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INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY H o w to Reach Columbus
For the convenience of those expecting to attend the Organic Chemistry Symposium t h e following condensed time schedule is published. T r a i n connections a t the principal junction points have be^n selected so as t o insure the guest's arrival at an early morning hour. Organic Symposium Guides will be on h a n d a t the Union Station in Columbus and guests should not hesitate to place themselves completely in their charge. T I M S SCHEDULE
Train D u e in Time of No. Columbus Railway departure Station 15 6:55 A.M. Ν. Υ. Central 12:30 P.M. Boston 15 6:55 A.M. Ν. Υ. Central 3:00 P.M. New York 15 6:55 A.M. Ν. Υ. Central 11:45 P.M. Buffalo 41 6:45 A.M. Pennsylvania 4:05 P.M. New York 41 6:45 A.M. Pennsylvania 5-50 P.M. Philadelphia P.M. G5 8:12 A.M. Pennsylvania 6:05 New York 65 8:12 A.M. Pennsylvania 7:50 P.M. Philadelphia 65 8:12 A.M. Pennsylvania 6:30 P.M. Washington 65 8:12 A.M. Pennsylvania 7:30 P.M. Baltimore 9 7:45 A.M. Big Four Route 11:20 P.M. Detroit P.M. 30 7:5S A.M. P. M. and II. V. R. R. 11:05 Detroit 108 7:40 A.M. Pennsylvania 10:15 P.M. Chicago 44* 1:02 A.M. Pennsylvania 4:40 P.M. St. Louis 44* 4:02 A.M. Pennsylvania 10:30 P.M. Indianapolis δ*' 4 :Οό A.M. Big Four Route 12:20 A.M. Cleveland P.M. 624* 3:45 A.M. Pennsylvania 9:30 Cleveland 32* 6:45 A.M. Baltimore and Ohio 2:45 A.M. Cincinnati 21* 6:40 A.M. Pennsylvania 1:17 A.M. Pittsburgh N O T E : T h e trains marked (*) carry special sleeping cars for Columbus. These ears may be occupied at the point of departure sometime between 9 and 11 P.M. and will remain in the Union Station at Columbus until 7:30 or 8:00 A.M.
Pharmacognosist and Pharmacologist Wanted Applications for Junior Pharmacognosist and Junior Pharma cologist will be received by the U. S. Civil Service Commission a t Washington, D . C , up to December 30. The date for as sembling of competitors will be stated on their adminsiun cards, and will b e about ten days after the close of receipt of applica tions. The examinations are t o fill vacancies in the Department of Agriculture, and t h e Public Health Service, for duty in Wash ington, D. C., or in the field. The duties of junior pharmacognosist are to examine under the direction of a n associate pharmacognosist all crude drugs and spices coming within the jurisdiction of the Federal food and drugs act, and to determine whether or not they are adul terated or misbranded. The duties of junior pharmacologist are t o assist in the study of pharmacological action of drugs a n d to act as a research assistant to t h e pharmacologist; to conduct bioassays upon U. S. P. drugs a n d glandular products; and to assist i n the development of bioassay methods for various drugs.
News Edition
Industrial and Engineering Chemistry for January T h e issue of January 1 will offer more than thirty titles of varied interest. There will be a detailed discussion of scientific sewage disposal a t Milwaukee, with data on the fertilizing value of the sludge as offered the fertilizer market, and a group of papers having to do with sulfur in gasoline in its relation to the automobile. The sixth of t h e papers on experiments in wood preservation, the synthesis of methane from water gas, a note on the first multiple effect evaporator, a discussion of the effect of temperature on the hydrolysis of skin and hair in a saturated lime water, and an interesting contribution on more effective dust fungicides b y the use of oxidizing agents with sulfur occupy a prominent place. The result of an investigation of carbon monoxide in two large garages is timely. There will be a group of papers on various important methods of determination, descriptions of useful apparatus, and additional papers of which the following are typical titles: Present Status of Coal Byproduct Nitrogen, Tin Plate and the Electrochemical. Series, Odors a n d Sewage Sludge Digestion, Germicidal Efficiency of Sodium Hydroxide and Certain Other Compounds at the Same Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Effect of Temperature on the Rate of Decomposition of Nitrocellulose, Destructive Distillation of Wood and Cellulose under Pressure.
