New-York tribune., 1915-03-14
eliminating Charge, He
Savs, Enables Him to Sell
Goods Cheaper Abroad.
ppODUCES BENZOL
FROM COAL GAS
,.,.ntor's Process Rivals Ritz
mans Method for Making
Dye Essentials.

,.,r;csns who have wondered how
,ossible for them 10 buy Ameri-
N.5e products abroad cheaper than
sould purchase them at home have
n,,y been benefciaries Of the So
~ ~ dumping process originated by
es.~,s A. Edison. This method is now
I'.srsl Mr.. Edison said yesterday, de-
.,rsins it as follows:
~ costs. say, &C cents m q collar
\. labor and matoTia; and 40 cents
~. overhead charges. Add 10 cents
~ y. ,roft. In manufacturing my
"a. il occurred 70 me that without
H.,,,;slly increasing overhead charges
, sould export great quantities OF
,.-.s and BY adding 10 cents fol cost
y .ypor, could go into the foreign
al and undersell the Germans. for in
sanet. ,-....5 A.. .ba
A,,,s on the foreign stuff. making the
s.-,,tie product carry II all. 1t is a
..-non practice now
Predicts Hard Times.
u predicted hard times and dis
,.si possible legislation for the re
M capital. More freedom for cap
hi with attendant responsibility, is
i, notion ot business Utopia.
Nv idea Of legislation he eX-
,l,;red. would be something similar
:, hat under which the London Gas
Irht and Coke Company operates.
= Is permitted, when il reduces the
,-,e Of gas one cent, TO add one-quar-
=, q that 20 is earnings, and what
/. the result? Why. IL gets busy and
r.pds money on modern inventions
nd all devices that reduce expenses
nd benef, the public.
aThe laws we have here have scared
,s investors. and especially those who
y, willing 70 spend money on PROPOSE
tsrs which enable people TO get work
-silroad construction, for instance"
NJ. Edison's own willingness TO in
vest was again shown yesterday. when
I. announced that he had opened a
;ss:ory in JohnStown, Penn, for the
rspufseture Of benzol from coal gas.
This process has never before been de-
y,loped in the United States, but the
inventor is so optimistic that he in
unds 70 begin the manufacture OF
bsniol in sydney. y. s. within two
months. and al another plant, for
which be is now negotiating.
Process for Aniline Dyes.
These plants are the result OF ex-
prments begun when the war broke
o., and Mr. Edison realized that he
you'd soon be without any carbolic
itii Benzol S the foundation for car
bsie acid and aniline dyes. A famine
in these products has long been threat
trst since Germany and England have
finished the greater portion OF the
supply required here.
Without holding back credit for the
process recently discovered by Pro
fsssor Waiter Rittman, the inventor
links his is superior. Professor Ritt-
mans method Of getting the benzoi
from petroleum. he says, produces a
less strong and clear product.
This country throws away annually
s0oOO000 gallons Of benzol in gas from
tote,' Mr. Edison declared. THE
method ! follow prevents serious
.osS but costs TOO much TO produce.
Ihis is a gamble on the war, for the
Germans, when the fighting is over,
vii resume the manufacture of their
own product s-d sell il here cheaper
than We can make II. But ! expect 10
g.t ny money back before the war is
ended, for the Germans Will fight until
tsey are starved or financially ex-
tilsted. In the end the Allies will
VII, ! believe
High Cost TO Make.
Any fear that spectators may reap a
IA harvest from Mr.. Edison's discov-
Twill be dissipated by his emphatic
r,ouncement that he will sell benzol
Wy to manufacturers who have real
,td for il in their daily business. At
''ans,own FIVE men are producing 1000
gallons Of benzol a day. The Nova
N9tis factory Will have a capacity OF
1000. The Edison factory at Spring