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T H E J O U R N A L O F 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 V O ~ 1. 2 . NO.
While these War Trade Board statistics would be valuable in themselves, their value will be further enhanced by the publication by the United States Tariff Commission of a census of dye imports during the same fiscal year, using the Norton 1914 import census as the basis. An interesting comparison will be afforded by these two censuses of imports. Such import statistics as are regularly collected and made public by the Government through the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce of the Department of Commerce do not approach the detail desired, and such statistics as the Commission proposes to publish are not elsewhere available. While the Tariff Commission is being discussed it might be interesting to note that Commissioner Culbertson in a speech recently delivered before the Southern Tariff Congress a t New Orleans declared t h a t the development of the American dye industry “reads like a fairy tale” of achievement. Dyes, of course, are far from entitled to occupy the center of the chemical stage a t all times, but to an ordinary layman it is somewhat surprising to find that the Government is conducting experiments with dyes as a possible cure for tuberculosis, under the direction of Dr. McCoy of the Hygienic Laboratory. Dr. McCoy is working in cooperation with Dr. Paul Lewis, of the Phipps Institute, Philadelphia, who also is engaged in conducting experiments along this line. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION COMPLAINTS
Recent complaints issued by the Federal Trade Commission include charges of bribery of employees by the United States Color & Chemical Co., Inc., Boston, Mass., and the Seymour
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Chemical Company and Alexander S. Mann, Providence, R. I., textile finishing materials. NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY
Bids for the construction of a h’aval Research Laboratory to be established a t Bellvue, D. C., were opened recently by the Navy Department. Bids will be opened later for supplying of laboratory equipment which will be desired. The laboratory is for the purpose of testing and experimentation on ordnance and ordnance materials and supplies and other articles, and other naval uses calling for laboratory research. The laboratory is to be established out of an appropriation of $I,j00,000 given by Congress in 1917. Because of the wording of the appropriation, some of this fund has been used for other purposes, so that there is now available about $I,OOO,OOO for construction of the plant. T H E D Y E BILL
While little or nothing is being done in Washington a t present -for obvious reasons-by supporters of the dye bill, the bill retains the same parliamentary status a t the coming session of Congress in December as when that body adjourned last session. There is no doubt but that strong efforts will be made to have definite action taken by the Senate a t this session. It should be borne in mind, however, that, in case of failure of the measure to get final action by Congress, both Senate and House, before adjournment of next session, i t will lose all advantage it now has as a bill already passed by the House, and will have to go over the same steps which it began so many months ago. O c t o b e r 16, 1920
PARIS LETTER B y CHARLES LORMAND, 4 Avenue d e l ’ o b s e r v a t o i r e , Paris, F r a n c e
Signs of scientific and industrial activity are beginning t o reappear. The annual industrial exposition held a t Lyons (the Lyons fair) has just opened. This covers a district important in the chemical industry. Owing to its proximity to the Alps and the Cevennes, the region of Lyons is particularly fortunate in possessing numerous waterfalls. The chemical works accomplished a great deal during the war, and since that time have adapted their manufactures to new needs. The pyrite mines of Saint-Bel, which are in this district, produce annually 2 7 0 , 0 0 0 tons, thus providing also for the development of all the industries dependent on sulfuric acid. Exhibits a t the Lyons fair by the different firms of the region include notably fats, stearin, glycerol, and gelatin. One company alone produces monthly-150 tons of oleic acid, 30 tons of glycerol, and 1,000 tons of soap. Also to be noted are tanning extracts and natural coloring matters, IOO,OOO tons of which are annually produced in the region. All the large industries of the district which use illuminating gas are recovering the benzene from the gas, in order to provide raw materials for the manufacture of dyes. Considerable effort has been made along this line. The production of dyes during the past year was 1391 tons in the Lyons district alone, while in 1913 all the French industries togethei produced only 1000 tons. Mention should also be made of the exhibit of photographic and pharmaceutical products by the well-known scientists, MM. Auguste and Louis LumiPre, and also of the active efforts in the manufacture of textiles and artificial silk. Professor Grignard now occupies the chair of organic chemistry of the Faculty of Sciences a t Lyons, and he is actively engaged in promoting the necessary liaison between science and industry. NICKEL PLATING O F ALUMINIUM
The French Society of Civil Engineers has just held its opening meeting of the seaqon. An interesting paper was presented by M. Leon Guillet, professor a t the Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers, who discussed the problem of the nickel plating of aluminium. This is not a new question, but all the patents dealing with this subject have not given satisfactory results.
