Apr., 1916
T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING C H E M I S T R Y
The prospects for an American chemical industry, topped by synthetic organic chemicals, are certainly very bright, especially since we are justified in believing that we shall obtain a reasonable tariff protection to start with. The field is as wide as the United States. It can be exploited as well in the east as on the Pacific Coast. It needs, however, the indomitable energy of a few captains of industry who are willing to exercise a little patience in reaping the large reward which is sure to,be theirs. Our chemists will surely do their part. Los ANGELES, CALIPORNIA JULIUS KOEBIG March 4, 1916
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THE PAIGE BILL ON COMPULSORY WORKING OF PATENTS IN THE UNITED STATES Editor of the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemist?y: I n THISJOVRNAL, 7 (1915), 304, there was published a paper by Dr. B. C. Hesse on “Compulsory Working of Patents in the United States, Germany and Great Britain,” and also a “Symposium on Compulsory Working of Patents and Designs in England.” It may interest your readers to know that Mr. Paige, of Massachusetts, has introduced in the present Congress, a Bill known as H. R. 11967, 64th Congress, 1st Session, copies of which can be obtained on application to the Document Clerk, House of Representatives. This Bill adds t o Section 4886 of the present law, the following proviso: “That no patent shall be granted on any application filed subsequent to the passage of this Act upon any drug, medicine, medicinal chemical, coal-tar dyes or colors, or dyes obtained from alizarin, anthracene, carbazol, and indigo, except in so far as the same relates t o a definite process for the preparation of said drug, medicine, medicinal chemical, coal-tar dyes or colors, or dyes obtained from alizarin, anthracene, carbazol, and indigo.” It also adds to Section 4887, a “Compulsory Working” proviso, which reads as follows: “That in case any drug, medicine, medicinal chemical, coaltar dyes or colors, or dyes obtained from alizarin, anthracene, carbazol, and indigo, on which a patent for a definite process for the preparation thereof has been granted on any application filed subsequent to the passage of this Act is not manufactured in the United States by or under authority of the patentee within two years of the granting of said patent, and after the commencement of said manufacture the same is not continuously carried on in the United States in such a manner that any persons desiring to use the article may obtain it from a manufacturing establishment in the United States, then said patentee shall have no rights under the patent laws of the United States as against any citizen of the United States who may import such drug, medicine, medicinal chemical, coal-tar dyes or colors, or dyes obtained from alizarin, anthracene, carbazol, and indigo into the United States, or who may produce or manufacture the same in the United States or who may handle for sale or use such article so imported or manufactured.” The disastrous effect on the interest of chemical inventors, which would be produced by the passage of this proposed law, is self-evident; but, none the less, it is important that chemists and manufacturers who would be affected should write to their Congressmen and Senators protesting against the passage of any . such law. Dr. Hesse’s articles above referred to contain a full discussion of the reasons why the law should not be passed, and can readily be referred to by your readers. WASHINGTON J. H. BRICKENSTEIN February 29, 1916
ANALYSIS AND TESTING WORK OF THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS Editor of the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry: It has come to my attention that there is still some misunderstanding as to the conditions under which the Bureau of Standards will make chemical analyses of materials. Although various publications of the Bureau should make this matter clear to the reader, it is desired to correct any misapprehension as to the facts by this statement. The Bureau performs tests of materials and apparatus for t h e gelreral public in cases where the Bureau is asked to serve a s referee by the parties between which differences exist, or where an authoritative or official test is demanded by the nature of the case. Tests are also made for the public where the results are of value t o the Bureau as a part of a general investigation, and tests are also made if there are no other consulting or generat laboratories that have facilities for carrying out the work or i n cases where the establishment of standards is desired. However, in all cases the Bureau will determine what tests will be undertaken according to the circumstances, and it .reserves the right to make such use of the results of these tests as is deemed desirable. It should be clearly understood that this work is not done by the Bureau in any way in competition with consulting or other laboratories. When other laboratories have facilities for making the tests the Bureau declines to carry them out unless the results are of direct value to the Bureau as well as to the person for whom the tests are made. The Bureau is glad a t all times to cooperate, in so far as facilities permit, with investigators, manufacturers, testing laboratories, and others, not only by executing tests properly within its jurisdiction, but also, on request, by furnishing any information a t its disposal concerning materials or methods of testing. BUREAUOF STANDARDS S. W. STRATTON, Director
