News
INDUSTRIAL €> E N G I N E E R I N G CHRMKSTOY
Edition
Published by the American Chemical Society
V o l . 2, No. 20
Rensselaer Polytechnic I n s t i t u t e Celebrates Centennial T h e Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute celebrated in early October the centenary of its foundation. The occasion marks a n epoch in American educational history for Rensselaer is the first college, devoted exclusively to the sciences, to exist continuously for a hundred years. I t was the forerunner of t h e great n u m b e r of institutions which have spread through the English speaking world for t h e training of men in the applications of science to human service. T h e Institute b e g a n its existence as the Rensselaer School in 1824 through the inspiration of Stephen Van Rensselaer and was planned initially to provide teachers " t o instruct the sons and d a u g h t e r s of farmers and mechanics in agriculture, domestic economy, the a r t s and manufactures." Amos Eaton was appointed its first professor of chemistry and experimental philosophy anil lecturer in geology and land surveying. Katon was a born teacher a n d appears t o h .ve been the first to put into practical effect instructional methods in t h e laboratory and in t h e field, the far-reaching effect of which is to be seen in t h e experim e n t a l sciences today. Students came from all quarters to a t t e n d w h a t was at t h a t time t h e only school devoted t o applied science in the United States. Among the earliest classes enrolled were men who h a d completed t h e regular classical training in Amherst, Columbia, D a r t m o u t h , Harvard, Pennsylvania, Yale, Union a n d Williams. The influence of Rensselaer was therefore of supreme importance in the early educational history of the continent. Though stress was laid in the earliest curricula on the biological, geological and chemical sciences, a drift was made in later years to the physical sciences and particularly to engineering. T h e first appearance of the t e r m civil engineering occurred in t h e catalog of 1S2G. In 1835 t h e trustees created a department "for the purpose of giving instruction in engineering and technology." The eourse in civil engineering was reorganized by Director B. Franklin Greene in 1849 and in recent years courses in mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering have been a d d e d to t h e curriculum. During the whole period of the Institute's history 3062 alumni h a v e graduated from its classrooms. A further 7000 attended b u t did n o t proceed to a degree. The influence of these has been felt in every line of scientific achievement. Some have taken a p r o m i n e n t place in t h e natural sciences, others in engineering. Some h a v e made their mark in business and in industry, some, too, in t h e learned professions, in public service and even in fine literat u r e . In a small volume, " A Chapter in American E d u c a t i o n , " "written as a memorial for t h e present occasion, Dr. R. P. Baker, professor of lîtiglish in the Institute, has described the activities of t h e graduates a n d their success in various lines of endeavor. W i t h such an historic background the Rensselaer Polytechnic I n s t i t u t e can look with pride on the close of its first hundred years. T h e celebrations were in keeping with t h e event. Prominent scientists and engineers assembled t o pay their homage to the school. At t h e exercises on the first day, Mr. Herbert Hoover, Secretary of Commerce, Dr. Frunk P. Graves, President of the University oi the State of N e w York, and M r . Harry Clinton, M a y o r of the City of Troy, addressed the 250 delegates and 1500 alumni. Sir Charles Morgan, President of t h e Institution of Civil Kngineers of Great Britain, Dr. Henri Abraham, Past President of Trie Society of Electrical Engineers of France, Dr. JUuigi Luiggi, President of t h e Civil Engineers of Italy, and Mr. A r t h u r Survcyer, Picsidcnt of the Engineering Institute of Canada, brought t h e greetings of their respective graduates to the school. A t t h e same session, Director Ricketts addressed the assembly o n " T h e Beginning of the School" and received a great ovation.
OCTOBER 20, 1924 At the second session on October 4th the Eastern Universities were represented in an address b y President Angell, the Western Universities by President Birge, the Schools of Technology by President Stratton, and the National Academy of Sciences by Dr. Michelson. The American Engineering Societies sent their congratulations through Dr. Carl Grunsky, Mr. Frederick Low, M r . William Kelly, and M r . Farley Osgood, the presidents of their respective organizations. Dr. Baker of the Institute concluded the session with a speech on "After a Hundred Years." In t h e evening of both days a pageant directed by Professor Stevens depicted partly in allegory and partly b y historical incident prominent happenings in the history of the school. In depth of imagination, in delicacy of touch and in beauty of setting, the scenes in the pageant could not have been surpassed. Associated features—luncheons, dinners, speeches, receptions and unveiling of tablets—added lighter touches to the celebration.
