174
T H E J O U R N A L O F I N D U S T R I A L A N D ~ E N G I N E E R I N GC H E M I S T R Y
be justifiable. S e c o n d , t h e Patent Office might be provided with a control laboratory of its own. The varied character of t h e applications for patents covering all fields of chemistry would necessitate a large, efficiently manned laboratory. This would entail considerable expense, nevertheless it would be an expenditure operating for the benefit of t h e entire country. Third, t h e Patent Office might require of t h e applicant a laboratory demonstration of the correctness of t h e specifications. This would place t h e burden of the proof upon the inventor, but would work no hardship upon organizations having extensive laboratories, though it might affect t h e man of small means. Perhaps there are other practicable remedies. Certain it is t h a t the abuse should be eliminated, and t h e first step toward this end is t h e demonstration of the correctness of t h e original premise, namely, t h a t t h e Patent Office files have been befouled with false declarations. If evidence can be brought together, we are fortunately in position t o place it where it will do most good, and we therefore urge all chemists who have been led u p a blind alley by following t h e directions outlined in patents, t o communicate t h a t fact t o this office, designating by number and subject t h e misleading patent, and supplementing this by a brief exposition of t h e difficulties encountered. This is more than an invitation, i t is an appeal, for nothing can be more vital t o t h e future of t h e chemical industries than t h e establishment upon a firm basis of t h e patent system, whose r a i s o n d’dtre is t h e stimulation of t h e inventive genius of t h e Nation b y affording full protection of t h e law t o those who record with it t h e truth concerning their discoveries. WASTING WATERS
An anomalous situation presents itself a t Washington and a t Niagara Falls. At Washington, under t h e authority of t h e President, the power produced by t h e several American companies a t Niagara Falls, together with t h a t imported from t h e Canadian side, has been requisitioned. The War Industries Board is now engaged in t h e task of redistributing this power in a manner “ t o assure the adequate supply of electric power for t h e establishments engaged i n war work a t Niagara Falls and Buffalo.” There can be n o difference of opinion as t o t h e wisdom of this step, regardless of t h e fact t h a t about one hundred and ten plants a t Buffalo, hitherto dependent solely upon this power, may now use it only when it is not needed for war work, or else must resort t o steam plants requiring t h a t form of carbon which a t present is, if anything, more difficult t o obtain t h a n the crystalline variety. Also at Washington legislation has been enacted for t h e express purpose of relieving the power shortage a t Niagara Falls b y authorizing t h e diversion of t h e full amount of water permitted under treaty stipulations. All this sounds hopeful and helpful. Such is the state of affairs a t the Washington end. O n the other hand, at Niagara Falls water sufficient for generating 65,000 horse power, t h e diversion of which has been duly authorized b y Act of Congress, is
VOI. Io, NO.
to-day flowi‘ng over the falls, serving no other purpose, while the Nation’s life is a t stake, t h a n t h e delectation of bridal couples having t h e temerity to journey in such unseasonable weather to this classic resort of newly-weds. Of the 80,000 horse power capable of being produced under t h e legally increased take-off of water only I j , O O O has been developed. The explanation is simple: t h e terms of t h e Act are so restrictive t h a t private capital will not risk t h e necessary increased investment. To make this clear, we quote from t h e joint resolution approved January 19, 1917,which resolution on June 30, 1917, was “continued and in full force and effect, and under the same conditions, restrictions and limitations until July Ist, nineteen hundred and eighteen.” “Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of War be, and he is hereby, authorized t o issue permits, revocable at wiU, for the diversion of water in the United States from the Niagara River above the Falls for the creation of power t o individuals, companies, or corporations which are now actually producing power from the waters of said river, in additional quantities which, with present diversions, shall in no case exceed the capacity of the generating machinery of the permittee and tenant companies now installed and ready for operation, nor an amount sufficient t o enable the permittee t o supply the now existing hydroelectric demands of the individuals, companies, or corporations which said permittee and tenant companies are now supplying, but not in excess of the capacity of power-using appliances of said consumers now installed and ready for operation* * *” (Italics are ours.) We hold no brief for t h e power companies a t Niagara Falls, nor on t h e other hand can they be blamed for failure t o develop this power, under the restrictions t h e law now imposes, We do, however, feel t h e same impatient interest as would be aroused b y t h e sight of trainloads of coal controlled by t h e Government burning on t h e railroad tracks, while t h e fire department sat knitting sweaters for the boys a t t h e front. Sixteen and a half pages of t h e C o n g r e s s i o n a l Record devoted t o t h e debate in the House of Representatives on the reintroduced Garabed resolution which offers t o produce something from nothing, while water sufficient for 65,000horse power glides uninterruptedly over t h e Falls! It may be t h a t t h e bill of Representative Waldow, recently introduced (H. R. 8491), “empowering t h e President t o t a k e possession and assume control of projects for t h e generation of hydroelectric power from the waters of Niagara River, etc.,” will prove t h e salvation of this situation, b u t it is too often a long time between t h e introduction of a bill in Congress and its ultimate signature b y the President Divert those wasting waters into channels where, t o the uttermost drop, their energy will t u r n t h e wheels of the munitions plants of t h e Nation!
SPRUCE TURPENTINE TO THE FORE
The scene shifts rapidly nowadays. Two months ago we pointed out t o sulfite pulp manufacturers t h e necessity of recovering spruce turpentine for t h e purpose of increasing t h e toluol supply of t h e Army. On
