258
NEWS
size of about 0.4 m m . T h e filtered w a t e r flows t h r o u g h large pipes i n t o t h e conduit, in which there a r e 20 weirs, a n d t h r o u g h t h e l a t t e r t h e water enters a t t h e t o p of the Baldwin reservoir. B o t h t h e new a n d the old plants disinfect t h e filterea water with chlorine, a m m o n i a being used in conjunction. A t times pret r e a t m e n t is practiced in addition t o t h e p o s t - t r e a t m e n t .
E D I T I O N
Vol. 12, N o . 14
T h e balloon tire, the full-air wheel for farm tractors, t h e pneu m a t i c t i r e for railway cars, t h e long list of mechanical r u b b e r articles, rubber c o m p o u n d s for t a n k a n d other linings, balloon fabrics, electrodeposition of rubber—these a n d m a n y o t h e r fea t u r e s will be a m o n g the a t t r a c t i o n s at A k r o n . Akron chemists have a large p a r t in e n t e r t a i n i n g t h e SOCIETY a t Cleveland. T h e y w a n t t o see you i n Akron. Of course, you will want to b e among those p r e s e n t .
News of the Society Members Elected J u l y 1 t o J u l y 15, 1934 A M E S SECTION:
ROCHESTER SECTION
Turgasen, V . L.
Mack, Guilford L.
CLEVELAND S E C T I O N
TOLEDO SECTIOST
Keeler, L. J". McGill, Majtin V .
Haydon, Osborne Mathis, E . Carleton Page, J. Orion
D E T R O I T SECTION
Kimmicli, E d w i n E. Spokes, Ray E.
A S C E K E i x W A D E PARK, SHOWING O N E O P C L E V E L A N D ' S B E A U T I F U L CHCRCHES I N T H E BACKGROUND
NORTH JEKSEY SECTION
TREATING CLEVELAND'S SEWAGE
Cassar, Harold Α.. Meuiy, Walter C .
T h e r e a r e t h r e e sewage-treatment p l a n t s used b y Cleveland and. some of its suburbs. T w o a r e on t h e lake front and one o n t h e Cuyahoga R i v e r about 15 miles from i t s m o u t h . T h e "Easterly p l a n t a t present is merely a screening a n d gritremoval plant, of which a n addition is n o w being b u i l t . T h e e n larged plant is designed for t h e complete t r e a t m e n t of 123 million gallons daily, w i t h a screening c a p a c i t y for 230 million gallons daily. T h e Westerly plant i s a partial t r e a t m e n t plant, consist i n g of b a r gratings for t h e r e m o v a l of screenings, grit chambers, 16 Imhofx t a n k s , a n d post-chlorination e q u i p m e n t for s u m m e r use. X h e Southerly sewage t r e a t m e n t p l a n t represents an invest m e n t of 3.5 million dollars. I t is a conventional Tmhoff t a n k trickling filter t y p e , capable of t r e a t i n g a n average flow of 3 0 million gallons p e r d a y . I t comprises a screen building with 5 flow channels, o n e d r y weather flow channel, a n d 4 grit chambers, a Venturimeter, 12 Imhoff t a n k s , a p u m p house with 3 electrically d r i v e n centrifugal pumps, 3 dosage t a n k s , a n d 6 acres of trickling filters, 3 secondary settling t a n k s w i t h D o r r clarifiers and sludge p u m p s , nearly a n acre of glass-covered sludge d r y i n g beds, and a well-equipped laboratory. While t h e operation of t h e p l a n t could b e described i n detail, those w h o a r e interested will find i t m o r e profitable t o visit i t a n d in a d d i t i o n t o t r a c e the course of t h e sewage, see w i t h w h a t suc cess t h e p l a n t is k e p t clean a n d as free a s possible from obnoxious odors, a n d how i t s naturally beautiful setting is enhanced b y artistic landscaping. T h e public i s always welcome to inspect t h e plant a n d guides are furnished t o groups to explain its opera tion. PROGRESS IN ELECTRODEPOSITIOX
T h o s e interested in electroplating a n d electroforming will find interesting t h e results of research b y t h e H a r s h a w Chemical C o . laboratories of Cleveland, where solutions of u n u s u a l interest for i h e deposition of nickel, copper, t i n , cadmium, a n d zinc h a v e been -developed. T h e object h a s been t o secure greater density a n d i m p r o v e d adherence with high metallic luster, a n d m u c h success ihas rewarded these efforts. AKRON" AND R U B B E R
