The farmer and mechanic., 1915-04-13
CONFIDENCE AND AMERICAN BACKBONE

We cannot but feel that manufacturers
who use dyes are becoming unduly exclteo IN
their views that there will be dyestuff famine
in this country, and base our bel1et IN TINS
matter in the thought that there is to be de-
pended upon American backbone and American
determination to overcome any and every oo-
stacle which appears because of the war IN
Europe
What is the need right is confidence and
that same American backbone which. will pro-
duce a program Of initiative for the manufac-
turers of coored fabrics, such program as
will tear them away from any idea OF depend
ence upon the government Admittedly the
war situation for time will prevent imports
Of dyestuffs in the quantity which has hereto
fore reached this country and that very tn1hs
should prove an impetus to develop the 90
mestic industry already in existence, and to
increase its scope.
We are of the opinion that there can be
manufactured in this country the dyestutfs
which are needed by the mills, and that all that
is to be needed is that manufacturers throw
themselves into the matter with vigor, and end
a period Of hesitation. There is Thomas A.
Edison who is setting example along this
line, Mr.. Edison having entered into the dye
industry, and saying as to this: II thought I
of these trnid Americans who lack backbone to
father a movement worth while will now come
along and follow suit
The statement has been made by chemists
associated with the dye industry that there
could be made in this country all the dyes
needed with governmental assistance" Here
in the trouble in the matter Of holding
back and depending upon the govern -nent in
the supposedly aid of tariff, in place Of going
in when the has made conditions stronger
to keep out foreign competition than any tariff
wall that could be erected, and when sub
stantial trade could be built up. The need, and
want to emphasize this is that there be
confidence and the use of American backbone
A help in the situation has just cone in
the announcement from England that there will
be interference with shipments Of dyestuffs
and other merchandise bought in Germany be-
fore the first of March for shipment America.
This should prove a great relief, for the bulk
of the dyes for the 1915 season were bought
before the first of March. But leaving this out
of consideration renew contention that
| in this country we able to meet the situation
initiative AS to this let us submit
the following from the Philadelphia Record:
I'VE shall be making dyestuffs fast enough in
little while. MIR. Edsons enterprise is rather
| demonstration than a commercial undertake
ing but dyestuff factory in Connecticut is
| being renovated and re-equipped, and a St
! Louis chemical concern has just begun work
| on large plant in Elizabeth, n j. fo1 the
| production Of dyes This company has a Ger
| man manager and the German formulas At
birmingham, Ala, a plant will be erected that
| In 80 days will be producing 1000 gallons of
| benzol daily. Nearly all the raw materials are
| abundant here: there are few secrets in the
| chemistry of coal tar dyes, and the dyestuff
! industry, which is already established in this
country IS likely TO attain important proper
tons in few months"