.WASHINGTON.March 15. 1916
RUSSIAN TREASURY DEPARTMENT COMPETITION ON THE INDUSTRIAL USES OF ALCOHOL On January I, 1916, expires the term for presenting declarations in the competition announced by the Russian Ministry of Finance for finding out new ways of utilizing alcohol (wine spirits) and for discovering new denaturants of the same. In view of the insignificant quantity of statements received, the Ministry of Finance gives notice that the term in which t o present declarations for the above mentioned competition has been extended to September I, 1916, and the adjudging of the prizes accordingly put off until March I, 1917. V. ANANIEFF,Secretary COMMERCIAL
ATTACHBTO
THE IMPERIAL
RUSSIANEMBASSY
N E W YORKCITY. March 4, 1916
LIME REQUIREMENT METHODS-CORRECTION I n the article under the above title, THISJOURNAL, 8 (19x61, 243, the following correction should be made: Page 245, Table 111, last line: “None” should read “None Lime.” WOOSTER, OHIO J. W. AMESAND C. J. SCHOLLENBERGER
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March 15, 1916
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PERSONAL NOTES ~~
Dr. Charles Geiger Carroll, head of the department of chemistry at the University of Arkansas, died on February znnd, after a n illness of several months. Dr. Carroll was born in Ashland, Ky., October 15, 1875. In 1895 he entered Southwestern University, receiving the A.B. degree in 1896, and the
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A.M. degree a year later After his graduation Dr. Carroll remained at the university as a n instructor in languages and science, and in 1898 was promoted t o an assistant professorship in chemistry. I n 1901 he entered Johns Hopkins University as a graduate student in chemistry and in 1904 the de-
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gree of Ph.D. was conferred upon him. Dr. Carroll then returned to the Southwestern University as professor of chemistry, and in 1905 was called to a similar position a t the University of Arkansas, where he remained to the time of his death. Dr. L. H. Baekeland, member of the Naval Consulting Board, delivered an illustrated address on “ Chemistry in Relation to the War” before a meeting of the Washington -4cademy of Sciences held on March 23rd. The United States Civil Service Commission announces the following open competitive examinations : Specialist in aguicultural, biological and physiological chemistry, for men only, salary $1,500 to $1,800 a year, on April 5, 1916; assistant chemist, f o r men only, salary $1,320 a year, on April j-6, 1916. Charles Weisman, of the United States Public Health Service, has been transferred to Pittsburgh, which is the new headquarters of the Service for work on industrial hygiene. The Puget Sound Section of the A. C. S.,in cooperation with the Manufacturers’ Association, have planned a series of open meetings to outline possibilities for the establishment of new industries. The first of this series was held on February 26th a t which there were short talks on the following subjects: “The Electrical Fixation of Nitrogen,” by J. D. Ross; “Fisheries Products,” by G. H . Stillson; “Potash from Kelp,” by I. F. Laucks and H. Mahschmedt; “Potash from Mineral Sources,” by G. A. Kewhall; “Phosphate Rocks,” by G. E. Weaver. The University of Washington has decided to establish a Bureau of Industrial Research, the first institution of its kind on the Pacific Coast. The plans for the bureau were developed by members of the faculty and business men of the northwest. Dr. Henry K. Benson, professor of industrial chemistry in the university, has been appointed director. The managing geologists of The Associated Geofogical Engineers take pleasure in announcing the opening of a New York office a t 3112 Equitable Building, 1 2 0 Broadway, in charge of Frederick G. Clapp, managing geologist of the Petroleum Division. They will continue the practice of geological engineering in all its branches, with special reference to examinations and reports on oil and gas properties. Mr. n‘athan Owitz, formerly in the sales department of the Wheeler Condenser & Engineering Company, Carteret, N J., has been elected sales manager of the J. P. Devine Company of Buffalo, N. Y. Mr. Owitz