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Superintendents for plants engaged in chemical manufacturing processes, especially those connected with nitrogen fixation and the manufacturing of acids and explosives, will be paid salaries ranging from $2400 to $6000 a year. Assistant superintendents of nitrate and chemical plants will be paid $1600 to $2400 a year. Applicants for superintendents must have a standard high school education or its equis alent, and a t least five years’ operating experience involving chemical processes in a manufacturing plant, or they must be college or university graduates with a t least three years of such experience. They must h a t e been in responsible charge of operations involving important chemical processes for a t least two years and must have earned a salary of at least $zoo0 a year. Assistant superintendents of nitrate and chemical plants must have had at least three years’ operating experience if they are high school graduates, or one year’s experience if college or university graduates. I n either case they must have earned a t least $1200 a year. These superintendents and assistant superintendents will be assigned to duty a t the Ordnance Department in Washington or elsewhere.
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have had a t least four years’ suchexperience. The positions paying from $1200 to $1600 a year are open to college or university graduates in chemical engineering who have had a t least six months’ operating experience, or with a high school education have had a t least three years’ such experience. GAS MANUFACTURE EXPERTS
Operatives in gas manufacture-men to operate and control the processes of production of water gas and producer gas-are urgently needed by the Ordnance Office. Applicants for these positions are paid $1600 to $2400 a year, and must have a t least five years’ experience if high school graduates, or ten years’ experience if their education has been a common school education. MECHANICAL ENGINESRS
Salaries ranging from $1600 to $2400 will be paid junior mechanical engineers on high pressure apparatus who wish t o do their bit toward winning the war by working for the Ordnance Department. Experience in the operation and control of high pressure hydraulic and gas machinery is necessary. At least one year of such experience will be required of graduates in mechanical engineering courses from recognized colleges. Four years’ experience is required of high school graduates.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERS
POWER HOUSE ENGINEERS
Chemical engineers, to be paid $2400 t o $6000 a year, are wanted for duty a t the Ordnance Office in Washington, and for duty a t various plants throughout the United States. These men will have complete supervision over one or more chemical manufacturing processes incidental to the war. They must be thoroughly experienced and of proved executive ability. A college or university degree in chemistry or chemical engineering and a t least three years’ experience in a chemical or mechanical industry, or a high school education or its equivalent, a n d a t least six years such experience in a supertisory capacity are required. Chemical engineers, with salaries ranging from $1600 to $2400 a year, and assistant chemical engineers, with salaries ranging from $1200 t o $1600 a year, also are needed by the Ordnance Office. The positions paying $1600 t o $2400 are open to men who have graduated in a course of chemical engineering from a college or university and who have had a t least one year’s operating experience in some chemical or mechanical industry, or who with a high school education or its equivalent
Power house engineers will be paid $1800 to $2400 a year while working for the Ordnance Department. Supervision of operation of water-tube boilers, condensers, pumps, steam turbines, and alternating and direct current generators and motors are among the duties of these men. Machine shop foremen with salaries from $1800 to $2400 also are wanted by the Army Ordnance. Ten years’ experience as machiniststhree years in a responsible supervisory capacity-is required. Assistant operatives in the manufacture of water gas and producer gas, mechanics experienced on high power apparatus, and operatives of acid and chemical apparatus are wanted by the Army Ordnance. Many positions are open. The needs of the service, the Ordnance Department announces, are so imperatit e, that applications will be received indefinitely. Further information regarding the Army Ordnance positions that must be filled is obtainable of the Civilian Personnel Section, G. S. Army Ordnance, 1330 F Street, Washington, D. C. WASHINGTOW, D. C. May 13, 1918
WASHINGTON LFTTER
1
By PAULWOOTON, Union Trust Building, Washington, D. C.
