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T H E J O U R N A L OF INDUSTRIAL A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
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EDITORIALS
PLATINUM AT WHITE HEAT During the past month t h e subject of platinum has leaped t o the forefront in the thoughts of t h e American people. For t h e first time, and b y one of those quick processes of general understanding which have characterized this war period, the nation has learned t h e important bearing of this element upon t h e part we are t o play in t h e war. The chief factor in arousing this interest and understanding has been t h e widespread publicity given b y the press t o t h e stirring address delivered in t h e House of Representatives on June 7 by Hon. Henry T. Rainey, Congressman from Illinois. I n this address he depicted clearly t h e important function of platinum in explosives manufacture, the inadequate measures taken for its conservation b y those charged with this responsible duty, and t h e factors which had contributed t o such inadequacy. Since t h e delivery of t h a t address many things have come t o light which would prove interesting reading; editorial discussion of these, however, will be postponed. Only one conviction is expressed here-the immediate p l a c e f o r the platinum i?z this country is i n the vaults of the Treasury Department. c
THE MODERN MIRACLE Scarcely two years have elapsed since many lines of our industrial life were threatened with utter demoralization because of the shortage of dyestuffs and medicinals resulting from the blockade of German ports b y t h e British navy. Textile mills faced t h e imminent possibility of shutting down because of inability t o secure dyestuffs for their fabrics. Tanners, lithographers, and wall pager men sought in vain for needed coloring matter, and pharmacists’ stocks of many much-used medicinals became depleted. On account of these shortages and the accompanying speculation in t h e remaining stocks, prices soared t o undreamed-of heights. Yet within this short period of two years, one of which has been devoted t o war preparations, a miracle has been wrought. Mills have not closed; all lines of industrial life requiring synthetic colors are operating under normal conditions ; t h e sick have been provided with ample medicinal supples ; prices have been largely reduced and are comparable with prices of all other commercial products; in addition, ships have borne from America t o other parts of t h e world large quantities of dyestuffs. N o more fitting tribute could be paid t o t h e skill and energy of the American chemist t h a n has been done through the medium of two government announcements which have been issued during t h e past month, t h e one by the U . S. Tariff Commission and t h e other by t h e War Industries Board. In the statement sent out b y t h e Tariff Commission t h e results of its census of synthetic dyestuffs and medicinals are given (page 5 8 2 , this issue). According t o these figures the importation of dyestuffs in t h e
fiscal year 1914 was 43,840,866 pounds, while in 1 9 1 7 t h e domestic production amounted t o 45,977,246 pounds. The tonnage has been made good and even exceeded. While it is t r u e t h a t there is a difference “in t h e relative amounts of t h e various classes of dyes” in t h e two periods mentioned, it is interesting t o note, as t h e Commission’s statement points out, t h a t t h e lines which have failed of their full share of development have been exactly those t o which were given only t h e ad valorem d u t y of 3 0 per cent, while in those classes which were given both t h e 30 per cent ad valorem and t h e 5 cents per pound special d u t y “the American manufacturers have shown remarkable progress.” The statements of manufacturers and consumers a t t h e hearings on t h e Hill bill are abundantly confirmed b y t h e announcement of t h e Tariff Commission. By t h e enactment of tariff and anti-dumping legislation, capital was attracted t o the industry, and the chemist has made good. As t o medicinals, the War Industries Board, in a n authorized statement in t h e Oficial Bdletin of June 6 , 1918, says: “Actual or prospective shortages have come t o the notice of t h e Board in b u t few instances so far as medicine and medicinal chemicals are concerned. * *” Congress, capital, and chemists codperating have accomplished t h e modern miracle. _____
AN ARMY WITHOUT RESERVES General Foch has aroused t h e enthusiasm of t h e allied world b y t h e masterly manner in which he has handled t h e reserves during t h e recent mammoth drives of t h e German army. These struggles have fitly been designated as “the battles of reserves.” The morale of all t h e nations joined in t h e contest against German aggression has been stimulated by the conviction t h a t a n endless flow of reserves is proceeding with all possible haste from American t o European shores. I n t h e matter of reserves for t h e armies in t h e field all goes well. The army of American chemists is now in rapid process of complete mobilization. At last t h e matter of efficient utilization of chemists has been grasped with a firm hand by those in authority. The orders issued b y t h e Secretary of War on May 28, 1918 (page 580, this issue) show t h a t the may of previous orders has been changed t o must, and under these new orders t h e full strength of the chemistry forces will soon be reached. It appears t h a t every possible contingency as t o graduate chemists has been provided for. Congratulations t o Secretary Baker and t o those who have aided him in t h e preparation of these comprehensive orders! UTith t h e thus mobilized army of chemists all goes well. But what about the reserves for this army? We are preparing for a long war, how long no one knows, b u t certainly as long as is necessary t o insure t h e triumph of t h e principles t o which we have dedicated our all, Daily grows the expansion of t h e con-