Corrosion S y m p o s i u m Planned for Baltimore M e e t i n g of A. C. S. At the Baltimore Meeting of the American Chemical Society which will be held during Easter week, the Division of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry will hold a symposium on Corrosion. At t h e present time the tentative outline of the symposium is as follows: 1. Submerged Corrosion of Metals. a. Iron and Steel. b. Non-ferrous Metals. 2. Atmospheric Corrosion. 'Λ. Corrosion of Special Alloys. It is hoped t h a t the scope of the papers of this symposium will cover the problems of corrosion in the heavy chemical industry, in the special chemical industry, in the marine world, in ordnance equipment, in the oil industry, mining industry, etc. Papers relating to any of these subjects or subdivisions will be welcomed by t h e chairman of the symposium who is Robert J. M c K a y . Those planning to present a paper before this symposium should correspond a t once with Mr. M c K a y or the secretary, Erie M . Billings, Eastman K o d a k Co., Rochester, Ν Υ.
R e c e n t M e e t i n g s i n New York On the evening of October 3, Dr. S. P. L. Sorensen, of the Carlsberg Laboratories, Copenhagen, Denmark, was given a most cordial reception by a large group of chemists in New York City when he lectured on " T h e H e a t Coagulation of Proteins." T h e lecture was under the auspices of the New York Section of the American Chemical Society. One week later, Dr. Charles H. Herty, President of t h e Syn thetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers' Association, spoke before the American Section of the Société de Chimie Industrielle on "American Chemical Industry and the Dawes P l a n . " A t this meeting the following officers were elected: President, Raymond F . Bacon; vice president, George F . Kunz; treasurer, J. B . N . Dorr; secretary, Arthur W. Thomas; members of the Council, Jerome Alexander, Charles F . Chandler, Ellwood Hendrick, H. C. Parmelee, L. H . Baekeland, C H. Herty, Ralph H. McKee, Prosper Cholet, Marston T. Bogert, W. H. Nichols, J. K. Zanetti, R. H. Moody, a n d R. B. Moore. One October 17th, Dr. Ε F. Armstrong, retiring president of t h e Society of Chemical Industry, spoke to the American Section of the Society on " T h e IVits from M a n y Aspects." All of the foregoing meetings were held at the Chemists' Club.
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IXDCSTHIAL AXD EXGIXEEIUXG CHEMISTRY
Sews
Edition
Chemists Determine What Attracts Boll Weevil
Maryland Section Program
For eight or ten years the Bureau of Entomology has been at tempting to locate the substances in the cotton plant which cause the bull weevil to feed on this plant and none other. Progress has necessarily been slow, according to B. R. Coad of the boll weevil laboratory of the Bureau at Tallulah, La., owing to the fact that the chemical problems involved were very difficult of solu tion. About two years ago, however, the work was furthered by t h e Bureau of Chemistry which was able to assign to this study, in cooperation with the Bureau of Entomology, Dr. Frederick B. Power, one of the most able chemists of the world on this class of work. Mr. V. K. Chesnut of the same bureau has been associated with him. Large quantities of cotton plants were collected and either distilled or put through other processes. Since that time, Dr. Power has been working with this material ami has made great progress toward a complete understanding of t h e chemistry of the cotton plant. Some of the more promising of the substances isolated have been available for field tests this year at Tallulah, and the ento mologists have found that certain of them possess attractive «iiialities apparently slightly superior to those of the cotton plant iiself. However, working out the correct dilution and the proper combination of these substances is a very slow and tedious process and it is still entirely too early to attempt to predict results; in fact, it will apparently be at least a year or more before any definite conclusions can be reached. Consequently, while more progress is being made in investigation than has been the case in t h e past, there is still no definite assurance that an attractant sufficiently powerful to be of commercial value will be located, although the results so far are exceedingly hopeful.
The 1924 2Γ> Program of the Maryland Section of the A. C. S. is as follows. All meetings are held at the Kngineers' Club, Baltimore, unless otherwise announced. October 3 Dr. Edgar F. Smith, Former President of the University of Pennsylvania. Subject: " T h e Role of the Teacher and Student in Developing the Chemistry of the Country." November 5 Dr. I„. H. Baekeland. President of the American Chemical Society. Subject: "What the American Chemical Society Is Doing for the Chemist." December 11 International Meeting with Washington Section at Washing ton (Cosmos Club). Baltimore speaker, David I. Macht, Lecturer on Pharmaceu tical Chemistry at Johns Hopkins University. Subject: "Modern Research Methods and Discoveries in Pharmaceutical Chemistry." Washington speaker to be announced later. January 9 Dr. F. O. Rice, Professor of Organic Physical Chemistry. Johns Hopkins University. Subject: "Hydration of the HydrogenIon." Mr. Carl Haner, Superintendent, U. S Industrial Chemical Co. Subject: "Some Wild Engineering I Have Known." January 30 Dr. C. E. Davis. National Biscuit Company. Subject to be announced later. February 13 Dr. Η. Α. Β. Dunning. President, Hynson, Wescott & Dunning. Subject: "Therapeutic Application of Some Organic Antimony Compounds." Dr. M. Kharasch, Professor of Organic Chemistry. University of Maryland. Subject: "Electronic Conception of Valence and Heats of Combustion." February 27 Dr. K. W. Washburn, Editor of International Critical Tables. National Research Council. Subject: "Vapor Pressure of Ice and Water below Zero Degrees and Some Effects of the Atmos phere upon Physical Measurements." March 27 Dr. John E. Teeple. Consulting Chemist, New York City. Subject to be announced later. A pril 24 Dr. S. C. bind, Chief Chemist, Bureau of Mines, Washington. 13. C. Subject: "Production of Radium and Some of Its Properties." Dr. Howard Kelley, Radium Expert, Baltimore, Maryland. Subject: "Status of Radium in Medicine." May 29 Dr. H. E. Howe, Editor, Industrial &f Engineering Chemistry. Subject to be announced, later. Annual Business Meeting.
