin with the reduction of scientific such an extended opportunity for this outfit to extract dolstaffs and funds for research, just as this unfortunate habit lars from many pockets that could not afford to ldse them. is practiced in industry. In the several laboratories of the government departments are projects which cannot be given attention for lack of funds. If public subscriptions could be taken for such work, we have no doubt government appropriation could be matched dollar for dollar from private funds, URING the recent meeting of the American Ceramic so sincere is the appreciation of this type of scientific work. Society in Canada, Alexander Silverman of the UniA careful review of the productive branches of the Govern- versity of Pittsburgh announced that through the generosity ment should bring more adequate appropriations, for there of Isaac W. Frank $50,000 had been given for the establishis ample proof that incfeased expenditures in scientific work ment of the first laboratory of glass technology in an Ameriresult in better standards of living a t reduced costs. can institution of higher learning. This is in memory of It is fair to assume that those who read THISJOURNAL William Frank, father of the donor, and one of Pittsburgh’s belong to the class of citizens who may be depended upon pioneers in the glass field. It is expected that an additional to do their own thinking, to arrive a t reasonable conclusions amount will later be added to the original gift. The laborabased upon evidence, and to assume some part in the dis- tory is to be a part of the chemical department to be located semination of correct data for the guidance of public opinion. in the new Cathedral of Learning, the fifty-two story Straight thinking and constructive activity are necessary building which the university plans to begin building this in the situation that is developing. Keep informed, be autumn. willing to unmask half-truths, and help t o keep the vision While we have reason to be proud of American progress of the people clear. in glass manufacture, we need just such a university department in which technical men can be properly trained for the glass industry. The University of Pittsburgh is to be congratulated on finding it possible to establish such facilities.
Glass Technology
Rayon
w
I T H one hundred million dollars invested in the production of rayon-artificial silk-the American output has trebled in four years, amounting in 1924 to 38,850,000 pounds. The development of this industry, a distinctly chemical one, has been phenomenal, and the world’s production is now nearly that of natural silk. The Tariff Commission has issued a pamphlet on the development and present status of the artificial silk industry. It is significant that the world production in 1913 was 28,850,000 pounds and reached 100,000,000 in 1923. The 1923-24 natural silk output was 110,000,000 pounds. There are still empirical steps in the manufacture of this important form of cellulose, but specialists contemplate few improvements until more is known of the structure of the cellulose molecule. When, through such knowledge, further improvements can be made in artificial silk, its field of competition may include not only natural silk, over which for economic reasons it has some distinct advantages, but also cotton. The cost of raw materials for a pound of rayon is about the cost of a pound of good raw cotton. With probably increased costs of cotton production and decreased cost of manufacturing rayon, the laboratory may not only starve out the silkworm but dispute the rule of King Cotton.
Exchange Professors 0ME months ago we took occasion to urge extension of the exchange professor plan between foreign countries and the United States, stressing the fact that each group had much to contribute to the other. We are therefore especially glad to note the success which has attended the visit of E. M. Chamot, who went from Cornel1 to France as exchange professor of applied sciences. The dean of the College of Science a t the University of Nancy has recorded his gratitude for the presence of Professor Chamot, and it is evident that he not only has added to his own prestige by his visits abroad, during which he has represented a number of American universities, but has thereby brought honor to our American schools as well. Exchange of opinions on methods of teaching, discussion of his own specialty-chemical microscopy-and personal contact with the great educational institutions of France help to establish still more firmly the cordial relations between our French colleagues and ourselves. There can be no doubt as to the value of such exchange professorships, and we cite the success of Professor Chamot’s visit to emphasize again the desirability of expanding the plan.
