. Mar., 1917
I
T H E J O C R N d L O F I Y D C S T R I A L A N D E,VGINEERIiYG C H E M I S T R Y
REPORT OF AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION ‘ro FRANCE
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From t h e few plants visited by t h e Cornmission. we gathered t h e impression t h a t t h e war had convinced many French manufacturers t h a t they were operating on altogether too small a scale, consistent with low cost of production and t h a t , if, after t h e war, they were t o place themselves in a position t o compete with German manufacturers, i t would be essential t o drop certain lines of manufacture and encourage the combination of t h e others as far as possible. I t has been suggested in numerous instances by those well advised t h a t in coordinating t h e more important branches of t h e chemical industries i t will be necessary t o abandon t h e old, inefficient plants as well as those plants illogically located both as t o railway facilities and distribution of finished products. Such statements were made a t many different points during our trip through France b y those best qualified t o judge. Books have been published expressing this opinion N-,W. XICHOLS,Chairman. Vice-president, American Manufacturers’ by some of t h e best advised chemists in France. Export Association, l i e w York. Such statements as these may be found in t h e monthly J. G. BUTLER,JR., Vice-president, Brier Hill Steel Company, Youngstown, Ohio. bulletins of t h e Soci6t6 d‘Ettcouuagement pour L’InS. W. FAIRCHILD,President, Drug Section, N e w York Board of Trade. dust vie N u t io n a1e. A . B. FARQUHAR, Vice-President, Chamber of Commerce of t h e United States. A s regards chemical plant construction, t h e tenG. B. FORD,City Planning Engineer, Member of Geo. B. Post & Sons, dency appears t o be t o erect permanent buildings which S e w York City. compare very favorably with our best types in America. S. F. HOGGSON,President, Hoggson Brothers, New York City. F. J. LEMAISTRE, Consulting Chemical Engineer, E. I. d u P o n t de I n many instances. however, insufficient considernliemours &- Company, Wilmington, Delaware. tion has been given t o possible plant expansion which J. R . MACARTHUR, President, MacArthur Bros., New T o r k City. is in line with the general conservatism of t h e French C. 0. MAILLOUX, Consulting Engineer, New York City. C. G. PFEIFFER,Vice-President. Geo. Borgfeldt & Company, S e w York people. City. France had been a heavy purchaser of chemical, J. E. SAGUE,Former I‘-ew York Public Service Commissioner; former vice-President, American Locomotive Company, New York City from Germany prior t o t h e war. There is now a general E A . W A R R E N Vice-president, , Universal Winding Company, Boston, disposition t o seek American sources of supply. It is Mass. intimated, however, t h a t , if t h e United States is to E. V . DOUGLASS.Secretary, American Manufacturers’ Export Association, l*ew York City. compete with Germany in this respect, i t will be a n E. GARDEN,French Secretary t o t h e Ccmmission. essential prerequisite t h a t the American manufactures The Commission recognized t h a t ;Imerica must study French conditions closely, t h e French being become a n important factor in European reconstruction perfectly candid in their statements t h a t in many after the war and t h a t whatever tends t o throw light instances t h e German chemical manufacturers were on t h e specific needs of one nation cannot fail t o call better informed of their probable requirements t h a n attention t o t h e similar needs of all. they were themselves. Some economists have gone The following survey of t h e chemical a n d allied so far as t o intimate t h a t t h e ultimate success of this industries in France was prepared especially for THIS trade development with France will depend upon the J O U R N A L by l l r . LelIaistre.--[ EDITOR.] proper distribution throughout t h e country of American representatives. conversant with t h e French A SURVEY OF THE CHEMICAL AND ALLIED INDUSTRIES language a n d thoroughly familiar with t h e chemical IN FRANCE DURING THE WAR trade. Men of wider range of knowledge t h a n those B y F. J. L E ~ I A I S T R E usually assigned t o such tasks must be employed by Member of t h e .imerican Industrial Commission t o France The war has completely changed t h e normal condi- t h e American manufacturer. tions of t h e French chemical industry and greatly The old difficulty of t h e decimal system was reincreased its importance. The follom-ing is but a ferred to, i t being exceedingly difficult for t h e French brief survey of the present conditions of this important people t o understand why so progressive a country industry. I t is t o be regretted t h a t vital statistics as America should be so slow in t h e adoption of the are missing in this report. This is due t o t h e govern- metric system. The chemists of America have here ment regulations prohibiting factories working on a n opportunity t o take t h e initiative in this much orders for t h e government issuing statements of any needed reform in our own country. The present time kind. I n a n analysis of esisting conditions, i t should seems opportune, as many mills and factories with orders not be overlooked t h a t , in many cases, best operating for export have, during t h e past two years, been forced practices have not been selected, due t o stress of pro- t o educate their employees in the metric system. duction a t maximum capacity. The French government recognizes t h e benefits
The American Industrial Commission t o France, organized a n d sent out by t h e American Manufacturers’ Export Association of S e w York City, left S e w York a t the end of August, 1916,and spent seven weeks inspecting the principal industrial centers of France. The itinerary arranged b y t h e French authorities, represented by Mr. Naurice Damour. Deputy for Bordeaux, and Chief of t h e French Industrial Commission t o t h e United States of 1915 , included all oe t h e important industrial cities of France and covered t h e entire range of French industrial activity. The investigatory character a n d large spirit of t h e French Commission, whose visit to America was being repaid, was strictly adhered t o throughout, x i t h gratifying sentimental SUCcess as regards t h e impression created upon t h e members, of t h e inviting Go\-ernment: t h e press, and the French people generally. The personnel of t h e Commission ITas as follows:
