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T E E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L AND E N G I X E E I U N G C H E M I S T R Y
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Vol. 7 , KO.j
EDITORIALS THE SEATTLE MEETING
The Fifty-first hleeting of t h e American Chemical Society, t o convene in Seattle on August 31st, with t h e final social session in San Francisco, offers unusual inducements for a large attendance. The itinerary arranged over t h e Great Northern Railway, with a special train west of Chicago, was outlined in our last issue. The opportunity t o observe such natural scenery, including extensive glaciers, numberless lakes, no end of mountains, and a real live volcano-all “ m a d e in L4merica”- is alone ample reason for t h e trip. T h e Exposition in San Francisco, which members can visit a t their own convenience after t h e meeting, has been especially planned t o present in detail a broader range of industries t h a n has ever been a t tempted a t any previous exhibit. Scientists and technologists of all classes will find i t both instructive and suggestive. The papers presented a t t h e meeting will of course be interesting and valuable: they always are. Since t h e majority will ex-entually appear in t h e Journals of t h e Society, however, t h e main object of their presentation is t o bring out discussion. The extent and value of this depends upon t h e attendance. The multitude of problems brought forward by t h e European war has quickened anew t h e chemical industries of America; these problems must be solved; and they will not be unless the American chemists co-operate. Only b y closer intercourse among themselves can they know even their own strength. The informal conferences made possible b y t h e meetings of the Society offer one of t h e most valuable means of getting into touch with t h e varied talents of our many Sections. Hundreds of our members have never attended a general meeting of t h e Society. And yet no member has ever attended a meeting without being glad of it afterwards, because he realizes t h a t he has been benefited b y the invaluable experiences of travel, instruction in his specialty, personal contact with his co-workers and t h e general broadening of view t h a t is t h e basis of all progress. Now t h a t chemists are actually receiving some public recognition, i t behooves t h e m t o t a k e an added interest in the activities of t h e Society. I n this way they can attain t h e recognition t h a t is theirs b y right, among the professions of t h e nation. The Seattle and San Francisco Sections are making preparations for t h e largest meeting of the Society t o date. Are you going t o be there? THE EXPOSITION OF CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES
K O better proof t h a t chemistry and chemists “ h a v e arrived” is needed t h a n t h e fact t h a t a National Exposition of Chemical Industries will be held in Kew York, September 20th t o 25th. The managers report t h a t requests for space are arriving daily and t h a t
the list of exhibitors is already representative of t h e many great divisions of American industry. The Vnited States Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce is contemplating an elaborate and comprehensive exhibit, which alone will attract thousands of manufacturers anxious t o learn t h e needs of t h e many markets a t present abandoned b y t h e warring nations of Europe. The time is at hand when t h e public must be taught t h a t chemists are most often I Z O ~ druggists and t h a t there are other chemicals t h a n drugs, dyes and explosives. Furthermore, there are indeed many who still need t o be convinced of t h e t r u t h of President Herty‘s statement t h a t “ Chemistry is no ‘black a r t ’.” The all-absorbing nature of t h e pursuit of chemist r y as a profession is responsible for t h e present conviction of t h e public t h a t t h e science is incomprehensible and inaccessible t o the lay mind. Until they actually see chemical processes turning out useful a n d desirable articles and can get some clear idea of t h e part the chemist plays in this operation, it is useless t o expect public support and sympathy for our profession. Those who like t h e secretive methods of t h e past are protesting, naturally, against this invasion of their realms, but they will have t o submit, for i t is now necessary t o give the people concrete examples. Since they cannot go into the factories for this information, i t must be brought t o them. The exposition method is certainly the quickest and most effective manner of accomplishing this result. The value of the chemist is not appreciated because so few people realize t h a t he really works; they think his results are attained b y chance or inspiration. Provision is being made for t h e illustration of processes b y means of working models of machinery, product displays, motion pictures and lantern slides. Rooms have also been provided for meetings of chemical and engineering societies. Another phase of special importance in this exhibit is t h a t chemical industries are so interlocked t h a t all producers are consumers and vice versa. Also, many industries, between whose products there is no relation, make use of similar machinery, so t h a t even t h e narrowest specialist cannot afford t o neglect t h e s t u d y of t h e methods of other workers. Concerning t h e reluctance of many t o demonstrate their processes, we venture t h a t no manufacturer will disclose as much as he learns and t h a t many will be surprised t o find t h a t some of their most cherished “ secrets ” are already common property. I n view of the present public interest in things chemical and t h e inherent value of t h e exhibits being prepared, we predict t h a t this first National Exposition of Chemical Industries will be successful from every standpoint, and we see no reason why it should not move on t o other large cities with profit t o its exhibitors and t h e various communities sufficiently progressive t o welcome it.
