Chemical Engineering. News
WALTER J . MURPHY, Editor
The Chemical Future of Canada JFURTHER expansion of the chemical industry of Canada was prophesied by John D . Fennebresque, vice president of the Celanese Corp. of America, speaking this month at the annual meeting of the Chemical Institute of Canada. "One can foresee," said Mr. Fennebresque, "remarkable expansions in such fields as synthetic detergents, chemically produced fibers, plastics, insecticides, agricultural chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. All of these products "which contribute to raising the standard of living are dependent upon a strong chemical industry and, to be more specific, they are to a great extent dependent upon one particular segment of the industry, petrochemistry." The chemical industry of the United States is expanding at an amazing rate, yet, percentagewise, we believe the increase in chemical plant capacity in Canada is much more spectacular. The Canadian chemical industry now is becoming highly diversified, paralleling the history of the industry in the United States. The chemical industry in Canada is not the only industry in that country exhibiting unmistakable signs of growth. As Fennebresque pointed out in his very excellent analysis of die chemical industrialization in Canada, the over-all industrial expansion now going on to the north of u s far surpasses any previous experience, including the very substantial industrial expansions during both world wars. The older well-established industries, such as pulp and fiber and metallurgical, are modernizing and revamping their present facilities and constructing new plants. This means a healthy increase in the consumption of chemicals in Canada. Fennebresque attributes much of the industrial growth in Canada to a governmental attitude that creates a n atmosphere where progressive capitalism can thrive. H e particularly praised the sound and wise fiscal policies o f the Canadian government pointing out that the comparatively moderate company income tax laws, moderate by comparison with certain other countries, are definitely attracting capital investment to Canada. W e share Fennebresque's optimism on the future o f the chemical industry in Canada. The potentialities are great and w e believe Canada possesses all the necessary attributes to build a modern and well-integrated chemical industry over the next decade or two. Such a development will add immeasurably to the industrial might of the North American continent, a factor of prime importance i n the face of international tensions that exist in the world today. This issue of CHEMICAL AND ENCIXEERTXC NEWS might
well be heralded as a special issue on Canada. It contains, in addition to a first-hand account of the annual meeting of the Chemical Institute of Canada, prepared by Managing Editor Robert F. Gould, the first in a series of three staff-prepared articles on Canada's chemical process industries. The first in the series, written by Associate Kditor Merritt L. Kastens, interprets the basic economic, financial, political, industrial, and commercial developments that have exerted a profound influence on Canada's chemical process industries and discusses the history of the major chemical producing companies. The second, also written by Associate Editor Kastens, will feature the orientation
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of trade across the international boundary and between the East and West in Canada and will review the significant features of the chemical process industries identified with the eastern provinces. The third, prepared by Associate Editor William Q. Hull, will deal with the phenomenal developments of middle and western Canada. The three articles, long in the making, constitute much more than a mere recital of new plants and processes envisioned as part of Canada's remarkable industrial progress. They provide a keen factual analytical appraisal of the future of the chemical industry in Canada. As such, w e prophesy they will be read widely on both sides of the border. Admittedly, the articles contain much that is controversial, but w e believe all will agree that the editors have endeavored to be wholly objective in presenting this new and exclusive picture of chemical Canada.
An Effective Job of Education VJEORGE Gallup, director of the American Institute of Public Opinion, reports that a sizable majority of citizens favor the deferment of competent college students. This indicates conclusively that the work of educating the American public on this question has been effective. We recall the ranting and raving of columnists and others less than two years ago when Selective Service announced the policy of permitting students to enter college and to continue as long as their grades were satisfactory. Some of the more vitriolic among the columnists, newspaper editors, and legislators resorted to such phrases as "elite corps" in an effort to convince the public that Selective Service's policy on students was undemocratic. Fortunately, President Truman backed General Hershey in face of this violent criticism. We congratulate both for their firm stand on what appeared at the time to be a very unpopular position. Dr. Gallup's disclosure that the public favors college deferments is based on the answers to the question: "Should students now getting good marks in college be allowed to graduate before they are drafted, or not?" Seven per cent had no opinion, 24% favored drafting college students, but 69% felt that students should b e allowed to graduate. Indeed, the majority of those interviewed by Dr. Gallup's workers felt so strongly on the matter that they placed college students in the last group that should be called up. If it were left to the public to say which groups should be drafted next to fill the draft quotas, Dr. Gallup states the order would be: (1 ) young men in defense industries; ( 2 ) 18-year-olds who have finished high school; ( 3 ) young men now working on farms; (4) married fathers; ( 5 ) college students getting good marks. This endorsement of a sound policy by the American public demonstrates once again that it will act wisely if it has the correct facts. Indeed, w e see a quite different attitude in Selective Service, its local draft boards, and on the part of the general public concerning deferment policies from that which prevailed 10 years ago. It is well that this change has occurred because it means w e are better prepared for any emergency.
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