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation T o promote, encourage, a n d aid scientific investigation and research at the University of Wisconsin and to assist in providing means and machinery by which scientific discoveries of the faculty, the staff, alumni, and students may be applied and patented, is the purpose of a newly organized corporation which has taken for its name the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. This corporation, the management of which rests in a board of five trustees, has no capital stock, nor does it ever expect t o pay either dividends or profits. The Research Foundation was organized following the discovery by Professor Harry Steenbock t h a t antirachitic properties can be imparted by irradiation t o foods in which this factor is lacking or deficient in amount. Dr. Steenbock is the first scientist to assign his invention t o the foundation. I t has been reported t h a t the trustees have negotiated a contract with t h e Quaker Oats Company under the terms of which patent applications and possible litigation and t h e designing and construction of the necessary machinery will be financed by the company. In return the Quaker Oats Company is granted the license to the Steenbock invention, for which it will pay a royalty which by the third year following t h e beginning of its commercial use will amount to $60,000 annually.—Science.
New Alloys Zay Jeffries, in a discussion before the New York Electrical Society o n November 17, exhibited bars of new metal alloys stifTer a n d stronger t h a n steel, though composed largely of aluminum. W h e n arranged as miniature cantilever structures like those sometimes used l in bridges or sky scrapers, the bar of the new alloy sank only /v as much under a given load, as a bar of standard steel of the same weight and width. These new strong alloys contain small quantities of constituents which impart great strength and stiffness as well as other desirable properties. T h e process is similar in many ways to t h a t b y which t h e addition of small quantities of other substances t o pure iron produces t h e different grades of steel. Heat treatment designed t o suit each alloy improves t h e strength. Dr. Jeffries explained the slippage theory which accounts for the softness of some metals, where thé arrangement of the atoms p e r m i t s planes of metal to slip over each other like cards of a deck. Photomicrographs of t i e new alloys disclose tiny crystal grains which like sand between the cards operate to prevent slippage. Articles manufactured from new alloys range from a i r p l a n e propellers to t h i n disks of metal t h a t operate phonographs a n d loud speakers. Reference was also made to tests in progress with street and railway cars made of the new aluminum alloys, which offer means of great savings, due to 30 per cent less weight, with an average saving of 22 per cent of the power used for t h e movement of steel cars.
Larson t o Head Dairy Council C. W. Larson's resignation as chief of t h e Bureau of Dairy Industry was announced on December i by Secretary of Agriculture Jardine. T h e resignation will be effective a t the end of this year. On J a n u a r y 1, Dr. Larson will become the d i r e c t o r cf t h e N a t i o n a l Dairy Council, an organization representing the various branches of the dairy industry and devoted to t h e promotion of health a n d child welfare through the education of t h e public as t o the necessity of liberal use of milk and dairy products in a balanced program of healthful living.
Technological Problems of the Steel Industry The United States Steel Corporation, 71 Broadway, New York, Ν . Υ., has available a limited number of copies of an excellent address presented b y W. A. Forbes, assistant to the president, before the American Iron and Steel Institute, October 28, 1927. The title is "Technological Problems of the Steel Industry," and in the 89 pages a considerable number of problems a r e discussed in some detail and much technical information is presented. I t is well known t h a t a clear and complete state ment of a problem goes a long way toward its solution, and since large numbers of those who read these pages are interested in. research of this type, we urge t h a t they request a copy of the paper t o which they can then give their careful attention.
Coolidge Awarded Hughes Medal W. D . Coolidge, assistant director of the research laboratory of the General Electric Company, has been awarded the Hughes medal b y the Royal Society for "distinguished work on x-rays a n d t h e development of highly efficient apparatus for their pro duction." The Hughes medal was first presented in 1913 t o Dr. Alexander G r a h a m Bell. Irving Langmuir, also of the General Electric research laboratory, received it in 1918.
