February, 1928
I N D U S T R I A L A N D ELVGINEERING C H E M I S T R Y
substantial nucleus can be created. We do not mean that i t is necessary a t once to build a new laboratory and equip it, but we do mean that this fund should be kept intact, and that the income from it should be used for such pressing problems as now present themselves. There should be no continuing appropriations, for no one can foresee just which problem is going to be the important one tomorrow. The fund will support a limited amount of work, but if properly managed the results should a t once attract additional sums from the industry, and with such a beginning a textile research institute can gradually be expanded to the point where i t can undertake the important research on the many diverse problems which confront the producers and users of the several fibers employed. To scatter the fund means to waste it. To use it for the endowment of a textile research institute means that our own textile industry will finally engage upon research on a scale somewhat comparable to that already achieved in Great Britain and initiated in some of the other countries.
Is Success to Be Penalized? T IS a common observation that those who have never sought assistance and have been successful without special aid have greater difficulty in securing help when it is needed than those who have been more or less dependent on others. The man who habitually pays cash and discounts his bills has more trouble in getting credit, if needed, than those who are experienced in borrowing money and dodging bill collectors. We should not be surprised, therefore, to find some incredulous when told that if certain activities of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY are to be maintained and developed on an adequate scale t o meet present conditions, there must be money beyond present resources. As is well known, the record of the SOCIETY in developing a publication program to carry out its objects as laid down in the Constitution is unique, One needs but to compare the value, as measured by worthy publications supplied to members of various societies. to realize how great has been our ~ Q C I E T I ’ Bsuccess, achieved without a great amount of assistance. We have on record but a few special grants to aid in times of particular stress or to restore to our capital funds amounts needed to continue publication under unusual circumstances. American chemists have been more fortunate than many of their fellow scientists in having laid down for them the broad principle that, whatever their diversification and special interests, they shouId unite in the work of promoting the science. The men foremost in applied chemistry and those responsible for the advance of fundamental work have always joined forces in the furtherance of our work. The data show how well the affairs of the SOCIETYhave been managed, snd while there may be differences of opinion as to the proportion of the SOCIETY’S income that should be expended for certain types of development, the actual financial management has always been in strong hands. As the need has arisen, new projects have been courageously launched and carried to a satisfactory point of service. A failure t o recognize the soundness of these principles has given rise to the existence of several small groups of specialists, each too small to develop adequate publication facilities without external aid. It is only recently that representatives of one great science have united for a publication project. The process required the utmost tact over several years, being finally completed with the aid of a substantial grant from one of the great philanthropic foundations, Our very success now appears a handicap in securing much needed assistance. It is hard for certain sources of funds t o realize that not only has chemistry advanced a t a much
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greater rate than the financial resources of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY,but that the numerous fellowships, institutes, and new research centers created by individuals and philanthropic foundations have resulted in an increase in the papers t o be printed and abstracted. This has actually imposed a further burden of fair proportions upon the SOCIETY, welcome though it is. The chemical industry is pointed out as the benefactor of all this work, and the SOCIETY is invited to turn to it, even though many members of this industry have so recently become established in production as to make it difficult for them to support publication on the basis which they recognize as desirable. The fundamental character of chemical work indicates how extensive should be the assistance given our program. Today medicine looks to chemistry more than to any other one science for the cooperation which will advance the work of preventing and curing disease. Structural materials, as we well know. depend for their perfection upon research as well as chemical control. I n a number of directions progress in such major divisions of human activity as transportation, communication, food production and preservation wait upon new discoieries in the chemical laboratory. We would not be misunderstood as claiming for chemistry the riches of the world, but there can be no disagreement as to the necessity of those contributions which chemistry has made, and is yet to make, to the work of so altering materials of Nature as to render them more satisfactory for man’s needs. I n many cases it becomes our duty to explain to industry, which strictly speaking may not be classified as chemical, the utility of the chemical literature to all and sundry and the special value of our key to articles in all languages. In fine, Chemical Abslracts presents a rare opportunity to reap the profits that come from well-managed cooperative buying, since no one with many, many times the present expenditure could do for himself what Chemical Abstracts does for all. In laboratories everywhere Chemical Abstracts is looked upon as one of the most useful tools. It is felt that this tool can continue to be satisfactory only if the policy of completeness Can be maintained and recognized weaknesses, which inadequate funds have caused, can be removed. I n an effort t o maintain the proper standard, the Directors have continually inrreased the appropriation for Chemical Abstracts. In 1907, $17,450 was appropriated. The minutes of the last meeting show a regular appropriation of $110,000 for 1928, with a supplementary sum of 812,700 to be placed a t the disposal of the editor cf Chemical Abstracts, even if it becomes necessary to take this sum from inreated funds. The Direetors explain that “This was done for the reason that it was felt that the present policy of abstracting all chemical articles appearing in the world should be continued for a t least one in the more year before changing the policy of the SOCIETY, hope that in the interim funds might become available to continue Chemical Abstracts on a scale warranted by its unquestioned importance in both pure and applied chemistry.” Those responsible for the SOCIETY’S finances are making careful plans in the hope that an adequate capital sum may be secured to guarantee the future of Chemical Abstracts. It is a matter for them to plan, but the members of the SOCIETY will doubtless be called upon to assist in one way or another in carrying out whatever is decided. There is no question but that the value of Chemical Abstracts should be maintained a t the highest possible level. Ample organization for the enterprise has become established. The editorial work is in capable hands and members everywhere cooperate. Our pressing problem is that of finding the necessary funds which will have to come from sources other than those now available.