A k r o n , a n h o u r ' s ride s o u t h of Cleveland, is t h e world's rubber . metropolis. O n o n e day during t h e Cleveland meeting t h e great r u b b e r p l a n t s i n Akron will open t h e i r doors t o visiting chemists. R u b b e r p r o d u c t s directly affect t h e activities of a l l individuals and., whether interested i n t h e h u n d r e d s of raw materials which find, a place i n rubber c o m p o u n d s or i n specialties of r u b b e r m a n u f a c t u r e , t h e y will b e found i n some one of the great p l a n t s a t Akron. A m e r i c a n r u b b e r companies a r e now growing rubber i n S u m a t r a , Liberia, a n d Brazil. A l t h o u g h G r e a t Britain and H o l l a n d control 90 p e r c e n t of t h e w o r l d ' s production, some degree of American independence i s i n sight w i t h o u r increased u s e of r e claimed rubber, w i t h t h e proof t h a t t h e guayule can p r o d u c e r u b b e r i n o u r a r i d Southwest, a n d t h e growing production of BmPrene. M e m b e r s of t h e A M E R I C A N CEDBMICAX. S O C I E T Y
are
familiar
w i t h t h e activities of the Division of R u b b e r Chemistry a n d with m u c h t h a t h a s b e e n done through, research t o advance r u b b e r technology, b u t i t will b e interesting t o see actual operation of t h e plants where continual i m p r o v e m e n t i n rubber ..«compounds, in t i r e design, a n d i n the use of fabric a n d cord, i n thejappli cation of latex, of accelerators, a n d a n t i o x i d a n t s h a s b r o u g h t con s t a n t l y t o h a n d products capable of b e t t e r a n d longer service.
"UNIVERSITY OF I L L I N O I S SECTION
NORTHEASTERN SECTION
Kirkwood, John. G. OKLAHOMA SECTION
Gelston, W. R., Jr. 1 Thurston, J. T . 1
-
VIRGINIA S E C T I O N
Clift, William W E S T E R N N E W Y O R K SECTION
Paulson, P. M . No S E C T I O N
Mace, E. VV.
Macallum, E. Neil
PHILADELPHIA SECTION
Olin. John F . NRA THE
1
Junior member.
APPROVES CHEMICAJL E N G I N E E R I N G MENT SUBDIVISON C O D E SUPPLEMENTAL C O D E f o r t h e C h e m i c a l
EQUIP Engineering
Equipment S u b d i v i s i o n of t h e M a c h i n e r y a n d Allied Products I n d u s t r y was a p p r o v e d b y National Recovery Administrator H u g h S. Johnson on J u l y 5, 1934:, and b e c a m e effective o n July 16, 1934. In. a p p r o v i n g this code (which is a supplement t o t h e Basic Code of t h e M a c h i n e r y a n d Allied P r o d u c t s I n d u s t r y a p p r o v e d March 17, 1934), t h e A d m i n i s t r a t o r o r d e r e d deleted a clause under w h i c h members of t n e industry, in assenting t o t h e code, held that t h e y d i d n o t thereby a s s e n t to modifications or changes thereof. T h e Code A u t h o r i t y for t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of this code con sists of: J. V. N . D o r r , president, D o r r Co.; Η . D . Miles, president, Buffalo F o i m d r y & M a c h i n e C o . ; W m . E . Hall, president, D u r i r o n Co. ; C. L . Campbell, president, Ε . Β . Badger & Sons Co.; BC. E. L a B o u x , president, L a B o u r C o . ; D . W . Sowers, president, Sowers Mfg. Co.; D . C . K i n g s b u r y , chief engineer, General Ceramics Co.; S. F . Spangler, vice president, Chemical Construction Co.; J a m e s E . M o u l , g e n e r a l manager, Turbo-Mixer C o . ; Arthur W r i g h t , proprietor, A r t h u r W r i g h t & Associates; t o g e t h e r w i t h n o t m o r e t h a n t w o others t o be elected b y members of t h e industry n o t m e m b e r s of the Chemical Engi neering Equipment I n s t i t u t e . The secretary of t h e Code A u t h o r i t y is D . H . Killeffer, 60 E a s t 42nd St., N"ew York, Ν". Υ., from w h o m copies of t h e code a n d other information m a y b e obtained. UNIVERSITY O F SOUTHERN - CALIFORNIA N E W COURSES THE