Civil Service Examination T h e United States Civil Service* Commission announces open competitive examinations for Associate Naval Stores Classifier and Assistant Naval Stores Classifier. Applications may be tiled up t o November 1 1. The examinations are to fill vacancies in t h e Bureau of Chemistry, Department of Agriculture, at en trance salaries of $.'$000 and S2400 a year, respectively. Ad vancement in pay may be made without change in assignment up lo S.'W(K) a year for associate naval stores classifier and up to SWOOO a vear for assistant naval stores classifier. T h e duties of these positions involve classification or grading of naval stores which may be submitted to the Secretary of Agricul ture for classification or grading, or which may require classifica tion or grading under the United States Naval Stores Act of March 3, 11»23; to conduct such investigations as may be required for the proper enforcement of said act; to prepare and finally inspect duplicates of the I'nited States Naval Stores Standards; to reinspect for final determination of class or grade any naval stores previously classified by an assistant or junior naval stores classifier over which controversy as to proper class or grade mayarise; or otherwise as the enforcement of the provisions of the I'nited States Naval Stores Act may require. Competitors will be rated on education, experience, and fitness; and a thesis or discussion to be filed with the application.
Wisconsin Bulletin Tells How Chemistry Serves the State 'Chemistry in the Service of the S t a t e " is the title of a bulletin recently sent out through the state to hundreds of organizations and individuals by the chemistry department of the University of Wisconsin, of which Prof. J. H. Mathews is chairman. T h e background of chemistry development and its relation to agriculture, industries, health, disease, research, and future prob lems of the race are set forth in the pamphlet. Chemistry has been found to be a basic science, the bulletin declares, and 89 per cent of the students in the four elementary courses in chem istry at the university are specializing in such subjects as agri culture, commerce, medicine, physical education, engineering, home economics, and pharmacy. Discussing chemistry and agriculture the bulletin shows t h a t the production of foodstuffs, the maintenance of soil fertility, protection against pests, the use of cement, tempered steel, oil. fuel, bricks, paint, wire, medicines for cattle, and explosives are all concerned with chemistry. I n industries the service of the chemist is equally noteworthy. T h e more efficient use of wood is one problem cited. It involves utilization of by-products of wood, such as wood alcohol used for formalin, resin for phonograph records and many other things, acetic acid, which is used for dyes, white lead, and varnishes, wood pulp which is converted into artificial silk, explosives, water proofing for leather, grain alcohol, and sawdust, which is converted into sugar and then into alcohol which may be sub stituted for gasoline as a motor fuel. T h e service of the chemist in fighting disease is seen in the production of antiseptics, anesthetics, foods and in work on nu trition, safeguarding food products, purifying municipal water supplies, etc.
Haber Is Guest of Philadelphia Section The first meeting of the Philadelphia Section was unusual in many ways. It was postponed from Thursday, September IX, to Tuesday, September 1(3, in order that opportunity would be given all to hear Sir Ernest Rutherford address a meeting in connection with the one hundredth anniversary of The Franklin Institute on the subject " T h e Natural and Artificial Disintegra tion of Elements." Dr. Walter T. Taggart, one of t h e American Chemical Society delegates to the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry at Copenhagen, gave his impressions of this meeting and of European laboratories that he visited. While in Berlin he visited Dr. Fritz Haber and was responsible for Dr. Haber's presence at the Section Meeting. Dr. Haber is the first prominent German chemist to visit the United States since the world war and said he was in hopes t h a t his visit would pave the way for a more friendly cooperation between the scientists of the two nations. Dr. Haber, as is well known, is the Director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute of physical chemistry and electro chemistry of Berlin. Dr. Arthur L. Day, Director of the Geo physical Laboratory of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, D. C , addressed the section on the subject "Recent Work in Volcano Chemistry." Mention was made by Dr. Day of the obsidian cliff in Yellowstone Park. Western Reserve University is again offering evening courses in chemistry, with opportunities for chemists to continue study and research in all phases of the subject.
