June, 191j
’
I
T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
t o make their united voice heard, regardless of a n y possible misunderstanding of motive in so expressing themselves. We traveled a little last week and learned some things which gave rise t o serious concern t h a t already we may be well advanced in t h a t same p a t h of error, t h e disastrous effects of which have been so clearly pointed out. Our military forces are t o be raised by two methods: voluntary enlistment is now in daily progress; t h e selective draft system will soon be inaugurated. Under t h e volunteer system we found in our very limited journey one research in coke oven practice badly crippled by t h e absence of its leader, a member of t h e National Guard, now in service. At anothcr place, a research, bearing probably on t h e solution of t h e submarine menace, h a d been discontinued-the student assistant h a d enlisted. Such men should not be allowed to enlist. Under t h e prospective draft system we found a commercial laboratory whose staff of welltrained assistants may be completely taken by t h e draft a n d yet t h a t laboratory has been most successful in t h e construction of high explosives plants. Finally, we have watched closely all authorized statements as t o probable exemptions under t h e draft system a n d we 1 have as yet found no mention of t h e chemist. A census of t h e chemists has been taken a n d we are informed t h a t more t h a n eleven thousand have replied, giving t h e information requested. Is this information to be used simply t o secure t h e extra men who may be needed for t h e special problems which now confront our very much overworked government chemists? Should i t not rather constitute in addition a n official reserve for t h e adequate a n d uninterrupted o u t p u t of t h e greater chemical industry which must immediately arise if this nation is t o throw all of its resources into this war? President Wilson has just said: ‘ ‘ The business now in hand is undramatic, practical and of scientific definiteness a n d precision. ” This thought recalls a visit we h a d not long ago from two students of Lehigh University, representing their fellow students in chemistry in t h a t institution. Both were former Plattsburgers a n d filled with eager enthusiasm for active service in t h e army, b u t t h e y were also students in chemical engineering. Their question was-how can we best serve our country? Their final decision was t o await t h e call t o t h e colors b y our country, meanwhile t o organize their fellow students into groups according t o raining, so t h a t in case of need they can promptly offer their services t o those industrial chemical plants for which t h e y are best qualified, no matter how menial t h e work may be. Such a decision was essentially undramatic, thoroughly practical, marked b y scientific definiteness and shot through with highest patriotism. I t will be interesting t o watch t h e subsequent career of these two young men as indicative of how we, as a nation, have met t h e problem of best utilizing chemists in this war which has so frequently been characterized as a war of chemists and engineers. I n this connection there is another problem which deserves t h e most serious consideration of our university executives, a n d t h a t is, t h e provision of increased
545
facilities for instruction in chemical engineering, facilities both as t o men a n d t o means. T h e uncertainty as t o student attendance next year, t h e absence of many professors a n d t h e probability of decreased funds have already led many institutions t o formulate plans for curtailment of normal university activities. However strong t h e convictions which led to such contemplated restrictions, i t is sincerely t o be hoped t h a t t h e outworking of t h e policy will not make itself felt in t h e chemistry courses, especially in t h e instruction in chemical engineering. On t h e contrary, it is sincerely to be hoped t h a t ways may be found t o increase rather t h a n decrease this particular feature of t h e university curriculum. Here again we may find guidance from British thought and conviction. I n t h e Journal of the S o c i e t y of C h e m i c a l I d u s t r y , Irol. 3 0 , page 2 4 7 , i t was recently pointed out t h a t “ t h e chemists of this country were a n d are in t h e position of a n a r m y without reserves.” T h a t remark applies also t o America. I n such a war as we are now entering there will be increased work t o be carried out a t home by chemists in t h e peaceful arts a n d in t h e munition and directly related factories, while large numbers of chemists will be required in active field service. This country should a t once proceed t o train a n adequate “reserve a r m y ” of chemists t o meet t h e shortage t h a t will be heavily felt beginning next spring and lasting until t h e end of t h e war, indeed until a t least five years after peace is declared. Whether or no t h a t reserve army is t o be supplied depends most largely upon t h e character of university budgets now in t h e making. The changes in t h e curricula of many educational institutions which are now being planned t o admit of more intensive military training are fundamentally based upon t h e same necessity which demands increased chemical training. After nearly t h r e e years of bloodi.est war, with more t h a n five million men in service, and with t h e accompanying enormous t a x on British resources, Sir Robert Hadfield, t h e President of t h e Faraday Society, said on March 6 , 1917,during a discussion of t h e training a n d work of t h e chemical engineer: “ I t is most desirable t h a t increased facilities should be given t o training chemists t o meet those conditions which will arise after t h e war. ”
THE CHEMIST AS A RAILWAY INDUSTRIAL AGENT
Congratulations t o Mr. V. V. Kelsey, t h e recentlyappointed industrial agent of t h e Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio Railway! And congratulations t o t h a t Railway which, by this promotion from t h e laboratory t o t h e broader executive field, has officially recognized t h a t t h e chemist can do more in its service t h a n analyze boiler waters a n d determine whether or no specifications are met in purchases of coal, lubricating oil a n d paints, however important such functions may be. We hail this event as another distinct step upward in t h e constantly increasing regard of America for its chemists.