ANNOUNCES
CHEMIOAJL. E N G I N E E R I N G D E P A R T M E N T of t h e
University
of Southern California announces two courses f o r t h e fall a n d spring terms, respectively, o n Rubber T e c h n o l o g y a n d Synthetic Resins. These w i l l e a c h consist of twelve evening lectures and discussions a n d will b e given b y R. B . Stringfield, secretarym a n a g e r of i;he D e n t a l Plastics Co. M r . Stringfield h a s been active i n the field, of rubber and plastics for m a n y years a n d was formerly chief c h e m i s t of t h e G o o d y e a r Tire a n d R u b b e r Co. of California^ •;v.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
" T H E PROSPERITY P R O C E S S , " a n e w 2-reel motion picture snowing applications of t h e oxy-acetylene process of weldhig a n d cutting m e t a l s , h a s just been produced b y t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Acetylene Association, 30 E a s t 42nd St., N e w York, ?%,. Y . T h e film, is available in 1 6 - m m . size, which c a n b e shr w n on s t a n d a r d p o r t a b l e v 16-him. motion p i c t u r e projectors I t is suitable for teçBhical ' society meetings, engineering jolleges, technical schools, e t c ^ . a n d requires a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 5 m i n u t e s for showing." 'Ajrrangèrnents to borrow t h e film c a n ' «e m a d e t h r o u g h the office of t r i e s e c r e t a r y of t h e association.
July 20, 1934
INDUSTRIAL
AND ENGINEERING
Gains in Explosives and Sulfur as Indexes to Recovery
700
A HEIGHTENED activity in the production of two quite unre lated commodities, explosives and sulfur, affords a good index to general recovery in the last twelve or fifteen months. Ex plosives (not including ammunition or fireworks) are in demand chiefly for coal mining and construction work on highways, rail ways, dams, etc., while sulfur finds its great use in the manufac ture of sulfuric acid, which plays such a necessary part in chemi cal and other industries. Both registered good gains in the latter part of 1933, and the greater rate of production has con tinued in the present year.
600
Production of explosives is marked by seasonal trends, the highest point of the year usually being reached about October, corresponding to greatest activity in coal mining. Last year the pick-up began in June and July and the record for new orders (figures for new orders are practically the same as those for pro duction and shipments) in the second half of the year went 21 per cent beyond the total for the like period of 1932, although they were still somewhat below that for the second half of 1931 MILLIONS OF POUNDS 40 35 30 Z5 20 ,5
jv\
1\Au \
259
THOUSANDS OF TONS 800
OTTO WILSON, 3025 Fifteenth St., Ν". W., Washington, D. C.
EXPLOSIVES
CHEMISTRY
]
—
500 1400 300
zoo 100 0 19£8
1929
1930
193!
1 1932.
1933)
1934J
SuiiFTiR PRODUCTION (TEXAS ONLY) 1928-34: States production is given by the Bureau of Mines as 1,406,063 long tons, 58 per cent more than in 1932 but 29 per cent less than the average production for the five years 1928-32. For 1932 and immediately preceding years, Texas production of mineral sulfur represented practically the entire output of t h e country. I n 1933 Louisiana companies produced approximately 321,000 tons, and the Texas output represented only about 77 per cent of the total. The proportion in 1934 is unknown. N O T E : Quarterly statistics heretofore issued by the Department of Commerce, presumably covering total U . S. production, ae given for example in the N E W S EDITION of M a y 10, 1934, should be taken as applying t o Texas, only.