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The problem is that of developing the use of aluminium for coatings and obtaining a metal which is not attacked b y different liquids, particularly sea water. Good results are not obtained with perfectly polished aluminium. Neither should there be a too pronounced scouring. M. Guillet has obtained excellent results by a cleaning with jets of sand under light pressure (600 g.), followed by a nickel plating of 0.06 mm., then a copper plating of 0.012 mm , and finally a second nickel plating of 0.06 mm., the nickel and copper plating being effected in baths by the ordinary procedure. Pieces thus prepared have been perfectly successful. Tests of stamping, of folding, and of burnishing, as well as the action of caustic soda, have proved the good quality of the nickel plating obtained. The process has not been patented, and M. Guillet is quite ready to give further explanation to those interested. His sole interest is only to facilitate and popularize the use of aluminium SUGAR
NI Paul Kestner has recently installed in Saint-Gaudens (Haute-Garonne) and in Belgium, in the region of the Sambre, two large factories for the sugar fields. I n the factories he is preparing “whole” sugar. This sugar is incompletely defecated, leaving in the juice These products certain nitrogenous products of the beet. have a food value and until now have been discarded in the residue and used as fertilizer. The sugar obtained by M. Kestner is slightly brown in color and can be used in the manufacture of chocolate and candy. ARMAND GAUTIER
Professor Armand Gautier, one of the deans of French chemistry, has recently died a t the age of 83. To him is due the discovery of nitriles, carbylamines, and ptomaines. He studied also the normal state of arsenic in the human body, and opened the way to the medical application of arsenical derivatives. He also carried on investigations on mineral waters and petroleum. O c t o b e r 7 , 1920
INDUSTRIAL NOTES
Experiments conducted by the Bureau of Plant Industry of the U. S. Department of Agriculture have proved the superiority of European seed-flax varieties for the north-central states.
The University of Buffalo has received a gift of $400,000 for the erection of a chemistry building, as well as anonymous gifts of $250,000 towards endowment and a library building.
Nov., 1920
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T H E JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
1135
The War Department has announced the sale of the Old Twenty chemical companies were organized during the month Hickory Powder Plant a t Jacksonville, Tenn., to the Nashville of September 1920, with a total capitalization of $7,720,000, Industrial Corporation for S3,505,00o. The Government has as compared with $36,715,000in August and $21,475,000in reserved a large amount of space a t the plant for the storage of July. The total authorized capital of new companies for the smokeless powder and other materials, as we11 as powder-making first nine months of 1920 is $175,642,000as compared with machinery. The Government also retains possession of the 677,436,000in 1919,and is 50 per cent greater than the total numerous concrete foundations which will assure the nucleus of a during the year 1919. smokeless powder plant for completion and use in time of national The production of petroleum in the United States during emergency. 1919 showed an increase of about 6 per cent in quantity and The Chemical Club of Philadelphia was formed a t a luncheon IO per cent in value over 1918,while natural gas showed a degiven October I I, 1920,by the chemical jobbers and manufacturers crease of about 20 per cent in quantity. of the city, and definite plans for the organization were formu2,000,000tons of potash were imported to the United States lated. Weeklv luncheons are planned for the purpose of form- from Germany in 1913,as compared with 92,000 tons for the ing closer business relations among the chemical trade. first half of 1920. The Borden Company of New York has contributed to ColumA number of prominent steel foundries grouped for the purpose bia University JIO,OOO to be added t o the gift previously made of developing and perfecting higher standards in the producby it for research in food chemistry and nutrition under the tion of steel castings have appointed Mr. R. A. Bull, of Pittsdirection of Prof. Henry C. Sherman. Dr. A. C. Langmuir burgh, as consulting metallurgist to devote his entire time to of the class of 1893 has contributed $100to be applied toward research work. needed equipment in the department of chemistry. The manufacture of artificial fertilizer is becoming a major Fire a t the Butterworth-Judson Corporation plant in Newark, industry in Japan, although before the war there was only one N. J.: on September 20, completely destroyed the $-nitroaniline company of any size engaged in its production. One handicap unit. Specifications for the new plant have been prepared and of the industry is the necessity of importing the raw materials. production is expected to begin by the first of December. The Fort Worth Acid Works, Fort Worth, Texas, is building An institute for chemical and physical research has been a plant for the purpose of extracting sulfuric acid from the sludge founded in Japan a t a cost of half a million pounds, subscribed of oil refineries. A large percentage of the acid used in the by peisons engaged in industry and commerce in Tokyo, Yokoprocess of refining petroleum products remains in its original hama, and other towns. An annual subsidy of .Lzoo,ooo has state, except for being rendered unavailable for further use through been granted by the government, and the emperor has made a accumulation of particles of tar, asphalt, and other substances, personal donation of j;IOO,OOO. but the amount of sludge from one refinery does not justify the The office of the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper installation of machinery for