hemical Ingineeriiig WALTER J. MURPHY, Editor
Mews
The Third "Facts and Figures"
recognized a s a solid contribution to the steady advancement of the chemical industry.
X HE third biennial "Facts and Figures'* for the chemical process industries published in the June issue of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry makes its appearance at a time when strong contradictory influences are at work. Leading economists and business analysts are voicing divergent opinions on what lies ahead for industry and commerce, both for the immediate future and the long-range pull. The increase in production capacity in the past two years in the chemical industries has been phenomenal. Some profess to b e frightened by this growth. In our opinion such fears are groundless. The history of the industry is one of exceptional growth and any excess capacity has turned out to b e temporary in nature. It is the opinion of the editors of Industrial and Engi-
Proper Recall o f Reservists
neering Chemistry
and CHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING N E W S
that the executives of the chemical industry are wise in undertaking at this time a calculated risk in extending plant production capacity. If past history is any guide to what will happen in the future, this additional capacity will b e utilized in the not too distant future. The chemical industry needs to be in the forefront of industrial preparedness. The calculated risk really is not much of a gamble. T h e dollars and cents value of research has been convincingly demonstrated ove the past two decades. The companies moving ahead most rapidly in the industry are the ones who retained a strong faith in the value of research when business conditions were unsatisfactory in the thirties. There are still many untouched new possibilities for large scale consumption of chemicals. W e have not reached the end of the "science frontier." Industry—large, medium, and small—thoroughly believes in research and, as a result of research, chemical production will continue to increase indefinitely. The chemical industry must, of course, have adequate charts upon which to base decisions concerning expansion of plant capacity. The size and diversification of t h e chemical industry is such that adequate and reliable "Facts and Figures" are a must, if the industry is to be administered successfully. The need for such information is indicated b y the fact that the two previous "Facts and Figures" issues of Ii?EC are recorded on the Society's books as having the largest sales volume of any reprints. Neither reprint is available any longer. The quality of the material presented in the first two issues is further attested by the fact that the first one won a first award in the annual Industrial Marketing contest, while the second won an award of merit two years later. W e believe that number three in this important series, like its predecessors, will be enthusiastically received and
VOLUME
3 0, N O . 2 2
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JUNE
C^REATION o f a special civilian agency to recall reservists to the Armed Forces, when necessary, with the least possible disruption of "civilian activities essential to the national strength and security ,, was urged by Edgar C. Britton, President of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, in a
statement made last week before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Speaking for more than 66,000 chemists and chemical engineers at a hearing on the Armed Forces Reserve Act of 1951 (H.R. 5426) which has been passed by the House of Representatives, Dr. Britton said the "country's one chance of survival in any sustained full scale World War III" lies in continued superiority in production and in the development of science and technology of better material and methods of production. Recalling the "stress and hardship" to both large and small industry, particularly the latter, which resulted from the unnecessarily hasty recall of reservists following the start of the Korean conflict, Dr. Britton predicted that the problem would b e even worse in any future emergency unless proper precautions were taken. Dr. Britton pointed out that there are more reservists now than there were before the Korean fighting began, and if the Universal Military Training and Service Act, and other proposed legislation, should be adopted, within a few years the great majority of able-bodied men from 18 to 2 6 would be reservists. H e also pointed out to the Senators that the number of reservists recalled at the outbreak of hostilities in Korea was small compared to the number who would be recalled in full-scale mobilization. Dr. Britton, i n his prepared statement, suggested the following amendment: "Whenever it becomes necessary to order reservists, except those i n the active organized units of the Ready Reserve or in t h e National Guard or Air National Guard, to extended act of duty, such individuals shall b e recalled from a civilian agency under uniform regulations to b e prescribed b y the President in such a way that there shall be the least possible disruption of civilian activities essential to the national strength and security. In addition, the involuntary transfer of reservists to such active units also shall be subject t o selection through the same agency." Dr. Britton's proposal is a v e i y sound one. The sudden and indiscriminate call-up of reservists in a national emergency could well disrupt seriously the production of vital war materiel and the essential goods and service needed to maintain t h e civilian economy.
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