Legislation which is almost as important to many chemical and mineral industries as the Lever Act is t o the agriculture, coal mining, and petroleum industries, has been before Congress during the past month. The War Minerals Bill (H. R. 11259) provides a more drastic control over certain mineral substances than that exercised by the fuel and food administrators. The minerals involved are antimony, arsenic, ball clay, bismuth, bromine, cerium, chalk, chromium, cobalt, corundum, emery, fluorspar, ferrosilicon, fullers’ earth, graphite, grinding pebbles, iridium, kaolin, magnesite, manganese, mercury, mica, molybdenum, osmium, sea salt, platinum, palladium, paper clay, potassium, pyrites, radium, sulfur, thorium, tin, titanium, tungsten, uranium, vanadium, zirconium. The bill specifies that it is -to cover chemical compounds, alloys, and intermediate metallurgical products of each of the substances enumerated. The bill was drafted originally by the War Minerals Committee which is composed of a representative of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, the Geological Survey, the Bureau of Mines, and the State Geologists’ Association. It was intended to centralize authority, so as to permit the Government to handle the mineral situation more effectively. Hearings were conducted before the Committee on Mines and Mining of the House of Representatives. The Committee reported the bill favorably and it was passed by the House with the elimination of the price-fixing power and with the reduction of the
appropriation from $~O,OOO,OOO to $IO,OOO,OOO. As soon as the bill had passed the House, the Senate Committee on Mines and Mining embarked upon an exhaustive hearing, The hearing before the Senate Committee took on a most interesting aspect almost immediately, due to the fact that those opposing the bill seemed to have reserved their comment until the measure was taken up by the Senate. President Wilson is very much interested in securing the passage of the bill but, despite the weight of his influence behind it, the Senate apparently is reluctant t o give its approval to legislation which will permit governmental interference with industry unless it can be shown with greatest clearness t h a t some form of control is necessary. The greatest interest, naturally, centers around manganese and iron pyrites, although quicksilver, antimony, platinum, bromine, arsenic, graphite, tungsten, and others of the minerals have come in for extended discussion. At this writing, the opinions of the members of the Senate Committee have not crystallized sufficiently t o forecast the form that the bill will have when they complete their work upon it. The pricefixing power and the licensing feature are the main points upon which the Senators seem most anxious t o secure expressions of opinion. The situation with regard to manganese ore for chemical purposes was laid before the Senate Committee by Horace H.
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Lamson, of John S. Lamson & Bro., New York. The firm is engaged in importing high-grade manganese ore. While Mr. Lamson expressed the most earnest desire to see the development of domestic manganese mines, he recited numerous instances showing the difficulties a t present in securing even small quantities of high-grade ore from domestic sources. He urged that imports be allowed t o continue until i t is proved that domestic producers can furnish uniform grades of chemical ore. He is of the opinion that 60,000 tons of high chemical ore will be required by American manufacturers during the next twelve months. Charles H . MacDowe11, of the Chemical Section of the War Industries Board, told of the arrangement between the Government and the Dow Chemical Co., of Midland, Mich., whereby the Government put down seventeen additional wells on the Dow property in order to assist in increasing the output of bromine. As a part of the contract, the Dow Company was to increase its bromine plant so as to take care of the additional product. Arrangement provided for a price of thirty-five cents a pound for the supplies used by the Government. Instead of turning out the product as a liquid, it was agreed to turn it over t o the Government in the form of mineral salt, SO as to make shipment easier. The Government is using bromine in the preparation of poison gas. Platinum is the source of no little worry to Government officials, Mr. MacDowell told the Committee. He told how some platinum is still being secured