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no great increase in production, although in 1914, when the price suddenly trebled, a number of firms were reported t o have begun the manufacture. The price of oxalic acid was about 7 or 8 cents in 1913, but i t increased very rapidfy until April 1916, when it reached a maximum of 80 cents a pound. Since then the price has dropped and during the last year it has remained fairly constant a t about 45 cents. This is due in large part t o the increasing imports of Norwegian, Dutch, and English acid. The process of manufacture employed in this country requires the use of caustic potash and before the war the American manufacturers depended entirely upon Germany for this material. When hostilities shut off this source of supply, the manufacturers turned to the American producers af potash
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from wood ashes. The greater supplies of Nebraska and Utah could not be utilized as these deposits yield chloride of potash which must be further treated before caustic potash is obtained. In Germany oxalic acid is made from producer gas and caustic soda, and as the gas is a waste product in several industries this process offers a very profitable method of manufacture. Indications are that the American manufacturers of oxalic acids will not be able to compete with the German producers after the war unless a cheap supply of caustic potash becomes available. As far as present experiments show, the sawdust process now used in the United States will not give satisfactory results without the use of caustic potash. The producer-gas process appears more practicable, but i t involves certain engineering difficulties which American manufacturers have not yet solved.
OBITUARIES ARTHUR HENRY ELLIOTT The recent death of Dr. Elliott is deeply regretted by a large circle of professional and other friends, who valued highly his friendship and were always pleased to meet him. He left the impress of his personality on the Societies to which he belonged, and on all who came in contact with him. He was always ready to lend a helping hand, and many young members of the chemical and engineering professions are deeply in his debt for assistance which he gave them in beginning their careers. Dr. Elliott was born in London, England, in July 1851. He died a t Peekskill, N. Y . , on February 28, 1918. His family name was originally Aylot and came from ?Normandy with William the Conqueror. He was taken t o France when he was a child and received his early education in a Convent school near the Belgian border, learning French before he learned English. On returning to England, a t the suggestion of his father, who was a physician, he took up the study of medicine. He was so impressed, however, by the lectures of his professors of chemistry ( T y n d a l l and others) that he dropped medi. cine, and in 1866 entered the School of Chemistry in South Kensington, graduating in 1869. He also attended lectures a t the School of Mines in Jermyn Street. While still a student he obtained a reputation as an iron and steel analyst, reading on March 18, 1869, an article on the determination of carbon in ARTHURHENRYELLIOTT cast iron, before the London Chemical Society, which wasyatfterwards published in the Journal of the Society. Soon after his graduation he was appointed chemist to the Spence alum works in Manchester where acids, alum, and other chemicals were manufactured and the by-products of gas works were handled. In 1870 he entered the service of Prentice Brothers, at Stowmarket, where he had to do with the manufacture of acids, fertilizers, and especially guncotton. I n 1872 he started on a trip around the world, with a view of joining an uncle in Australia, and perhaps going to China. Arriving in New York he presented letters to several chemists, among them one t o Prof. C. F. Chandler, who induced him to stay in America and became his life-long friend. During the next few years he was connected with two different works, one in Baltimore, the other, the Highland Chemical Works, near Peekskill, where he made sulfuric acid from a local deposit of pyrites, as well as from imported sulfur.