Kettering Donates Science Hall t o Antioch President Morgan of Antioch College has just announced the gift of a science hall to t h a t institution by Charles F. Kettering, chief engineer of the General Motors Corporation. The building with its equipment will cost approximately $300,000 and will b e particularly useful to Antioch, a college with a present enrol m e n t of 688 students, most of whom are working their way through college on the cooperative plan, whereby they spend half their time in the industries.
December JO, 1927
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
Local Section Activities The following items of general interest have been submitted by local section correspondents recently:
The Erie Regional Meeting About seventy-five regional members and guests spent a profit able and a pleasant time visiting Erie and Meadville, Pa., on the occasion of the sixth Regional Meeting of Ohio, Michigan, Lexington, Ky., and Erie, Pa., Sections of t h e Society. As usual the first day, November 11, was devoted to the presen tation of papers of which there was a variety. The sessions of the day were held in t h e auditorium of the Central High School. Starting off with "An Adventure in Research," b y A. W. Browne of Cornell University, the audience was immediately trans ported to a planet in which the role of water was taken by hydronitrogen compounds. T^urnerous demonstrations accompanied this novel adventure of Dr. Browne. This talk was followed by Warren W. Hilditch, Erie, Pa., on " T h e Toxicity of Some Or ganic Acids," and Harry N". Holmes of Oberlin on "The Colloid Chemistry of Soaps" i n which he emphasized the differences between the saturated arid unsaturated fatty acid types of soaps. Several sol va ted soap gels were exhibited. T h e last paper of the morning, "New Aspects in the Use of Liquid Chlorine," was read by A. H. Hooker of Niagara Falls, Ν . Υ. After lunch at the new Cameo restaurant, t h e presentation of papers was resumed a t the Central High School. H. E. Howe spoke briefly on "The New Competition" citing instances to show how chemistry a n d research affect the nation's business. An announcement of a recent discovery t o protect aluminum alloys from corrosion w a s made b y F. C. Frary of New Κ msington, Pa. He stated t h a t a thin covering of aluminum in excess of 99.9 per cent purity prevents corrosion much in the same manner in which galvanized iron is protected from corrosion by zinc. A symposium on chemical education, aided and abetted by the remarks of R. A. Baker of Syracuse University and R. B . Lee of Allegheny College, "brought forth an interesting discussion on the philosophic and the scientific methods of teaching. The final paper on t h e program proved to be a most interesting account of t h e properties of solid carbon dioxide, sold under the name "Dry-Ice," b y J. D . Small of New York city who ex hibited a large cake of this material. On Saturday morning, NOvember 12, several industrial plants in Erie were visited, a n d the afternoon was spent in Meadville as guests of Allegheny- College. After a buffet luncheon t h e visitors witnessed the Allegheny-Geneva football game. T h e enjoyable hospitality of Dr. Lee and his associates a t the College will long be remembered.
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Hinman of The Frederick Post Company addressed the In organic Group on "Some Photo-Sensitive Papers," and F. E. Hartman of the United States Ozone Company spoke to the Electrochemical Group on "Ozone." The meetings of the Section continue to t a x t h e capacity of the facilities at the City Club and if the interest in the Sec tion's meetings is to continue a t its present r a t e of expansion it will be necessary to seek new headquarters irL the near future.
Delaware Section The program of the Delaware Section for December and January is as follows : December 21, 1927—Wilder D. Bancroft of Cornell University, "The Colloid Chemistry of Proteins." January 18, 1928—J. C. Detwiler of the Texas Company, "Recent Developments in the Petroleum Industry."
Florida Section The Florida Section of the American Chemical Society re cently elected the following members to serve as officers of the Section during the coming year: Chairman, Prof. A. P. Black; 1st Vice Chairman, Prof. O. J. Sieplein; 2nd Vice Chairman, S. S. Walker; Sec'y & Treas., Prof. R. C. Goodwin; Councilor, Prof. R. S. Bly. These men assumed the duties of their offices after December 1, 1927.