in Russia. The thoroughness of the efforts being made is attested by the fact that shoes and other much-needed articles are being bartered for platinum among the Russians. h k . MacDowell’s testimony carried a measure of relief to many of those who have been anxious with regard t o platinum supplies. He declared that there is enough platinum in the country to meet requirements if the worst should come, but he pointed out the great difficulties that would be met in reclaiming the platinum used in jewelry and in other forms. Mr. MacDowell stated that it has been necessary recently t o issue I ,000 additional commandeering orders for platinum. He is hopeful, however, that needs can be met by restricting all non-essential uses of platinum and by securing as much as possible of the production in Russia and Colombia. It is Mr. MacDowell’s opinion that there is enough manganese in the United States to meet requirements for three months, even if no further imports are permitted. Mr. MacDowell favors the bill. Another revelation made a t the hearing was that the Government expects to commandeer sulfur. This step has been found necessary in order to permit of the allocation of sulfur among the various consumers and to conserve, as far as possible, the supplies of nearly pure sulfur produced in Louisiana and Texas. Some expansion has been found necessary in the Chemicals and Explosives Section of the War Industries Board. The work is under the direction of L. L. Summers. I n addition t o his administrative duties, he pays particular attention to explosives. Charles H. MacDowell, the assistant chief, has charge of nitrates. Other members of the staff and their assignments are as follows:
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Among the additional commodities added to the conservation list May 17 are the following: alpaca metal and articles containing i t ; paper stock, sand, and shingle stock asbestos; spelter; numerous articles containing tin; face creams containing salts of mercury. Final figures on production of sulfuric acid have been obtained by the Geological Survey. The results of its exhaustive calculations are in part as follows: The production of sulfuric acid in 1917, expressed in terms of acid of 50’ Be., was 5,967,551 short tons, valued ak $71,505,536, t o which must be added 759,039 short tons of acids of strengths higher than 66 O BC. (which cannot be calculated for comparison with acid of 50 Be.), valued a t $16,034,545. The increase over 1916, in the production of acid expressed as 50’ BC., was therefore more than 3 2 5,000 short tons in quantity and $8,800,000 in value, and the increase in the production of stronger acids was more than 315,000 short tons in quantity and $5,225,000 in value. The value of the total production of sulfuric acid in 1917 was over $14,000,000 more than in 1916. Other final figures are as follows: lithium minerals, 2062 tons; aluminum salts, 198,452 tons; phosphate rock, 2,584,287 tons. Numerous important matters were discussed by members of the Chemical Advisory Board of the Bureau of Mines in a conference last month with Charles L. Parsons, chief chemist of the Bureau of Mines. The chemical advisory board consists of Dr. Wm. H. Nichols, New York; Prof. S. P. Venable, Chapel Hill, h’. C.; Prof. E. C. Franklin, Stanford University; Mr. Wm. Hoskins, Chicago; Prof. H . P. Talbot, Boston; Dr. Ira Remsen, Baltimore; Prof. T. W. Richards, Cambridge.
To prevent the useless consumption of materials and labor in making articles for export, the War Trade Board has announced that written approval of war missions of the country to which exportation is intended must be secured. Exporters of certain articles would be required to obtain the written approval of the Food Administration or the War Industries Board before export license would be extended. Among the articles in the latter class are: All acetates, acetic anhydride, acetone, all arsenic compounds, carbon disulfide, chrome compounds, cyanides, all dyestuffs, ethyl methyl ketones, explosives, formaldehyde, glycerin, all manganese compounds, nitrobenzol, all potassium salts, pyrites, saccharine, chromium ore, ferro alloys, graphite, manganese ore, mercury, mica, nickel, metallic sodium and any metal or alloy thereof, tin, tungsten, and wolframite.
D. W. Brunton, chairman of the War Committee of Technical Societies, is the head of a Board to which the War Department will refer all inventions of a mechanical, electrical, or chemical nature.
