Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-02

used in those days were made from the
madder root, 1t became of extreme value
as product of the European farms. and 1t
was raised extensively throughout the con-
tinent.
About the year 1879 a German chemist
employed by a chemical mandatory on
the Rhine took up ordinary coal tar as a
subject for investigation. He was not in
search Of any particular result, but devoted
his energies to what had been an article of
no apparent value
Handsomely Rewarded.
Patiently and with extreme skill he treat
e. the foul-smelling residue of coal with
various acids and in time made a report to
his chief which caused that worthy to open
his eyes. The report in substance was that
a product had been obtained which resem-
bled in character and was fully equal to the
best alizarin made from madden root.
The secret was carefully guarded while
extensive tests were made and patent OBJ
tained then the new alizarin was placed on
the market. The result was immediate and
far-spreading. The original dye had sold at
" pound, and below that figure it could
not be produced. The new dye retailed in
this country for 81. 20 a pound and the sup
ply was only limited by the will of the man
ufacturer
The patent remained in force for seven
teen years. during which time millions of
pounds were sold annually in this country.
seventeen years. then. the day after the
patent expired, it dropped to fifteen cents a
pound In other words, this product from
coal tar discovered by German chemist
whose salary did not exceed 81 900 yearly,
Melted the patentees an apparent profit OF
Los pound. AS millions of pounds were
sold annually in the United States alone
the enormous profits obtained can easily be
reckoned. In fact. it is estimated that
over 100000 was made by one German
firm on dye stuff a reward for its
shrewdness In combining science and prac-
t1cal commerce!
Valuable Results.
One German chemist succeeded, by his
patient researching in analytical fields, in
driving out of existence the important in
dustry of madden root growing (at one t;>..
New York alone had one hundred brokers
dealing solely in the root or its products,
and also placed to the Credit of his employ
ei M, aha ms c"lh-ly a vast fortune.
me Htrp mich had made what might be
caheo mis- ten strike" in commercial sci
nee observed the lapsing of its valuable
alizarin patent with equanimty. The firm
knew full we'll that it's paid staff of chem
lists was not earning salaries in idleness.
Eighteen years ago a well-known profess
sor of chemistry, now living in New York
visited the Ludwigshafer works of the firm
IN question and was shown by the manager
product which the latter declared was
practically ready for the market. That was
in 1881, yet such was the untirng patience
and the thorough caution of the German
chemists that this product was not con-
sidered really fit for selling until last year
When 1t appeared 1t created a revolution
in a market which had been filled for hun
dreds of years by an East Indian article.
IL was the case Of the madden root alizarin
over again.
Takes the Place of Indigo
Like the latter. coal tar was the base
he
$1,000 rabbits in the hutches-had discover
ed substance which bore a striking re-
semblance to the indigo of East Indian
commerce!
The natural indigo is described as "a sub
stance obtained in the form of a blue pow
DER from ieguminous plants of the genus
lndlgofera end used as a blue dye" These
plants grow in the East and West Indies
ana in some parts of America and they
fern an important article of commerce.
1T Is probably well to say here that the
growers of the indigo plant had waxed rich
ana lnsolent IN the trade, and that they
reckoned on an uninterrupted period of
prosperity. They did not take into consd-
Grafton the patient, deving chemists in the
rabbit warrens of the German empire
When the members of the great chemical
hrm in Ludwigshafen thought it convenient
they patented the artificial indigo and calm
ly placed 1t on the market in competition
with the pure article. Immediately there
lndlgo The latter knew the history of the
ahzarin product. but they consoled them
selves with the knowledge that the Amer
lean tariff schedule admits pure indigo free
ana places 30 per cent duty on coal tar
derivatives 1t was a futile consolation
When the new indigo was placed before
the government chemists in Washington il
was carefully tested, and the astonishing
decision given that the artificial product
must be admitted free of duty as mo liv-
ing chemist could distinguish between the
pure and the artificial"
Enormous Profits.
Behold the result! Today artificial indigo
made from coal tar after process dis
covered by German chemist is selling at
a less price than the pure article can be
produced, yet making a profit for the Ger
man chemical firm which can only be based
on the same firms profits on alizarn
The patent will run seventeen years mil
lions of pounds will be sold in the United
States alone and calculated on fair esti-
mate. S3o,0U,NN must accrue to- this Ger
man firm. and incidentally to the German
empire. This, mind YOU is simply one ar
ticle. There are many others. and they are
all. every enc of them. the result of the
German system of combining science with
practical commerce
The lesson is obvious Will we profit by
it?
SWORDS SELDOM CARRIED.