LETTERS Paging t h e Chemist Again
war will come global reconstruction. We can hardly shirk our leading part in that reconstruction. "Not only is there a need for greater numbers of chemically trained men in wartime, but there is a need for even a better quality of men. This is because the problems involved are much more serious.. For instance, in peacetime, a mistake by a poorly qualified chemist may cut someone's profit, but in wartime it may mean death to thousands of our men." I would call your attention to the fact that we as a nation are not over 10% into the war effort a t the present time. Right now there is no noticeable excess of chemically trained personnel. We have no chemical reserve at the present time except men who are not yet completely into war work. FRANKC. WHITMORE PENNSYLVANIASTATECOLLEGE Sr~m C o ~ ~ s PENNSYLVANIA oa
To the Editor: As regards chemistry being a critical field, I would remind you that there bas never been an excess of chemists except for a short period during the middle of the depression. I don't know whether you have read the comments of Senator Millard E. Tydings about the deferment of technically trained men. In writing him about these comments, I made the following remarks: "In peacetime, about 5000 chemists and chemical engineers graduate from our colleges and universities each June. These men are absorbed by peacetime industry by September. The only exception to this was in the very bad year of 1932 when about 900 were not absorbed until the next spring. This figure came from a survey by a committee of the American Chemical Society of which I was chairman. Of course, many of these 5000 young men each year go into many phases of Exit t h e Splash industry which might not be called strictly chemical, T o the Editor: but which require a chemical background. To prevent the splashing and noise resulting from "From the above facts and others, it appears that there has never been an excess of chemically trained the use of water aspirators to obtain evacuated condimen in the country. You will note that I use the ex- tions, I have satisfactorily used for several years a pression men. That is done advisedly. Very few wrapping of any available textile material handy (e. g., women seem fitted to go on in chemical studies. In muslin). A rectangular piece of cloth, long enough to spite of the increasing demand for chemical help, there bend upon touching the sink or water trough and wide are still only about 4% women among the 32,000 mem- enough (about six inches) to make three to five thicknesses upon wrapping around the stem of the aspirator, bers of the American Chemical Society. is fastened by means of a piece of wire or string. "In wartime, more chemically trained men are needed This method has proved highly superior to beakers, rather than less. This is because industry during wartime can he divided into three classes, each of which bottles, and rubber tubing which frequently do not prevent either splashing or noise. needs more chemical help in war than in peace. GILBERT E. MOOS "(a) Companies primarily active in the production of 28 JOHN STREET munitions such as T N T obviously are busier in wartime S ~ NVALLEY. G NEWYORK and require more chemical help. "(6) Companies concerned with materials not needed Ripening of Viswse in the war have very largely shifted over into war pro- T o the Editor: duction. No matter what amount of chemical help they I n the article, "High Polymers and New Rules" in needed in their peacetime activities, they need addi- the November issue. the ri~eninnof cellulose xanthate tional chemical help when they change over because of during the manufacture oiviscose rayon is cited as an the new problems of materials, processes, and control example of industrial control of the molecular weights which come with the change. For instance, I do not of high polymers. The statement is there made that know how much technical help the Scripto Company of the cellulose chains break down and the molecular Atlanta needed when they manufactured ten-cent auto- weight drops during this ripening process. Dr. Emil matic pencils, but I am quite sure they need more Heuser of the Institute of Paper Chemistry, Appleton, technical help now that they are making macbine gun Wisconsin, has called my attention to work by Heuser parts. and Schuster in 1926 and that of subsequent investiga" ( c ) Companies concerned with necessary civilian tors proving that there is no shortening of the cellulose needs must have more chemical help because of their chains during the ripening of the viscose. It is in the increasing problems of shortages of materials, sub- sodium cellulosate solution prior to the formation of the stitute materials, increased needs, and the like. xanthate, and during the formation of the latter, that "To repeat, we need more chemically trained men the molecular weight is lowered to a technologically usenow than we did in peacetime. This need will continue ful value. and probably increase as long as the war lasts. When S. WEINER the peace comes, there probably will be no falling off 2630 NORTH53- STREET because we must face the fact that after the global Mr~wame,WI~CONSIN I.oo
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