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INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
Arbitration has for its object the maintenance of commercial peace, the prevention of ill will, and the preservation of good will. It is an ethical practice and a part of the general movement for better business ethics and self-regulation. It is an economic practice, saving labor and time, thereby gaining a recognized place in business economy, and will grow as an item in reducing the costs of production and distribution. Being an ethical and economic proceeding concerned with business efficiency, it may be especially recommended to the chemical industry as a modern method of determining a minor controversy, submitted voluntarily by the parties to a dispute, and opening an easy avenue for the amicable settlement of such disputes.
Stream Zoning N E of the first requirements in the location of a chemical industry is an adequate supply of suitable water, and the same requirement is essential for power houses and other industries not ordinarily classed as chemical. I n the early days plants were placed without much regard to the uses to which the streams of the country might be put by other interests, including the requirements of municipalities, and without much forethought as to the complications which must arise with increasing population. The State of Pennsylvania, through a Sanitary Water Board, is making an effort to zone the state streams for the purpose of encouraging industry with due regard for the interests of communities. This board has recently issued a report on its activities, from which we learn that Class A streams are those that are relatively clean and pure; although subject to chance contamination they are unpolluted from any artificial source. It is proposed to prevent artificial pollution of these streams and to require that all industrial waste or sewage on their watersheds be so treated that the effluent shall be practically free from suspended matter, nonputrescent, and disinfected. Class B streams are those that are more or less polluted. The control of elimination of pollution will be determined by a consideration of the present and future use of the streams, the general interests of the public, and the economics in each particular case. Class C embraces those streams which are now so polluted that they cannot be used as sources of public water supplies, will not support fish life, and are not used for recreational purposes. From the standpoint of both public interest and practicality, it is not now necessary to restore these streams to a clean condition and hence sewage and industrial waste may be discharged into them, provided only that no public nuisance or menace to life results. This would seem to be a forward step worthy of the serious attention of other states and communities. It is recognized that the proper uses of many streams do not necessarily involve the treatment of all polluting water to the last degree, but instead the determination of the pollution which each stream can unoffensively and harmlessly carry and then the advantageous utilization of that stream in the best public interest. I n order to make the streams in Pennsylvania increasingly useful to the largest number of people, the following order of precedence for utilization has been established : 1-For source of supply for water works serving the public for domestic and municipal purposes. Thereafter, but not always applicable in every specific case2-For purposes of sanitation by the conveyance of sewage and industrial wastes after suitable treatment when and where needed. &-For water for manufacturing and industrial purposes and for development of power and agriculture. &-For navigation.
Vol. 19, No. 4
The state has set up facilities to enable complete cooperation with manufacturers and municipalities in investigation of the treatment of sewage and trade wastes. The report briefly summarizes the progress on such industrial wastes as tannery, pulp and paper mill, glue, laundry, milk and milk products, and coal-mine drainage. Even in those states where problems of this nature have not yet assumed great importance, it is none too early to adopt the principle of “maintaining the present suitable sources of public water supplies in a wholesome state, securing “he abatement of sewage pollutions which menace sources of public water supplies, and providing for future safe sources of water supply to meet the needs of the generations to come.” Such a policy should properly protect all public interests and encourage industry without much of the litigation and annoyance which have occurred in some localities where such policies have not been in effect.
An Educational Opportunity N OUR student days opportunities for leisure examinaIalmost tion of equipment used in the chemical industry were unknown, and even a trip to a plant was a rarity. I n the years since then many groups of students have been conducted through manufacturing establishments and there has come the era of expositions held by many industries and affording the student so fortunate as to attend them an uncommon opportunity. It has remained for the Exposition of Chemical Industries to take a long step forward in this work of educating those who within a few years will take their places in the chemical industry as executives, operators, salesmen, purchasing agents, and advertising managers. To W. T. Read belongs much of the credit for the development of the students’ course a t the Chemical Exposition. Beginning with his own group of students in chemistry and chemical engineering, he has been instrumental in carefully developing, with the aid and advice of many others, a plan which offers to any student a series of lectures by specialists, a number of personally conducted visits to technical exhibits, and credit for the time so invested. I n addition to the students, many members of the staff of exhibitors find the time spent a t the lecture courses of great value, and each year sees a larger number in attendance. The Eleventh Exposition will again offer a students’ course and Dr. Read will again be the guiding spirit. The matter should be brought to the attention of faculty and students at an early date. Some of the questions of the moment are: Just what kind of an advanced course will best suit the student’s needs? Should these courses cover recent developments in each field of unit chemical engineering operations, or is a different approach more desirable? The student’s week should be made to fill a definite need and as far as possible supplement the work of his college course. Is your institution awake to this opportunity? Not only should your students be encouraged to take this course, but instructors should be sent to give their assistance, and the teachers from high school, preparatory school, and college will likewise be benefited by it. The younger men in industry will also find the elementary course on the simple principles of unit chemical engineering operations of everyday value to them. A little cooperation will enable all to derive the utmost benefit from this effort. Those interested are asked to communicate their questions and their suggestions to W. T. Read, at the Texas Technological College, Lubbock, Texas. Let us make education as attractive as the other features of the Eleventh Exposition.