Indiana Section Ernest Wildman of Earlham College, Richmond, Ind., ad dressed the November meeting, giving an account of the Insti tute of Chemistry held last summer a t State College, Pa., and summarizing some of the more important papers. Dr. Powell of EH Lilly & Co. spoke a t the T u e s i a y luncheon meeting, No vember 15, his subject being "Immunity." The Biennial Student Meeting of the Indiana Section will be held in April, just before the meeting in St. Louis. Professors and their junior and senior students in chemistry from all colleges in the state are to come for a two-day meeting. Talks by na tionally known men en route to St. Louis are planned, as well as trips to chemical industries in and about Indianapolis, t o supply advice, instruction, and enthusiasm to future chemists.
Iowa Section The following officers were elected by the Iowa Section for the year 1928: Chairman, J. L. Whitman; Vice Chairman, Stephen Popoff; Secretary-Treasurer, H. L. Olin; Councilor, L. C. Raiford.
Heuer to Address Philadelphia Section Russell P. Heuer, of the Chemistry Department, university of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, will discuss "Refractories" a t the meeting of the Philadelphia Section of the American Chemi cal Society on Thursday evening, December 15, 1927, a t John Harrison Laboratory of Chemistry (University of Pennsyl vania), 34th and Spruce Streets, Philadelphia. Dr. Heuer plans to. discuss refractories from the viewpoint of chemistry rather than that of ceramics or technology. This will undoubtedly bring valuable suggestions to the makers and users of all kinds of refractories.
Chicago Section Wheeler P. Davey of Pennsylvania State College addressed the Chicago Section a t its November meeting on the subject " W h a t a Chemist Should Learn from X - R a y examination of Crystals." Doctor Davey prefaced his lecture with some of his ideas on the teaching of physical chemistry to students and the value of this particular branch of chemistry to the student. His lecture was illustrated with many slides, which showed the type of apparatus employed, the kind of records obtained, and the types of space models which have resulted from the in vestigations. He concluded his talk with tables showing how the experimental data compared with the calculated values and he gave several examples of the interpretation of t h e x-ray analysis for practical use. An unusually strong program of group meetings followed the main speaker. J. W. K. Glattfeld of the University of Chicago spoke to the Organic Group on "Saccharinic Acid Formation from Sugars," and the Biochemical Group heard an interesting discussion on "The p H of the Gut in Relation to Chemical Bacteriology," by Lloyd Arnold of the University of Illinois College of Medicine. W. F. Faragher of t h e Universal Oil Products addressed t h e Physico-chemical Group on "Studies on the Sweating of Paraffin Wax." The Chemical Education Group continued their lively discussion on t h e teaching of chemistry through a talk: b y A. L. Smith of the Bnglewood High School on "Chemistry, Then and Now." Walker M .
Rochester Section An "Open House" meeting t o which the wives or lady friends of the members were especially invited was held by the Rochester Section on Monday evening, November 2 1 . Arrangements, which were in the hands of a committee consisting of L. R. Adkins, Chairman, Norman Prince, and Ralph Doody, were well thought out and executed. The meeting opened a t six o'clock with a dinner in the dining room adjoining the Kodak Auditorium in which the meeting itself was held. About ninety attended the dinner and about as many more came for the latter part of the program only. Edward G. Miner, President of the Pfaudler Company, gave a short paper on "National Hysteria, with an Illustration," taking as his topic the " T r e n t Affair" of Civil War days and coupling the general excitement which that caused with propa ganda 4 in general and with its especial application during the recent ^world conflict. The paper was well received and aroused considerable discussion. A group of songs was rendered by Ben Weaver and a group of three^motion pictures was shown. Two of these illustrated re cent work in natural color motion picture technic. One was a section from Mack Sennett's "Girls from everywhere" and^was notable for more than its color rendition. The other was a short feature "Buffalo Bill." The third reel was a "scenic" of Grasshopper Glacier Park, Montana. To guarantee that everyone left in a h a p p y mood, the ever thoughtful Billings provided cider, coffee, and doughnuts which, like everything else on the program, were well received.