In the United States Tariff Commission’s investigations of the chemical industries, special attention has been given to the manufacture of oxalic acid. American laundries, which before the war used large quantities of oxalic acid as a bleach, have been compelled in many cases t o rely upon the less satisfactory J. H. ADAMS,mica; A. BRUNKER,R. S. HUBBARD, and A. E. WELLS, mineral acids. A number of other businesses, especially in acids and heavy chemicals; C. H. CONNER,wood distillation products, the textile and tanning trades, consumed considerable amounts platinum commandeering and requisitioning; E. J. HALEY,tanning maof the acid, but in most instances these industries have now coalterials, greases, tallows, vegetable oils and waxes; J. M. MOREHE:AD, found suitable substitutes. gas products and rare gases; I. C. DARLING,toluol distribution; A. G. Before the war the greater part of the oxalic acid used in the ROSEKGARTEN, fine chemicals; H. W. SANFORD, ferromanganese, chromite, United States was imported from Europe, chiefly from Germany, chemical glass, carboys, and tungsten, and ferrosilicon; R. M . TORRENCE, where the industry has been firmly established for half a cenchemical stoneware; W. G. WOOLFOLK,brimstone and pyrites; H . R. tury. I n 1913, Germany exported IZ,jOO,OOO lbs. of oxalic MOODY, S. A. TUCKER, and E. R. WEIDLEIN,inorganic chemicals, electrolysis, acid and slightly over 6,000,000 lbs. of this were consumed in electrometallurgy, ceramics, refractories, organic compounds, and dyethe United States. The balance of the American imports, stuffs. amounting to about I,OOO,OOO lbs., came from Norway and Associated with the Chemical Section are several representa- England. A great decrease in imports was noticeable early in tives of the Navy Department. Their names and assignments 1915, when we received only 3,joo,ooolbs. from Germany in comDarison with almost 7,000,ooolbs. in the preceding year. I n are as follolvs: 1916, imports from Germany dropped to a scant 80~ooo1bs. D. RILEY, alcohol, explosives, nitrates, alkalies, chlorine, electrochemUntil 1909, according to the statements made before the icals, dyestuffs, and organic chemicals; s.R. FULLER, chrome, Committee on Ways and Means, there was but a single Amermica; S. I. MARKS,tin. and ferro alloys; C. K. MCDONALDS, ican producer of oxalic acid and the output of this firm was representatives and their assignments are as follows: practically negligible until 1911. In that year its production CAPT.GELSCHEN, alcohol, nitrates, alkalies, chlorine, acids, sulfur, and reached 2,000,ooo lbs., or slightly less than one-third of the pyrites; MR. LOCKHART,wood-distillation products, platinum, and foramount imported during the yea;. The number of manufacmaldehyde; C. RICE, electrochemicals, dyestuffs, and organic chemicals; turers of oxalic acid has always been so small that figures on . explosives and nitrates. LIEUT. ‘201,SPRUANCE, production could not be published without revealing the operaMajor Seth Williams is the chemical representative of the tion of individual firms. However, the statistics compiled by the Tariff Commission indicate that in general there has been Marine Corps attached t o the War Industries Board.
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no great increase in production, although in 1914, when the price suddenly trebled, a number of firms were reported t o have begun the manufacture. The price of oxalic acid was about 7 or 8 cents in 1913, but i t increased very rapidfy until April 1916, when it reached a maximum of 80 cents a pound. Since then the price has dropped and during the last year it has remained fairly constant a t about 45 cents. This is due in large part t o the increasing imports of Norwegian, Dutch, and English acid. The process of manufacture employed in this country requires the use of caustic potash and before the war the American manufacturers depended entirely upon Germany for this material. When hostilities shut off this source of supply, the manufacturers turned to the American producers af potash
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from wood ashes. The greater supplies of Nebraska and Utah could not be utilized as these deposits yield chloride of potash which must be further treated before caustic potash is obtained. I n Germany oxalic acid is made from producer gas and caustic soda, and as the gas is a waste product in several industries this process offers a very profitable method of manufacture. Indications are t h a t the American manufacturers of oxalic acids will not be able to compete with the German producers after the war unless a cheap supply of caustic potash becomes available. As far as present experiments show, the sawdust process now used in the United States will not give satisfactory results without the use of caustic potash. The producer-gas process appears more practicable, but i t involves certain engineering difficulties which American manufacturers have not yet solved.
OBITUARIES ARTHUR HENRY ELLIOTT The recent death of Dr. Elliott is deeply regretted by a large circle of professional and other friends, who valued highly his friendship and were always pleased to meet him. He left the impress of his personality on the Societies to which he belonged, and on all who came in contact with him. He was always ready to lend a helping hand, and many young members of the chemical and engineering professions are deeply in his debt for assistance which he gave them in beginning their careers. Dr. Elliott was born in London, England, in July 1851. He died a t Peekskill, N. Y . , on February 28, 1918. His family name was originally Aylot and came from ?Normandy with William the Conqueror. He was taken t o France when he was a child and received his early education in a Convent school near the Belgian border, learning French before he learned English. On returning to England, a t the suggestion of his father, who was a physician, he took up the study of medicine. He was so impressed, however, by the lectures of his professors of chemistry ( T y n d a l l and others) that he dropped medi. cine, and in 1866 entered the School of Chemistry in South Kensington, graduating in 1869. He also attended lectures a t the School of Mines in Jermyn Street. While still a student he obtained a reputation as an iron and steel analyst, reading on March 18, 1869, an article on the determination of carbon in ARTHURHENRYELLIOTT cast iron, before the London Chemical Society, which wasyatfterwards published in the Journal of the Society. Soon after his graduation he was appointed chemist to the Spence alum works in Manchester where acids, alum, and other chemicals were manufactured and the by-products of gas works were handled. I n 1870 he entered the service of Prentice Brothers, at Stowmarket, where he had to do with the manufacture of acids, fertilizers, and especially guncotton. I n 1872 he started on a trip around the world, with a view of joining an uncle in Australia, and perhaps going to China. Arriving in New York he presented letters to several chemists, among them one t o Prof. C. F. Chandler, who induced him to stay in America and became his life-long friend. During the next few years he was connected with two different works, one in Baltimore, the other, the Highland Chemical Works, near Peekskill, where he made sulfuric acid from a local deposit of pyrites, as well as from imported sulfur.
