Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-10-14
TRANSMITTED DROSS TO COLD
Wonders of Chemistry Wrought by sil
William Henry Perkin.
AMERICA HoNoRs COAL TAR WIZARD
How He utilized Waste from Gas Re-
torts, Once Thrown Away, to
Create Untold wealth
Numerous ByprOducts.

Had Sir William Henry Perkin, the prln-
cipal guest at the Perlin jubilee of the coal
tar industry, lived a few centuries ago he
would have been hailed as a thaumaturgist
and alchemist. He is the man whose dis
covery of the color mauve, fifty years ago,
while working as an assistant in an English
laboratory, revealed the magic which lurked
in coal tar. Great Britain and Germany
have done him honor this year in recogni-
ton of the fiftieth anniversary of his pio-
neer researches which opened the way for
an Industrial revolution and gave new
impetus to the development of synthetic
chemistry.
Usually there is little in sympathy be-
tween captains Of industry and men of the
Perkin stamp, who devote their lives to
pure science, but the leaders of great man.
ufacturing trades throughout the world
have Joined in the tribute to this venerable
savant. Every prominent manufacturer in
the United States whose business is in any
way connected with chemistry is interested
in the testimonial. The banquet held in
his honor at Delmonico's was attended
both by scientists and by those who direct
great commercial enterprises. The worlds
Of the practical and the theoretical met
on common ground in paying tribute to one
experiments in the laboratory, but also as
a successful manufacturer.
Before the discovery OF Perkin, coal tar,
which is the black liquid obtained from the
distillation of coal in the manufacture of
| Illuminating gas, was rejected 1t was then
| the problem how to get rid OF 1t. The
| throwing of 1t into streams produced
| trouble everywhere, and there was conflict
| between the manufacturers and the health
| authorities. The material was once given
| away to all who asked for 1t. 1t was not
until about seventy years ago that some
ingenious German ascertained that the
thick, sticky liquid could be used in pre-
serving wood. A limited quantity was EN-
ployed in painting paper laid on the roofs
of houses. These uses were limited how
ever, and millions OF barrels of the conn.,
modify went to waste.
Worth $50. 900, 900 n Year.
Some idea Of what Sir William Henry
Perkin has done for the industry may be
gathered from the fact that now 10000
men are employed throughout the world
in manufacturing valuable products from
what was once considered worthless, and
that the coal tar products of Germany
alone are sold for $5OOOO,OOO a year. The
substances which are produced from what
was once considered as the refuse of gas
retorts are numbered by the thousands
The discovery of Perkin gave birth to the
manufacture of synthetcal medicinal
agents, antiseptics and explosives 1t is
estimated that there are fully 1000 dyes
alone which have been developed from Goa
tar. Scores of articles used in the art,
and in medicines now found in common use
had their origin in the black fluid which
r uyQa nnIN Of
to those who produced it as an incident Il
the manufacture OF illuminants.
William Henry Perkln was born in Lon.
don on March IL, 1888. He received his
early education at the city Of Londor
school and his tastes at once led hin
in the direction of science, to which he
has devoted his life. He went to the
Royal College of Chemistry, in oxford
street, London, where his progress was Sc
| rapid that when he was only II year,
old he became assistant to the head Of
the institution, DIR. A. w. Hoffman, I
distinguished German scientist He wa,
so interested in his experiments that h,
worked in private researches at night anC
on holidays. His preceptor had gone ovei
to Germany in 1856 to spend the Easter
vacation, leaving his young assistant il
charge Of the laboratory The youthful
Perkin was working on the theory tina
1t would be possible to produce quinn,
artihcaly, and in so doing he oxidizet
aniline The product he obtained was ami
line, purple or mauve, and the metho,
in which IT was produced indicated TO tn,
resourceful discoverer that he had founC
the key to a new industry.
Patented the Product.
When DR.. Hoffman returned a few week
later he found that his assistant had lai,
his plans for manufacturing the new prod
uct, which he had patented. Aided by hi
| Fafhar and hrothar Dawlxt. =.