Sacramento Section At the thirty-eighth regular meeting of the Sacramento Section of the American Chemical Society held Monday evening, No vember 21, 1927, the following officers were elected for the year 1928: Chairman, H. C. Davis, Techow and Davis, Commerical Chemists, Sacramento; Vice Chairman, R . A. Stevenson, (Continued on page 8)
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INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
Western New York Section The Western New York Section of the American Chemical Society held its second meeting of the season a t the Niagara Falls Public Library auditorium, Tuesday evening, November S, 1927, the speaker being Prof. É . Raymond Riegel of the University of Buffalo who discussed "Recent Developments in Chemical Industry." The lecture was a very thorough and clearly explained review of the most important recent new processes in the petroleum, fertilizer, acid, fuel, and other industries, and served as the stimulas for some very interesting discussion. The meeting was preceded by a very pleasant informal dinner a t Pfeiffer's new restaurant, Niagara Falls.
Research Program of Michigan Gas Association Impressed with the necessity of expanding and accelerating t h e amount of research work now being done in the gas industry, t h e Michigan Gas Association h a s launched a program at the University of Michigan, and has employed Elmore S. Pettyjohn as director of research. Mr. Pettyjohn will be able to follow u p t h e laboratory work a t t h e University with actual operating tests on any of t h e gas plants in Michigan, intending to direct his investigations into present-day problems, which would make necessary t h e use of plant and service °quipment to test the value of laboratory studies under the limitations of operating conditions. This will be t h e second important gas research program to b e inaugurated a t the University of Michigan in 1927. Early in the year the American Gas Association appropriated §10,000 a year for five years toward a study of gas for h e a t treating of metals, and this work is now going forward under the direction of the Department of Engineering Research. Since 1900 t h e Michigan Gas Association has maintained a fellowship for making studies in various processes used in gas plants, which has investigated a number of important problems, including the removal of naphthalene, coal-gas manufacture, case hardening, the weathering of coal, gas in japanning and treatment of brass, complete gasification, use of oxygen in gas producers, instantaneous carbonization, and ammonium sulfate production and disposal.
Pulp and Paper Chemical Engineer Wanted Applications for senior chemical engineer (pulp and paper) may be filed with the U. S. Civil Service Commission at Washington, D. C , up to December 27. T h e examination is to fill a vacancy in the Forest Products l a b o r a t o r y at Madison, Wis., a n d vacancies occurring in positions requiring similar qualifications. The salary ranges from $5200 to S6000 a year, the entrance salary within the range stated depending upon the qualifications of the appointee as shown in t h e examination a n d the duty to which assigned. The duties are to plan, conduct, and direct research in chemical engineering dealing with forest products and promote the commercial application of laboratory-proved methods and processes. The duties of the position now vacant a t the Laboratory involve the technical and administrative supervision of the Pulp and Paper Section of the Laboratory in trie conduct of chemical and chemical engineering research in the pulp and paper field. Competitors will not be required t o report for examination a t any place, but will be rated on their education, training, experience, and fitness; and writings t o be filed with t h e application.
Leaves from t h e Notebook of the C h e m i s t The following radio program is being broadcast from the University of Pittsburgh studio of station KDKIA Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 7:15 P. M. by members of the chemistry staff of the University of Pittsburgh, under the heading "Leaves from the Notebook of the Chemist." November 30, " H i s Job and How He Goes about It," D r . Stegenian. December 7, "Grinding Away: Abrasives," Dr. Roche. December 14, " T h e Newer Protective Coatings," Dr. Baldwin. December 21, "Making Pictures—After the Snapshot," Dr. Hjort, January 4, "Like Ivory and Amber: Condensation. Products," Dr. Corn well. January 11. "Approved Food Colors," Dr. King. January 18, "Making Medicines," Dr. L,owy. January 25, "Radium: From Watchdial to Hospital," Professor Silverman.
Edition
Graduate A p p o i n t m e n t s i n Chemistry a t Northwestern
Local Section Activities {Continued from page 3) Superintendent Sacramento Filtration Plant, Sacramento; Councilor, J. H. Jon te, College of the Pacific, Stockton ; Senator, J . H. Norton, Sacramento Junior College, Sacramento; Secretary-Treasurer, R. P. Tucker, State Department of Agriculture, Sacramento.
