Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-05
developed, which yielded 10000 tons OF
sugar In the fiscal year Of lsof-%

Irs GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT
But perhaps the greatest achievement
of chemistry In Its applications TO inaus-
tries u In connection with the coai..ar
color industry, and the various otner
industries which have developed from Ihe
chemical study OF coal-tar ana us pro-
ducts. ..
The story OF coaI-tar Is somewhat ia
mlllar--how that formerly II was pro
duct wholly useless. and even consloerea
almost a nuisance by the gas manu-
facturer. how numerous products were
gradually Isolated from IL, until now
IL Is perhaps as valuable as the gas or
coke in the manufacture OF whlch IL IL
obtained. The mere enumeration OF the
various products derived directly OF IN
directly from coal-tar would require many
pages. Suffice 1t to say that this FORMER
refuse is now highly priced and the Yield
annually is nearly a million TONS all OF
which Is used in preparing OILS. ayes
medicines. and antisepucs.
One gets a faint idea OF the immense
volume OF capital which finds profitable
employment in this color Industry alone.
IL II be remembered that the cost OF one
kind OF raw material used in making
sufficient supply Of but one Of these coal
tar dyes. TO meet the demand for the
year 1880. was more than $s,oJ9,VO. The
machinery. and labor employed in work
ing this up, together with many other
reagents used in its preparation, re-
quired many millions more OF money.
And yet this is only one Of hundreds OF
these colors now manufactured BY the
ton.
AS APPLIED TO INDUSTRIES.
And SO the various Industries which
have been qulckened or instituted wholly
as a result of increased chemical know
ledge might be named. and the catalogue
Ia a long one. Just at present the in
dustrial world is beginning to look with
anxious eyes for the results OF the ex-
pertinent, soon to DO made at Niagara
on the large scale OF preparing the
calcium carbide from which acetylene,
the prospective Illuminating gas of the
future. may be readily obtained by the
simple addition OF water. But this Is
as yet prospective, and not an accom-
piished reality.
was told. and think the information
was accurate, that 70 per cent. Of all
manufacturing exhibitors at the Worlds
Fair employed professional chemists In
their works. This indicates at how many
points the science of chemistry touches
modern life and its industries.
But the benefits arising from the appli-
cation of chemical knowledge to the in
dustries have been mutual. and the
science of chemistry has been much en-
rched. not only by the discovery OF new
compounds in connection with these
works but in the solution Of many prob
lens which could only be attacked by
such an enormous outlay OF money as TO
put them beyond the reach Of individual
chemists. but which required scarcely any
extra expense when attacked by skilled
chemists In connection with some OF these
larger industries.
When We recall that these various i'm
provements in methods OF manufacture,
and the numerous Industries instituted
by chemical research, have resulted from
the union OF chemistry and the arts
during the last century alone. 1t is not
unreasonable to look for still more Won
derful achievements along the same
lines. New discoveries in chemistry are
constantly opening broad fields. in any
one of when may exist mines OF mex
haustible wealth. The triumphs Of
modern science are wonderful. yet all
recognize that the day IS but dawning.
and that the glorious noontde OF indus
trial possibilities has not yet been reach
ed. Whatever shall contribute In
| even a small way towards the further
economy OF waste products, or the i'm
| provement OF existing methods OF manu-
| featuring, will be most heartily well
coined by the artisan no less than by the
true scientist