News s
Industrial
Edition Engineering
and Chemistry
^Published by the ^American ChemiealSociety
Vol. 5, No. 10
I n s t i t u t e of Chemistry to Broaden A. C. S. Activities The Institute of Chemistry of the American Chemical Society, which is to be held at Pennsylvania State College July 4 to 30, ushers in another activity of the Society which gives promise of great and useful service to chemists, teachers, industrialists, and others interested in the development of chemistry. The committee in charge of the Institute, consisting of Ν. E. Gordon, B. S. Hopkins, C. E . K. Mees, C. M. A. Stine, G. L. Wendt, F. C. Whitmore, W. R. Whitney, and F. W. Willard, has arranged a program consisting of: (1) A series of daily con ferences, (2) intensive courses of lectures, (3) evening talks, (4) industrial exhibits and films, (5) recreational opportunities. The daily conferences will be conducted by men from widely differing lines of work, recognized leaders in their fields. In general, there will be a different speaker each day; but, so far as possible, the talks will have a logical sequence, at least to the extent of bringing together those papers on related subjects. The intensive courses of lectures have been outlined in the May» 10 issue of the News Edition. Although these courses last six weeks, as already mentioned, they are being arranged with special reference to those who will be at State College only during the month of July; and it will be possible for members wishing to do so to select courses for daily attendance, or to visit various courses as desired. It is likely, furthermore, that even those attending the Institute for shorter periods, such as a week or a week-end, may be very glad to attend the lectures given in these courses, and they will have every opportunity to do so. Talks of somewhat different character will be given in the evenings. They will include popular presentations of chemical subjects, talks of a broader character and application than the subjects of the morning conferences, and addresses on some of the more general applications of chemistry to human affairs. Another valuable feature of the Institute is a series of exhibits, talks or films presented by representatives of industrial concerns. Many large industrial corporations have available moving picture films and other exhibits describing their processes and products in a fascinating and instructive manner. A number of these will be secured so that, if possible, there will be a daily exhibit of this sort. H. E . Howe will be the General Chairman of the series of daily conferences. Although arrangements for all the speakers have not yet been completed, it is now possible to announce a schedule, so that those who find it impossible to attend the Institute for the entire four weeks, may select the period of most value to them and make their plans in advance. July 5 and 6—Economic factors in chemical industries and industrial re search. July 7—Modern x-ray technique and its applications to industrial problems. July 8—Properties of metals are related to their crystal structure. July 9—Control of corrosion. July 10—Sunday. July 11—New alloys. July 12 and 13—Discussion of educational methods in chemistry. July 14, 15, and 16—Catalysis, including modern developments in high pressure syntheses. July 17—Sunday. July 18 and 19—Continuation of catalysis discussion. July 20—Recent advances in spectroscopic method? of analysis. July 21—Open date. July 22—Modern theories of concentrated solutions. July 23—New organic solvents. July 24—Sunday. July 25—Open date. July 26—29—Biochemistry including the relations of chemistry and physics to biology, nutrition and deficiency diseases, the effect of ultra violet light on growth, etc.
It will be noted that, where possible, the conferences have been so scheduled that there is a continuity of interest over the
MAY 20, 1927
week-end. This arrangement has been chosen to make it possible for those who attend the Institute for a short time only, to obtain the maximum advantage by spending the week end at State College. A number of important topics such as distillation, heat transfer and so on, have been omitted from this schedule because they appear unsuited for general discussion; but every opportunity will be given members attending the Institute to arrange special conferences on these or other sub jects in which special groups are interested. Some of the prominent speakers who will be present at the Institute have already been announced, and hardly need intro duction to the members of the American Chemical Society. The first to arrive from abroad will be Eric K. Rideal of Cam bridge University, England, whose recently revised book on Catalysis, written in collaboration with Hugh S. Taylor of Princeton, is one of the best extensive presentations of this sub ject. Dr. Rideal lectured at the University of Illinois for the year 1919-20. Hans Tropsch, who will arrive about July 15, is associate director of the Coal Research Institute, MuhlheimRuhr, Germany, of which Franz Fischer is the director, and has been occupied for many years with problems relating to the nature and utilization of coal, and more recently with industrial catalysis resulting in the production of synthetic motor fuels and petroleum-like products. Drs. Rideal, Tropsch, and H. S. Taylor of Princeton will take part in the daily conferences and will also conduct a part of the intensive course on catalysis. Chemists from industrial organizations where catalysis plays an important role will be invited to take part in these sessions. The interest of industrial concerns in the Institute has al ready been evidenced by the personnel of the committee in charge, and the arrangements which in several cases have already been completed for having industrial men take a prominent part in the activities of the Institute. The du Pont Company is contributing the services of A. W. Kenney of the Experimental Station, Wilmington, to act as executive