reclaiming. The Fort Worth Industry has been moved from 18 E. 41st Street to 542 Fifth . Acid Works will obtain its raw material from refineries a t Fort Ave., New York City. The new quarters will provide oppor- Worth, Dallas, Wichita Falls, Ranger, and other points. tunity for minor laboratory work, including microscopical, The six-acre plant of the Barber Asphalt Company near chemical, and physical testing of paper and fibers. Perth Amboy, N. J., was recently destroyed by fire with a loss The General Electric Company has contributed $30,000 to of nearly $3,000,co0. The four units of the plant for asphalt extend the investigations of the Committee on Fatigue Phe- re fining, for making roofing asphalt, for asphalt flooring products, nomena of Metals of the Division of Engineering of the National and for asphalt paving blocks were burned, with their storeResearch Council, to include work on 3 per cent and 3.5 per cent houses, only the piers along the waterfront escaping the fire. nickel steel. The Engineering Foundation Board a year ago Two of the six steel tanks containing asphalt were also demade a grant of $15,000 yearly for two years for investigations stroyed. in carbon steels, the experimental work to be done a t the UniThe National Malleable Castings Company has opened its versity of Illinois under the supervision of Prof. H. F. Moore. new laboratory in Cleveland, Ohio, which is devoted purely t o The United States Gypsum Co., of Chicago, has begun the research and general investigations, the routine analytical and construction of a plant a t Sweetwater, Texas, to cost .$~,ooo,ooo. testing work required for works control being carried on a t the The Compressed Carbonic Co., of Baltimore, has been or- various plant laboratories. The department occupies a threestory building which is equipped for work in chemistry, physics, ganized with a capital of $~,o~o,ooo, to recover z,ooo,ooo lbs. of carbon dioxide annually, using waste gas of the U. S. Indus- metallography, metallurgy, and materials testing. H. A. trial Alcohol Company a t Curtis Bay. The following officers Schwartz is manager of research, H. R. Payne, chief chemist and acting metallographer, M. M. Austin and Anna Nicholson, have been elected: President, A. R. Ludlow, vice president of the Air Reduction Co.; vice president an,d general manager, research chemists, A. F. Gorton, physicist, W. W. Flagle, engineer of tests, and C. A. Thornburg, chief clerk. George B. Cowper. Experiments in the development of the turpentine industry The Emporia Potassium Phosphate Company is being organize d a t Emporia, Va., by Californian chemical engineers in California during the winter season of 1919-zo have proved who have been instrumental in establishing the potash industry satisfactory. 10,000cups were placed, and 39 bbls. of gum in Nebraska, to manufacture fertilizer from feldspar and phos- gathered and shipped to a refinery in San Francisco. phate rock. The process consists in fusing a combination of The Canadian Dominion Bureau of Statistics has recently feldspar, phosphate rock, and a soda flux, and if the industry is issued a preliminary report in regard to the paint and varnish developed as planned it is expected to mean revolutionizing the industry of Canada in 1918. During 1918,45 plants were in fertilizer industry, and rendering this country absolutely inde- operation, with total assets of $15,784,610,and raw materials pendent of German potash supplies. The product will be potascosting $9,203,530 were used. sium phosphate, with an analysis of 16 per cent phosphoric acid The United States Civil Service Commission has announced and 6 per cent potash. open competitive examinations for chemist a t $3,000 to $5,000 The American Cellulose and Chemical Company is to erect a year, and associate chemist a t $z,ooo to $3,000 a year, to fill a large plant a t Amcelle, Md., for the manufacture of artificial positions in the Chemical Warfare Service, Edgewood Arsenal, silk. If present plans are carried out, this will be the largest Edgewood, Md., and others requiring similar qualifications. of its kind in the world. Competitors will be rated on ( I ) education, training, and exThc Crop Protection Institute has been organized by a group perience, ( 2 ) experience and training as an executive, and (3) original research work completed, and must qualify in a t least of scientific investigators and representatives of industrial concerns, with the advice and assistance of the National Re- one of the following optional subjects: Advanced inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, pharmaceusearch, Council, to make a series of thorough scientific studies of the crop pests themselves and the means for improving and tical chemistry, and physical chemistry. Applications, together standardizing the materials and appliance? used in fighting them. with unmounted photographs, must be filed by November 9, 1920, with the secretary of the Fourth Civil Service District, The 13oard of Trustees of the Institute is composed of nine Old Land Office Building, Washington, D. C. scientific men representing leading scientific organizations and four representatives of manufacturing and commercial interests, The Melbourne & Metropolitan Gas Co., of Australia, which with H. E. Howe, chairman of the Division of Research Ex- carbonizes annually from 250,000 to 300,000 tons of coal, is tension of the hTational Research Council, acting as temporary considering plans for the installation of a distillation plant for the recovery of by-products of coal tar which are now wasted. secretary. The Institute will not duplicate existing efforts of government bureaus, state experiment stations or other agencies, The by-product plant of the Australian Gas Light Co , in Sydney, but will introduce a more general cooperation and give special produces a revenue of $681,000 annually, treating only half of attent ion to filling important gaps now existing. the 400,000 tons of coal used annually.