News
Applications for graduate appointments in chemistry a t Northwestern University, Evanston, 111., should be sent to F r a n k C. Whitmore, National Research Council, Washington, D. C , before March 1, 1928. Before t h a t date each applicant should send the following directly t o the Chemistry D e p a r t m e n t of t h e University : 1. An official transcript of his academic work. 2. A recent inexpensive photograph of himself. I n addition, each applicant should arrange for two former teachers or employers t o write directly to the Chemistry D e p a r t m e n t regarding his qualifications for graduate work. T h e positions which will be open for 1928-29 are of three t y p e s : 1.
2.
3.
Graduate Assistantships Stipends—six hundred and fifty to eight hundred dollars Service required—a maximum of twelve hours service per week in connection with instructional work during the academic year with the exception of the Christmas and Easter vacations Tuition—one hundred and twenty-five dollars per year Registration—eighty per cent of full graduate registration Research Fellowships Stipends—five hundred to one thousand dollars Service required—none Tuition—sixty-three dollars per year Registration—full graduate registration University Fellowships Stipends—five hundred dollars Service required—three hours per week Tuition—none Registration—full graduate registration
All appointments are on the basis of t h e academic year, which begins September 17, 1928, a n d ends J u n e 17, 1929. All n e w graduate students pay a matriculation fee of ten dollars. R e search chemicals are supplied, b u t breakage is charged.
Investigation of Goal Classification T h e initial meetings of the three technical committees of the Sectional Committee on Coal Classification, sponsored b y the American Society for Testing Materials, were held N o v e m b e r 17 in the New York headquarters of the American I n s t i t u t e of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers. A. C. Fieldner of the Bureau of Mines, chairman of t h e Sectional Committee, a n d H a r r y L. Gandy, executive secretary of the National Coal Association and secretary of t h e Sectional Committee, were in attendance. In explaining the duties of t h e three committees, Dr. Fieldner said t h a t t h e Committee on Scientific Classification was to make a study of the possibilities of formulating a system for the classification of coal, based principally upon its constitution, composition, and geological occurrence; t h a t the Committee on Use Classification was charged with making a s t u d y of t h e possibilities in t h e development of such a classification, based principally upon the uses of coal and t h e commercial practice, b u t also correlated with t h e scientific classification. T h e Committee on Marketing Practice is to obtain, collect, a n d correlate marketing practice on coals ar. connected with classification. T h e next meetings of t h e technical committees a n d also of the Sectional Committee on Coal Classification are to be held in New York March 29, 1928. T h e following officers were elected: Committee on Scientific Classification: H . J. Rose, c h a i r m a n ; W. H. Cunningham, vice chairman; W. T . Thorn, secretary. Subcommittees organized: on t h e nature, location, and occurrence of types of American coal; on t h e composition a n d p r o p erties of coal and methods for their determination; and on the proposed classifications of coals. Committee on Use Classification: W. H. Fulweiler, c h a i r m a n ; Malcolm MacFarlane, vice chairman; Gilbert Francklyn, secretary. Committee on Marketing Practice: F . R. Wadleigh, c h a i r m a n ; E . W. Parker, vice chairman; S. B . Crowell, secretary.
An Opportunity i n Books T h e Chemical Foundation, Inc., 85 Beaver St., N e w York, Ν . Υ., is offering at five dollars its set of eight books, w h i c h is a great opportunity for one t o a d d to his library a n d to recom m e n d to others a purchase t h a t is certain t o be profitable. T h e eight books, all fully bound in cloth, could n o t be purchased singly for three times t h a t sum. T h e y are "Life of Pasteur, by Vallery-Radot. "Creative Chemistry," by E. E . Slosson. " T h e Riddle of the R h i n e , " b y Victor Lefebure. "Discovery, t h e Spirit and Service of Science," by Sir R i c h a r d Gregory. " T h e F u t u r e Independence and Progress of American Medicine in the Age of Chemistry," by a committee of American scientists. "Chemistry in Agriculture," edited by J. S. C h a m b e r l a i n a n d C. A. Browne. "Chemistry in Industry," Vols. I a n d I I , edited b y Κ . Ε . H o w e .
