Evening journal., 1915-03-02
CAN PRODUCE HIGH
EXPLOSIVES HERE
DIR. Rittman, United States
Chemist, Makes Import
ant Discoveries
PRODUCT DRAWN
FROM PETROLEUM

WASHINGTON. March 1.-Two dis
covories, both of vast importance to
American industries and ono regarded
also as priceless military asset, have
been announced by Secretary Lane.
Of the Interior Department They are
chemical processes. developed after
years of research by DR.. Walter r.
Rittman, chemical engineer of the Bu
reau Of Mines. One is expected TO
enable oil rcfiners TO increase their
output of gasoline by 100 per cent; the
other makes possible the production
from crude petroleum of toluol and
benzol bases for dyes and high OK
plosives. for which in the past the
United States and the rest of the
world has depended almost eXclu-
sivcly upon Germany.
Or. Rittman has applied for pat
ents upon his processes TO prevent
the possibility of any monopoly in
their use. and will dedicate them to
the American people.
"Thc processes" said Secretary
Lane today. "arc fraught with the ut
most Importance The Standard Oil
Company has had a big advantage
over the Independents in production
of gasoline. having a patent process
obtaining three times the amount Of
gasoline from given quantity of pc
iroleum the Independents now OBJ
tain. Independent producers as a
whole have never been able even TO
approach these results. Now the fed
( eral government through the efforts
OF DR. Rittman. proposes TO make
| free for the use Of all process
confidently expected to increase their
yields of gasoline fully 200 per cent
and. perhaps. more. Dr.. Rittman
claims his process is safe. simpler and
more economical These are eco
nomc factors of great importance
"Wth a steadily increasing demand
+ for gasoline for automobiles, motor
/ boats and engines. this fortunate dis
covery comes at the proper time. II
was but two years ago that the auto
mobile industry. fearful the supply ol
| gasoline might not be adequate for is
! rapidly expanding business. Offered a
/ 500 0O0 prize for a substitute that
/ would cost less than gasoline. This
I now process adds 10 the hope that IN
spite of the wonderful growth in tlC
use of gasoline there may not be any
/ shortage in the future. ] am led iC
( believe that il will not only be of in
! estimable value to refiners command
= ing but limited capital as well as
those OF wealth. but also TO the hun
drods of thousands of users OF gaso
4 line. When II is realized the gasoline
\ industry each year yields SlOOOuO,Ou'
to $3.50. 900. 900. the Importance Of thi
Il discovery is seen.
l "The second process discovered b.
i DR.. Rittman may prove of much NOR
!, value than the first. in that 70 sug
gesfs the establishment of an indus
!, try in which Germany heretofore ma
been pre-eminent-the dye industr.
/, and also promises indirectly
! measure Of national safely of meal
cuable import
i Among the necessary ingredient
! of high explosives, toluol and benzo
/, are in the first rank. Heretofore
I these products have been mainly oh
tanned in Germany and England frou
coal tar. Explosives manufacturer
I have had to depend largely on thos
j sources. The federal governmen
/ now proposes to obtain toluol an
2 benzol from crude petroleum. Thes
{ products can be produced from prac
, tically any American petroleum. Tn
G supply can be made sufficient nc
= ONLY for the entire American trade
! but also for other purposes and at
j reasonable cost.
o "Tho real comforting thing how
G ever. is that in time of great nations
s. stress. if the nation is ever calle
!. upon to defend itself. We will b. abl
BE- 10 manufacture the most efficient an
!. most powerful explosives known
n warfare. Were il not for this disco'
c cry il is possible that in such a
emergency we might be compello
I to reply largely on greatly inferic
n explosives, and this would spell nt
n tional disaster.
II Or Rittman concludes from hi
r. experiments that this process may b'
i come more economical than Germa
T. methods. and il may result in even
n ually giving the United States 81
premacy in the dyestuffs indush
t that has for some time belonged
g Germany. II would tend TO prevel
c disturbances of the great industriC
J. engaged in the manufacture of silk
e cottons and woOlens in such cXtr;
d ordinary times as we are now expe
a iencing.'