[ H E ï W l ANDENGINEERING
NEWS Support
tor the Census
A T LONG last the 1947 Census of Manufactures is about to get under way and wre appeal to every manu facturer in the chemical and chemical process indus tries to cooperate fully in this very worthy project. The chemical industry wifl get out of the Census of Manufactures exactly what it puts into it. . If each producer will compile the figures requested in a pains taking fashion, the net result will be an accurate sum mary of chemical production and distribution in the United States. Statistics of such a nature can and will be invaluable to every one connected with the industry. Until comparatively recent years, the chemical industry has had the reputation of not viewing with great favor the compilation of statistics on production. Each manufacturer was quite keen to know the pro duction data of his competitors but was quite unwill ing to disclose his own. In this connection we are reminded of a story that C. C. Concannon tells about the early attempts to es tablish a chemical division within the Department of Commerce in the days when Herbert Hoover was secretaiy. Twice the ardor of the industry for such a division cooled when it was suggested that the manu facturers of sulfuric acid report production in order to make possible the development of an index of business activity based on H 2 S0 4 output. We believe that the attitude of the overwhelming majority of chemical manufacturers is now quite dif ferent for at least two, possibly more, reasons: First, the importance of statistical data was em phasized by ΟΡΑ and WPB during the recent war. We are not suggesting at the moment a revival of either or both these wartime agencies, but we recall vividly the large number of executives who have confessed privately that they would like to own copies of the statistics gathered by both groups, indicating, of course, the value that fairly complete statistics are in market ing research. Second, we believe the chemical industry today is much more marketing research conscious than it was 10 years ago. For proof of this statement, one need but attend a meeting or two of any of the research marketing groups now in existence and note the at tendance and enthusiasm. Those who are engaged in marketing research need not be sold on the value of the statistical data that will be made available as a result of 1947 Census of Manu factures. It is quite possible, however, that comp trollers and accountants may view the forms as just another request from Washington bureaucrats. J. A. Van Swearingen, chief of the Chemical and Forest Products Section of the Bureau of the Census, speak ing before a recent meeting in Washington of the Chem ical Market Research Association, stressed this point when he said : There is always the possibility of compromise— compromise, that is, between what we want, and what we will settle for. Such compromises, however, can be made only in the light of ultimate objectives. You know7 the objectives, Ϊ believe, better than your accountants know them. We endorse this plea. We have too little, rather
WALTER J. MURPHY, Editor
than too many statistics beaxiiig on the chemical indus try. We would like to see greater centralization of the various agencies which collect statistics on chemicals and related materials, and more frequent reporting of pertinent data is desirable. The 1947 Census of Manu factures is the first since 1939. Congress should at least place the census on a biennial basis, as it was for years ; possibly we should have these data on an annual basis in an era when all industry, including the chem ical, must plan intelligently In order to prevent a dupli cation of the depression of the thirties.
The Costs of Veuee JL HE 1949 budget as presented to Congress by Presi dent Truman calls for $11 billion for national defense. An additional cost never appeal's on the balance sheet nor is it evident to the large majority of the populace. It is entered on the black side of Death's ledger and in the hearts of loved ones left behind. This cost was made startlingry clear to the Wash ington staff of the publications with the sudden tragic death of Lt. Charles R. Ry-erson in an air crash while on a routine week-end training mission as a member of the National Guard. Lt. Ryerson, the husband of Cora Glasner Ryerson editorial aissistant on the staff of Indztstrial and Engineering Cliernistry, was well known to all of us and we share a portion of Mrs. Ryerson's grief. Lt. Ryerson served his country well during World War II. He was a veteran of 65 missions over Europe and had been awarded the Silver Star for "displaying outstanding courage/' the Purple Heart, and the Air Medal with clusters. Like many veterans he realized fully that our country is not out of danger and expressed his willingness to serve at lier call by joining the Na tional Guard. Now he is no longer available, either as soldier or as husband or as citizen. As he was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery, we wondered, "How many more hundreds, perhaps thousands of young men, will be needlessly sacrificed, not only in our own country, but throughout the world as the respective nations find i t necessary to prepare for war in a world that cries out for peace? How many scientists that could otherwise be searching out the basic truths of nature "will fall victims of the Grim Reaper as they work to perfect materials of war such as atomic bombs, rockets, and bacteriological weap ons?" Among those working with hazardous materials or carrying out the maneuvers for war, casualties are unavoidable, but war is avoidable—not by any string of words or by deeds of a few men or a few nations. It is avoidable only through the concerted efforts and de sires of all the peoples of the world. As scientists we can take a leading part i n demanding peace and in working for peace "that these dead shall not have died in vain."