secretary of the Insti tute, and Victor Cofman, also of the Experimental Station, who will collaborate with Harry N . Holmes of Oberlin College, in giving the course of lectures on colloids. L. H. Germer, of the Bell Telephone Laboratories, New York, and L. Tonks, of the General Electric Company's Research Laboratory, Schenectady, have already made arrangements to assist in giving a course on advanced electron theory. Besides these, a number of industrial organizations have offered to send speak ers, exhibits, such as moving pictures, etc. Representatives of a number of universities will be present throughout the Institute, and will assist by conducting courses, taking part in the daily conferences, and giving some of the evening talks. James Kendall, dean of the Graduate School, New York University, will conduct work in advanced inorganic chemistry, and Jean Piccard of the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, in advanced organic chemistry. C. P. Smyth of Princeton and Emma P. Carr of Mt. Holyoke are to give courses in physical chemistry, and Marie Farnsworth of New York University a course in analytical chemistry. W. P. Davey and R. A. Dutcher, both of the Pennsylvania State College, will direct Institute courses. Frank C. Whitmore, North western University, will be at State College for the entire period, and will be largely responsible for the program of the evening talks. He will also take an active part in the general arrange ments, which are under the direction of Gerald Wendt, Dean of the School of Chemistry and Physics at the Pennsylvania State College. The arrangements which have been made for lodging the members of the Institute in a group of new fraternity houses, will contribute largely to the success of the Institute. The houses, constituting a group adjacent to the campus, will natu rally be the center of the community life of the Institute.
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INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
Each house accommodates 25 to 30 people and has a spacious, attractively furnished lounge and dining room on tie first floor, with bedrooms upstairs. Most of the bathrooms are equipped with showers, and ordinarily occupants will be lodged two in a room, at a rate of $15.00 per week, including board. Those desiring rooms to themselves may secure them for the additional charge of $5.00 per week. Houses will be reserved for women members of the Institute, and also for men accompanied by their wives. So far as possible, the visiting speakers and members of the stafT of lecturers will be housed in the dormitories also, so as to make them more readily and informally accessible. Men bringing their families, or who for other reasons do not wish to live in the dormitories, will be able to secure other accommodations, and the Secretary of the Institute will be glad to assist them if desired. It will be possible for such members to board at the dormitories, if they wish to do so, at a charge of $10.00 per week. The charge for dormitory accommodations for periods less than a week is $2.50 a day, and for membership in the Institute, $2.00 per day. In order that adequate provision may be made for all who attend the Institute, will you, if you have any expectation of going, please check and send the following blank to the American Chemical Society Institute of Chemistry, State College, Pennsylvania. All suggestions will be welcome.
American Chemical Society Institute of Chemistry, State College, Pennsylvania Please send further information about the Institute of Chemistry D I hope to attend the Institute D I expect to be present from to My party will include, besides myself, adults and children. I suggest the following special topics for discussion or lectures: Signature Address .
Chief of Bureau of Chemistry and Soils Sought The United States Civil Service Commission states that since the recent announcement of an examination to fill the vacant position of chief of the Bureau of Chemistry and Soils, in the Department of Agriculture, the salary of the position has been raised to $7500 a year. It is probable that the position of associate chief of the same Bureau, at a salary of $6000 a year, will also be filled from the register of eligibles established as a result of this examination. The duties of the position of Associate Chief will be to assist the Chief in administering the activities of the Bureau. Instead of the usual form of civil service examination, the qualifications of candidates will be passed upon by a special board of examiners, composed of A. F. Woods, director of research in the Department of Agriculture, Jacob G. Liprnan, director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, and Frederick W. Brown, consulting examiner of the United States Civil Service Commission. For the purposes of this examination, these men will be examiners of the Civil Service Commission. Qualified persons who wish to be considered for this vacancy should apply to the United States Civil Service Commission, Washington, D. C , for Form 2600, which must be executed and returned, with a list of the applicants technical publications and reprints of such of these publications as are available, in time to be on file in the office of the Civil Service Commission at Washington not later than June 7, 1927.
Society of Chemical Industry Elects Officers I,. V. Redman was reelected chairman of the American Section of the Society of Chemical Industry at its meeting on May 6, 1927. The other officers elected were: Treasurer, F. C. R. Hemingway, Secretary, Foster Dee Snell, and members of the Executive Committee: D. D. Jackson, Irving Hochstadter, H. R. Moody and James Kendall. The papers read at the meeting dealt with the subject of activated carbons. Paul Mahler discussed the general subject of activated carbons and George C. Lewis, of the Darco Sales Corporation, discussed "Some Aspects of Carbons, Their Physical Characteristics and Manufacture."