T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING C H E M I S T R Y
546
I n itself this promotion is t h e natural outcome of t h e broad vision of a chemist as t o his possibilities of usefulnessto t h e railroad which employed him a n d t o t h e count r y traversed b y t h a t railroad. I n t u r n he has always received t h e generous support of officials in t h e adequate supply of laboratory equipment, services of assistants a n d freedom in t h e working out of his plans for industrial development. While the promotion is therefore perfectly logical, nevertheless i t carries with i t much food for profitable reflection, both on t h e part of railway officials and of t h e chemists in their employ. This business of pioneering is not new t o hlr. Kelsey, for he was t h e first chemist t o be p u t in charge of a n exhibit of natural resources, by a railway company, a t t h e National Exposition of Chemical Industries. We beg t o extend best wishes for his success in t h e new position a n d confidently predict t h a t through his thorough surveys, interpreted by sound chemical common sense, many new industries will arise. From such industries t h e country will receive needed finished products, manufactured from raw materials which so long have lain dormant. ~
A REGRETTABLE FAILURE TO COOPERATE During t h e past two years we have continuously pleaded for cooperation as t h e most effective means for chemical progress. It has been our pleasure t o record many forward-looking movementsbased primarily upon this rational principle. I t is, therefore, with keen regret t h a t we now record a failure t o inaugurate a n important work in which codperation was t h e essential factor. We refer t o t h e matter of cooperation on t h e part of t h e chemical industries with t h e U. S. Bureau of Foreign a n d Domestic Commerce in t h e compilation of a fully itemized census of chemicals other t h a n dyestuffs during a typical pre-war fiscal year such as 1913-14. The importance of such a census was discussed in t h e editorial section of the March 1917 issue of THISJ O U R N A L . A committee was appointed by t h e American Chemical Society t o raise $2000 from the chemical industries. This amount was t o be added t o a similar s u m which t h e Bureau of Foreign a n d Domestic Commerce agreed t o set aside out of its present appropriations. T h e joint amount, $4000, had been estimated by t h e Bureau as t h e cost of t h e preparation of t h e census from t h e Treasury records. The census was t o be published b y t h e Bureau and t o be available t o all a t t h e usual price of such government publications-fifteen cents. I n order t o raise t h e required $ 2 0 0 0 from t h e chemical interests, t h e committee asked by letter more t h a n one hundred firms t o contribute fifty dollars each, believing t h a t sufficient favorable replies would be received t o cover fully t h e amount needed. Any excess was t o be returned t o t h e contributors. T h e committee’s confidence, however, was not justified by t h e results, as only a little more t h a n half t h e required amount was raised.
-
Vol. 9, No. 6
Having failed through this method, i t was hoped t h a t t h e balance might be subscribed by t h e National Association of Manufacturing Chemists. I t s officers replied t h a t as a n Association i t had no funds which could be used for such a purpose and t h a t they considered this t o be a matter for subscription by individual firms. Loath t o give up t h e effort we again conferred with Dr. P r a t t , t h e Chief of t h e Bureau, laid t h e facts before him a n d urged t h a t in view of t h e need of such government statistics t h e work be undertaken solely from government funds. I n his courteous reply he pointed out t h a t he would gladly authorize t h e undertaking if congressional appropriation could be obtained, b u t t h a t present appropriations did not justify t h e favoring of t h e chemical industries with such expenditure of funds, while other industries were freely cooperating financially with t h e Bureau. The argument was sound, t h e position reasonable. So ended t h e effort. We take pleasure in recording here t h e list of those who have subscribed t o this f u n d : The Barrett Company The Calco Chemical Company ‘ Corning Glass Works The Dow Chemical Company General Chemical Company Globe Soap Company
Madero Brothers Mallinckrodt Chemical Works Merck & Company National Aniline & Chemical Compaw National Gum & Mica Company The New Process Metals Company Pfaudler Company Company Hooker Electrochemical Company Chas. Pfizer & Company The Institute of Industrial Research Smith, Kline & French Co. Solvay Process Company Eli Lilly & Company Arthur H. Thomas Company
~~~nr~ir~phrz
However deeply we are convinced of t h e fundamental need of such a census of imports and however important this step might prove as a preliminary t o more adequate current statistics for t h e chemical industries, we do not feel t h a t t h e raising of this $ 2 0 0 0 is a matter of a house-to-house canvass. If, therefore, no further interest is developed in t h e matter, t h e committee will on June 15th return t h e subscriptions already made, which subscriptions were originally asked on t h e condition t h a t the full amount be secured. We still have hopes!
PROSPECTIVE ENLARGEMENT OF CHEMISTS’ CLUB BUILDING The growth of t h e membership of t h e Chemists’ Club, now numbering nearly fifteen hundred, a n d t h e large proportion of non-resident members, give t o t h e record of t h e annual meeting of t h a t organization on May 2 , 1917, national rather t h a n mere local interest. The reports of its officers showed strength in all t h e departments of this unique organization. Under t h e wise a n d effective leadership of President M. c. Whitaker, t h e finances have been placed upon a sound basis, and his unanimous re-election for t h e ensuing year assures t h e continued growth of t h e Club a n d t h e safe administration of its affairs.
‘