I n 1879 Prof. Chandler induced him to extend his chemical studies by entering the School of Mines of Columbia University. He joined the third class and graduated in 1881, receiving the degree of Ph.B. in chemistry. He then took a post-graduate course and received in 1883 the degree of Ph.D. with a major in economic geology and a minor in the chemistry of explosives. From 1880 t o 1888 he was associated with Prof. Chandler in his lectures a t the College of Physicians and Surgeons and a t the N. Y . College of Pharmacy. I n 1886 he was appointed demonstrator in chemistry, and in 1888 professor of physics and chemistry and director of the laboratories in the College of Pharmacy. I n 1889 he relieved Prof. Chandler of his lectures on inorganic chemistry entirely, lecturing on both physics and chemistry t o juniors and seniors, as well as giving laboratory instruction in analytical chemistry and practical pharmacy, Prof. Chandler retaining organic chemistry. Dr. Elliott continued to discharge these duties until 1897 when he resigned. In 1903 he was made emeritus professor of chemistry and physics, and in 1905 he was elected a trustee, which position he filled until his death. I n May 1880 he became connected with the Municipal Gas Lighting Company and in 1884, when the consolidation of the New York gas companies took place, he became engineerchemist t o the Consolidated Gas Company, which position he retained until his resignation in 1910. He was retained however as consulting chemist until his death. In 1885 he became associated with Prof. Chandler in the editorship of Anthony’s Photographic Bulletzn, a position which he held until the end of 1893. I n 1887 he married Miss Kate P. Uglow, daughter of Dr. James Uglow, a surgeon in the Ci\ il War. He is survived by his widow, three daughters, and a granddaughter. He belonged to the following Societies and Clubs: London Chemical S6ciety American Chemical Society Society of Chemical Industry American Institute of Chemical Engineers The Chemists’ Club American Institute of Mining Engineers
Ameriran Gas Institute Society of Gas Lighting Illuminating Engineering Society New Columbia York University Academy of Club Sciences Fireside Club, Flushing The Masonic Order
PUBLICATIOXS
1. “On the Determination of the Total Carbon in Cast Iron,” J . Chem. Soc., 1869. 2. “On the Determination of Sulfur in Cast Iron,” Chem. N e w s , 1870 an,9 1871.Dingler’s polytech. J 199,376. 3. Auuaiatus for the Rauid Agalvsis of Gas Mixtures.” Chem. News, 1881. 4. “Report on the Methods and Apparatus for Testing Inflammable Oils,’’ 2nd Annual Report of the N. Y. State Board of Health, 1882, p. 449. 5. “Auoaratus for Rauid Gas Analvsis.” Chenz. News. 1883. 6. ‘‘OL-Oil of Vitriol ’’ about 187.6.7 . “Table on Sulfuric Acid Showing Physical Properties of All Strengths PublishEd b y Mfg. Chemists A&. of U. S.” 8. On Nitro-Saccharose and NitrE-Glycerin,” about 1881. 9. “Elliott’s Qualitative Analysis 1892, 120 pages. Besides many other papers on ihdustrial and sanitary topics. This is certainly the record of a most industrious and useful life.
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C. F. CHANDLER
June, 1918
T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y JAMES HENRY SHEPARD
James Henry Shepard, B.S., professor of chemistry in the South Dakota Agricultural College and chemist of the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, died February 2 I , 1918, a t St. Petersburg, Florida, from heart failure following pneumonia. He was born a t Lyons, Michigan, April 14, 1850, and was graduated from the University of Michigan in 1875. The next thirteen years were given t o natural science teaching in high schools of his native state and to the writing of an elementary textbook on chemistry (188j), which was quite widely used, and “Notes on Chemistry” (1886): I n June 1888 he married Miss Clara R. Durand, of Ypsilanti, Michigan, and in the fall of that year accepted the chair of chemistry and the affiliated experiment station position in which he remained until his death. From 1890 to 1900 he carried the added responsibilities of the College vice presidency, and from 1895 to 1901, that of the Station directorship; also, for a decade or more, beginning in 1890, he served as chemist to the State Food Commission. Teaching chemistry was his chief life-work. His sympathy, alertness, enthusiasm and information made him a loved guide . and leader. His work as Station chemist was that of a pioneer in a new territory, where a survey of resources was the first need. His principal bulletins deal with the drinking and artesian waters of South Dakota, with its native and introduced forage crops, with durum wheat and its values for bread and macaroni making,
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and especially with the improvement of the sugar richness of the sugar beet. As a food chemist, he made two studies of especial note. The first was upon the “constants of whisky.” I t led to his appointment as a representative of the State Food‘Officials a t President “aft’s hearing, June 1909, upon the meaning of the term “whisky.” The second related t o the bleaching of flour and its influence upon the wholesomeness of the product. This work resulted in his being called by the United States upon the occasion of various hearings and trials relating to the product; and later by the English government in the celebrated case against Andrew. In these trials his knowledge of the subject, resourcefulness, logical mind, psychological insight, and strength of conviction made his services invaluable. By his death, South Dakota has lost a pioneer in higher education and one who has done much for the development of her agricultural resources; the pure food cause, an earnest advocate and helpful investigator; and his friends, one of the most lovable men they have known. WILLIAMFREAR