I n 1879 Prof. Chandler induced him to extend his chemical studies by entering the School of Mines of Columbia University. He joined the third class and graduated in 1881, receiving the degree of Ph.B. in chemistry. He then took a post-graduate course and received in 1883 the degree of Ph.D. with a major in economic geology and a minor in the chemistry of explosives. From 1880 t o 1888 he was associated with Prof. Chandler in his lectures a t the College of Physicians and Surgeons and a t the N. Y . College of Pharmacy. I n 1886 he was appointed demonstrator in chemistry, and in 1888 professor of physics and chemistry and director of the laboratories in the College of Pharmacy. I n 1889 he relieved Prof. Chandler of his lectures on inorganic chemistry entirely, lecturing on both physics and chemistry t o juniors and seniors, as well as giving laboratory instruction in analytical chemistry and practical pharmacy, Prof. Chandler retaining organic chemistry. Dr. Elliott continued to discharge these duties until 1897 when he resigned. In 1903 he was made emeritus professor of chemistry and physics, and in 1905 he was elected a trustee, which position he filled until his death. I n May 1880 he became connected with the Municipal Gas Lighting Company and in 1884, when the consolidation of the New York gas companies took place, he became engineerchemist t o the Consolidated Gas Company, which position he retained until his resignation in 1910. He was retained however as consulting chemist until his death. In 1885 he became associated with Prof. Chandler in the editorship of Anthony’s Photographic Bulletzn, a position which he held until the end of 1893. I n 1887 he married Miss Kate P. Uglow, daughter of Dr. James Uglow, a surgeon in the Ci\ il War. He is survived by his widow, three daughters, and a granddaughter. He belonged to the following Societies and Clubs: London Chemical S6ciety American Chemical Society Society of Chemical Industry American Institute of Chemical Engineers The Chemists’ Club American Institute of Mining Engineers
Ameriran Gas Institute Society of Gas Lighting Illuminating Engineering Society New Columbia York University Academy of Club Sciences Fireside Club, Flushing The Masonic Order
PUBLICATIOXS
1. “On the Determination of the Total Carbon in Cast Iron,” J . Chem. Soc., 1869. 2. “On the Determination of Sulfur in Cast Iron,” Chem. N e w s , 1870 an,9 1871.Dingler’s polytech. J 199,376. 3. Auuaiatus for the Rauid Agalvsis of Gas Mixtures.” Chem. News, 1881. 4. “Report on the Methods and Apparatus for Testing Inflammable Oils,’’ 2nd Annual Report of the N. Y. State Board of Health, 1882, p. 449. 5. “Auoaratus for Rauid Gas Analvsis.” Chenz. News. 1883. 6. ‘‘OL-Oil of Vitriol ’’ about 187.6.7 . “Table on Sulfuric Acid Showing Physical Properties of All Strengths PublishEd b y Mfg. Chemists A&. of U. S.” 8. On Nitro-Saccharose and NitrE-Glycerin,” about 1881. 9. “Elliott’s Qualitative Analysis 1892, 120 pages. Besides many other papers on ihdustrial and sanitary topics. This is certainly the record of a most industrious and useful life.
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C. F. CHANDLER