r ν / V A
~
CINCHONA I N FORMOSA
THE PROJECT of the Japanese Government to establish t h e i production of cinchona bark on the island of Formosa, acting \ 1 t 1 f 1 | ι ι ι 1 t ι ι ι ι 10 J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M through the Savages Division of the Police Department of t h e 1934 1933 Formosa Government, was noted in the Oil, Paint, and Drug Re 1930 11931 193Z porter of July 9. According to this account, the Japanese officials EXPLOSIVES. N E W O R D E R S , 1930-34 have drafted Mr. Hoshi, who is experienced in the manufacture of quinine, to take charge of this enterprise, which is designed t o (1933, 145,685,000 pounds; 1932, 120,143,000 pounds; 1931, break the monopoly so far enjoyed by the Dutch. 153,194,000 pounds). For the first five months of the present But it is to the following feature we wish to call attention. year, however, new orders for explosives have been higher than Mr. Hoshi proposes to promote the material development of t h e for the like period of the last two years, and have approached the Formosa head hunters and intends to give them "stability of 1931 record. For the last five years the January-May totals living, peace of mind, and hope." The government proposes t o for new orders have been as follows: 1930, 178,256,000 pounds; compensate the natives for their labor and ultimately t o make 1931, 143,452,000 pounds; 1932, 92,720,000 pounds; 1933, this cinchona project the "business of the savages," but note t h e 83,343,000 pounds; 1934, 133,002,000 pounds. following scale of wages paid partly in merchandise and partly Returns for explosives are comprised in figures for four classes— in money. Each day the men are to receive the equivalent of black blasting powder in granular form, the same in pellet form, one pint of rice, one-tenth pint of salt, three-fourths ounce of high explosives other than "permissibles," and high explosives sugar, one salted sardine, and the equivalent of six American coining under the head of "permissibles," or those bearing the cents in cash. Men and women will not be paid the same wages, certified approval of the Bureau of Mines. The third grqup but the women will receive from 2.49 to 3.48 cents a day, as t h e usually comprises about 65 per cent of the whole. In the first case may be. In addition, one quart of sake, the Japanese five months of 1933 and 1934 the returns for these four groups spirituous liquor, is to be provided for each worker every ten days. were as follows: The Savages Division will have control of these payments and will also determine the hours of labor, lodging equipment, sanita PRODUCTION (OR ORDERS) OF EXPLOSIVES, JANUARY-MAY" tion, health equipment, and education. 1933 1934 We are not prepared to say whether the scale of living possible Pounds Pounds on these wages is that to which the Formosa head hunter is ac . Black blasting powder: customed, nor whether it is adequate for his needs, but it takes no 16,146,625 12,407,100 Granular 13,808,500 11,108,575 imagination to appreciate the effect of this kind of competition, Pellet 84,652,381 48,184,692 High, explosives, other than permissibles if unrestrained, upon American labor standards. Verily, great 18,394,635 11,642,931 High explosives, permissibles disparities exist in manufacturing costs and in deviations from the American standard of living. TOTAL 83.343,298 133,002,141 a Black-powder figures represent 100 p e r cent of total United States production, high-explosive figures more than 96 per cent.
Blasting powder is used chiefly in coal mining, and high explo sives in railway and other construction work. The latter em ployment called for 38,755,000 pounds of high explosives in the January—May period of this year, almost double that of the first five months of 1933, which was 20,728,000 pounds. SULFUR
For the first quarter of 1934 production of sulfur in Texas totaled 291,366 long tons, which was 150 per cent higher than for the first quarter of 1933 and 16 per cent more than for JanuaryMarch, 1932. This gain was a continuation of. the upward tendency in the latter part of 1933, which brought the year's total for Texas to approximately one million tons, or some 23 per cent over the 1932 output. No returns are available showing the output for the country as a whole during the present year. For 1933 the total United
SYNTHETIC D Y E EXPORTS EXCEED IMPORTS THAT THE UNITED STATES is fast becoming independent of
foreign sources for synthetic dyes and medicinals and is de veloping an export business in these products is evidenced by the trade record for the first four months of 1934 according to t h e Chemical Division of the Department of Commerce. Despite a marked increase in the consumption of dyes since the beginning of the year, imports of such products as synthetic colors, dyes, and stains amounted to only 1,503,500 pounds, valued at S 1,926,000, for the first four months of the year. Ex ports during the same period totaled 6,917,000 pounds, valued at $1,983,000. Imports of synthetic medicinals during the first four months of 1934 totaled 4200 pounds, valued at $29,340, against exports of 7,643,000 pounds, valued a t $804,700, during the same period.