News Edition
Princeton Lays Cornerstones for Chemical a n d Engineering Buildings Princeton University began a new era in science teaching on May 12 when Thomas D. Jones of Chicago pressed a button which simultaneously laid cornerstones for an engineering building and a chemistry laboratory. Many scientists, engineers, and leaders of industry attended the ceremonies. President Rosengarten of the American Chemical Society and Dr. C. H. Herty of the Chemical Foundation were among the distinguished chemists present. Mr. Jones made the first gift toward the $2,000,000 fund Princeton is seeking for fundamental scientific research. His recent gift of $200,000 founded the Henry Burchard Fine Chair of Mathematics Research. In presenting Mr. Jones, President John Grier Hibben, who presided, said: "Mr. Jones, who is going to lay the cornerstones for these two buildings, has already laid the cornerstone, not for another building, but for the scientific research fund of Princeton." Dr. Hibben announced the receipt of a letter from Josh C. Brush of Newark, President of the class of 1909, telling that his class is raising S 150,000 to found a chair in research in physics. This will be included in the drive for the $2,000,000 research fund. When it is raised, Princeton is to receive $1,000,000 from the General Education Board. After Mr. Jones had pressed the button which released the two cornerstones, Dean Arthur M. Greene, Jr., of the School of Engineering, and Professor Hugh Scott Taylor, chairman of the chemistry department, applied the mortar under the stones for their respective buildings. Dr. Michael I. Pupin, professor of electro-mechanics at Columbia, delivered the principal address. He pictured Princeton as a leader in research in this country, and eulogized Joseph Henry, former Princeton professor and inventor of the principle underlying telegraphic communication. " Philadelphia, Princeton, and Menlo Park are the beginning, the middle, and the end of a tiny bit of territory which is the cradle of American history," he said. "No other spot in the vast territory of these United States reminds us of so many great historical events. N o names of Americans remind us of so many great events in the history of American science as those of Benjamin Franklin of Philadelphia, Joseph Henry of Princeton, and Thomas Edison of Menlo Park. Just as the achievements of the Continental Congresses in Philadelphia and Washington's victory at Trenton and at Princeton laid the foundation of these United States, so the scientific achievements of Franklin, of Joseph Henry, and of Edison laid the foundation and added some of the superstructures of earlier American science." After the ceremonies the guests gathered in Madison Hall where Governor A. Harry Moore of New Jersey, Dean Green and Dr. Taylor spoke after luncheon had been served. Dr. Taylor stressed the point that the researches undertaken at Princeton are fundamental in character rather than specific and should therefore receive general support. New Jersey, it was pointed out, stands sixth among the States of the Union in industrial activity and New Jersey industries must look practically exclusively to Princeton for the development of the fundamental sciences upon which their future development will rest. Princeton has every intention of fulfilling this mission and the new laboratories will contribute greatly to this end.
Wagner Again Heads Chemists' Club T. B. Wagner was reelected president of the Chemists' Club at its annual meeting at the clubhouse, 52 East 41st Street, New York, on May 4. Other officers elected for the fiscal year 1927-1928 were: Resident Vice Près., C. R. Downs; NonResident Vice Près., Ε. R. Weidlein; Secretary, R. T. Baldwin, and Treasurer, A. G. Robinson. J. W. H. Randall and F. E. Barrows were elected trustees for three years. Reports of committees showed the club to be in flourishing condition. Chairman Barrows of the Library Committee reported the gift of two libraries to the Club during the year, those of Chas. F. Chandler and Auguste J. Rossi, and the purchase of the library of J. Merritt Matthews. A plan is under consideration, according t o Mr. Barrows, for a considerable expansion of the library which will make it the outstanding chemical library of the country. President Wagner announced that the Club now owns 9 5 per cent of the stock of the Chemists' Building Co., owner of the clubhouse, and that vigorous efforts are being made to acquire the remaining 5 per cent. The membership of the Club, including all classes of members, is now 1364. John Morris Weiss, B.S. and Charles Raymond Downs, Ph.D. announce that after M a y 1, 1927 their partnership ac tivities as consulting chemists and chemical engineers will be carried on in corporate form under the name Weiss and Downs, Inc. The same personal services of both individuals are avail able as heretofore.
May 20, 1927
INDUSTRIAL
JLND ENGINEERING
CHEMISTRY
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Fifth Colloid S y m p o s i u m a t M i c h i g a n Ample facilities at reasonable rates will be available to tiiose who are planning t o attend the Fifth National Colloid Symposium at the University of Michigan, June 22 to 24. Accommodations will be available in the women students' residence halls, fraternity houses, and private homes. The rooms in the residence halls are mostly single rooms— men being assigned one floor, women another floors. Rates will be not over S2.25 per person per day. Fraternity rooms will in all cases be double rooms with single beds. RLates will be not over .SI.75 per person per day. Rooms in priva-tehomes will vary with the type of the house. Hotel reservations should be made directly with tlie hotel. All rooms are double rooms with double beds. Rooms Roorms Hotel without bath with bath Aliénai $4.00 $
