Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-04
WEALTH PICKEDFROM WASTE
Extent 70 Which the Refuse Of Factories and
Cities Are Utilized.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS OF CHEMISTRY
summary of an OmcIaI Monograph
on By-Produets, their origin
n Thei Commercial
Form.

Chemistry, like a prudent housewife,
economies every scrap" says a noted
scientist in a recent lecture. To realize
the extent to which what was formerly
the waste and refuse OF factories are now
utilized II is only necessary to read the
bulletin on by-products. Just issued by the
census bureau. The bulletin was prepared
by Henry @. Kittredge Of Boston, an ex-
pert in manufacturing processes, a sum-
mary Of which IL taken from the New York
Sun:
While methods and processes for utiliz-
ing wastes and by-products have been con-
stantly developed for many years past, 1t
appears from Mr.. Klttredge's report that
the advances made In this direstion during
the last decade have been particularly
notable and advantageous In the economy
Of manufacturing.
Chief statistician North says in his letter
Of transmittal to the director Of the census
that. while IT 10 impossible to measure
statietically the addition to the wealth OF
the country created by turning to some
useful purpose the residues and by
products which were formerly thrown away
or left to rot, the material thus preserved
and turned TO some useful account is enor-
nous and in every instance cited In the
report this stilization has resulted In a
definite cheapenlng Of the cost Of the
products to the consumers. Mr.. North
says:
9TH subject is one that is vitality asso-
oiated with the progress Of every industry
and inseparably connected with the de-
veiopment and prosperity OF every form Of
manufacturing. 1t has engaged the time
and attention Of the chemist and melted
the ingenuity Of the inventor and the skill
Of the artisan to effect economies and re-
veal new utilities. No branch of science
has been appealed to and relied upon so
persistently as chemistry"
Further Development Expected.
Mr.. North says It would be assuming
too much to declare that the profitable en-
ployment Of wastes in manufacturing has
Appropriated the highest point to which
science is capable OF carrying 1t.
This point will probably never be reached
and further developments must be ex-
pected," he says, ''even to the extent Of
converting by-products into the main pro-
duct Of an industry. This reversion is eX-
emplihed In notable instances within the
last decades Of the nineteenth century, the
most conspicuous Of which is to be seen In
the revelations OF coal tar and the highly
developed utilization Of it's many by-pro-
ducts.
What has taken place within the last
100 years must be accepted more as a fore
runner, a prelude, OF what Is to com In
the arts Of manufacturing by the employ
ment Of materials now held In low estima-
tion as contributory TO q high standard Of
manufacture"
Mr.. Kittredge says that while the choicest
perfumes placed on the market are made
from oils and others extracted from flowers
there are many others which are arti-
icially made out Of bad-smelling ele-
ments.
The fuBel oil obtained In the distillation
of spirits has an odor that Is peculiarly
diGagreeable, yet It is used after treatment
with proper acids and oxidizing agents In
making the oil Of apples and the oil OF
pears; and, in addition, the oil Of grapes
and the oil of cognac are little more than
fusel oil diluted.
Oil Of pineapple is best made by the ac-
ton OF putrid cheese on sugar OF by dis
filling rancid butter with alcohol and sui
phuric acid.
One OF the most popular perfumes has
for one Of its essential Ingredients material
which is obtained from the DRAWINGS OF
COW houses and is also obtained from one
Of the products Of gas tar, out Of which is
also obtained the oil OF bitter almonds,
which is 30 largely used in the manufac-
ture Of perfumed soap and confectionery.
Utilizing Refuse. -e
The refuse OF cities throughout the