PERSONAL NOTES Mr. R. C. Burt, formerly with the Barrow-Agee Laboratories, Memphis, Tenn., has enlisted in the Sanitary Corps, Gas Defense Service, and has been assigned t o the Gas Defense Detachment, Astoria, Long Island. Mr. John C. Trimble, formerly a student in the Philadelphia Textile School, has joined the Chemical Service Section, National Army, and is stationed near Yonkers, N. Y. Mr. Jerome D. Stein has resigned his position as chief chemist of the American Zylacq Co., of Newark, N. J., to accept a position with the Air Nitrates Corporation, Agent of Ordnance Department, U. S . A., for the manufacture of ammonium nitrate by the cyanamide process a t Muscle Shoals, Ala. Mr. Frank P. Drane, consulting chemist of Charlotte, N. C., died of pneumonia on April 28. Mr. Russel B. Munroe, formerly stationed in Springfield, Ill., as chief inspector for the U. S . Army a t the plant of the Western Cartridge Co., has been transferred t o the Engineering Bureau, Ordnance Department, Washington, D. C. iMr. R. F. Tissot, formerly employed as assistant chemist a t the Tropical Paint and Oil Co., Cleveland, Ohio, has accepted the position of assistant superintendent with the R. C. Cook Paint Co., Kansas City, Mo. Mr. A. M. Lynn has been transferred from the Ordnance Training Camp a t Camp Sheridan, Ala., t o the Ordnance School a t the proving grounds, Aberdeen, Md. Dr. 1,ina Stern, privatdozent in the University of Geneva, has been appointed professor extraordinary of physiological chemistry. Miss Mildred P. Stewart has resigned her position as instructor in physiology and chemistry a t Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, N. Y . , t o take charge of the work of the Dutchess County (N. Y . ) Public Health Association, with headquarters a t Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Miss Stewart took the degree of M.A. in public health work a t the University of California in June 1917, while on a year’s leave of absence from her work a t Pratt Institute. Miss Lillian E. Baker, for the past four years instructor in chemistry a t Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, N. Y., has resigned her position there to accept that of instructor in chemistry a t Wellesley College. Mr. J. H . Devine, formerly superintendent of Morton and Maguire, paint and varnish manufacturers, Paterson, N. J., has been engaged by the Pennsylvania Linseed Products Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., for demonstration work in connection with their product, “Linotol.”
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At the commencement exercises a t Colgate University on May 7, 1918, the honorary degree of D.Sc. was conferred upon Charles H. Herty, editor of THISJOURNAL. Mr. I,. C. Mazzola has accepted the position of assistant superintendent a t the Jersey City factory of the Metal and “hermit Corporation, having direct supervision of the manufacture of metallic tungsten. Mr. H . R. Dunbar, formerly teacher of chemistry a t the Sutton High School, Sutton, W. Va., is now employed as a chemist in the fuel department of the Bureau of Mines, Washington, D. C. Dr. Graham Edgar of Throop College, Pasadena, Cal., has been appointed technical assistant t o the newly established Research Information Committee, and has entered upon his duties a t the office of the National Research Council. Mr. Alex. C. Nixon, Jr., formerly with the Solvay Process Company as a technical assistant in the Soda Ash Department, is now a t the American University Experiment Station, Washington, D. C., engaged in chemical research on war problems. Mr. Carl Otto, formerly with the 136th Field Artillery, United States Army, has been transferred t o the Ordnance Corps at Washington, D. C., and has been detailed to the American University Experiment Station for work in chemical research. Mr. H. J. Morgan, of the General Chemical Company, has been transferred from the Delaware Works a t Marcus Hook, Pa., t o the main laboratories of the company a t Laurel Hill, Long Island, where he will be chemist in charge. Mr. W. J. McGee, of the Bureau of Chemistry, U. S . Dept. of Agriculture, and formerly stationed a t Savannah, Ga., has been transferred to San Juan, Porto Rico, where he is engaged in the inspection of food and drugs. Captain W. IT. Ransom, Ordnance Reserve Corps, formerly located a t Wilmington, Del., has been transferred to the Washington office of the Inspection Division as head of the powder and explosives sub-section. Mr. E. J. Casselman, formerly engineer of tests, Washington Steel and Ordnance Co., Washington, D. C., has accepted the position of assistant chemist with the Hygienic Laboratory, Washington, D. C. Mr. W. J. Terpenny, for a number of years connected with the Celluloid Zapon Company of New York and more recently manager for the chemical department for Anderson Gustavson, of Chicago, has been engaged by Innis, Speiden and Company to manage their Cleveland branch.