will be located a t the main office and works in Buffalo. W. A. Keill, for many years engineer of the mining department of Allis-Chalmers Company, has moved to Denver and become associated with The Dorr Company, successors to The Dorr Cyanide Machinery Company, as mechanical engineer. Dr. George Sarton, a graduate of the University of Ghent, Belgium, and editor of “Isis,” an international journal on the history of science, published in Belgium, but which had to be discontinued during the war, and who is now lecturing in this country, has been honored by the A c a d h i e des Sciences, of Paris, with the “Prix Binoux,” for his researches on the history of science. Dr. Sarton recently gave a lecture to the chemical students of the College of the City of New York, a t which several prominent educators and chemists were present. Dr. Ludwig A . Thiele announces his establishment as an independent consulting chemical engineer, in the Hartman Building, Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Thiele has had seventeen years’ practical experience as chief chemist, superintendent and director in the chemical industry of Germany and America. Dr. Charles Baskerville has been appointed official representative of the American Chemical Society on the Joseph Holmes Memorial Committee. This committee is taking steps t o see that a suitable memorial of the late Director Holmes,
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of the Bureau of Mines, is placed in Washington. Dr. S. S. Voorhees is the alternate representative. Dr. L. D. Ricketts, president and general manager of the Canadian Consolidated Copper Company, has been elected president of the American Institute of Mining Engineers. A. L. Blomfield, for many years in the employ of BewickhIoring & Company as metallurgist, and for the last eight years mill superintendent of the Golden Cycle Mill a t Colorado Springs, has become associated with The Dorr Company, successors to The Dorr Cyanide Machinery Company. Mr. Blomfield has taken charge of the metallurgical consulting work for the company, with headquarters a t Denver. He retains connection with the Golden Cycle Mill as general superintendent. J. T. McGill presented a paper on “The Utilization of Waste in the Manufacture of Copper,” a t the February 18th meeting of the Nashville Section of the A. C. S.
Prof. M. Mason spoke on “The Electron Theory” a t the hlarch 8th meeting of the Wisconsin Section of the A. C. S Samuel P. Sadtler & Son, consulting and analytical chemists, have removed their office and laboratory to 2 1 0 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, Pa. The lecture of Dr. T. H. Norton, commercial agent, U. S. Department of Commerce, entitled “The Emancipation of American Chemical Industries,” which was scheduled to be delivered a t the College of the City of New York, May 5 , 1916, has been cancelled by orders received from the U. S. Department of Commerce. Frederick J. Falding, the well-known chemical engineer, died in New York City on February 7, 1916. W. H. Nichols, Jr., has been elected president of the General Chemical Company, in place of S. H. Steele, who now fills the new office of general counsel for the same firm. J. M. Goetchius has been elected vice-president to fill the vacancy caused by the advancement of Mr. Nichols. Benjamin M. Ferguson, chemical engineer, has taken charge of the Chicago office of the Permutit Company of New York City, specialists in water rectification problems H. E. Howe has become associated with Arthur D. Little, Inc., of Boston. For the past eleven years he was with the Bausch & Lomb Optical Company. Mr. Howe is a chemical engineer, and is chairman of the Division of Industrial Chemists and Chemical Engineers of the A. C. S. Mr. A. M. Douglas, formerly chemist in charge of the laboratories of the Merrimac Chemical Company and the New England LManufacturing Company, of Boston, is now engaged in the installation of the plant and process of the American Bromine Company, located a t Midland, Mich. Dr. Julius Xelson, professor of biology a t Rutgers College and State biologist of New Jersey, died suddenly from pneumonia a t his home in New Brunswick, N. J., on February Igth, a t the age of fifty-seven years. Dr. Nelson had been a professor a t Rutgers since 1888. He was called upon by the State to investigate oyster culture and bovine tuberculosis, and was a member of the New Jersey Tuberculosis Commission. He was also vice-president and consulting adviser of the Lederle Laboratories, New York City. Among the members of the Assay Commission for the coming year, appointed by President Wilson, are Prof. James L. Howe, Washington and Lee University; Prof. Andrew C. Lawson, University of California; and Dr. F. W. Clarke, U. S. Geological Survey. The commission met February 9th to test the weight and fineness of the coins reserved by the several mints of the country during the past year.
