The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-26

Did l sacrifice a profit of half a
million dollars to keep carbolio acid
from the ammunition makers?" repeated
Dr. Hugo Schweitzer. chemist and read
of the Synthetic Patents Company. III
Hudson street. II don't know; l shall
have to figure it out.
How much was the amount con-
tracted for? Six thousand pounds a day.
Oh, yes, and up to January 1, 1915.
The other contract was 1000 pounds a
day to April 1, 1915.
The first contract calls for deliveries
for six months. Twenty-Five working
days in the month. That's-let's see
100000 pounds OF carbolic acid. The
smaller contract is 900, 900 pounds by
the same computation. Total 10000 900
pounds, which | bought at s1.06.
The ammunition makers were paying
$3.50 a pound for carbolic acid, and
without effort or an i~nstant's delay l
could have sold my contracts to them
ut that figure. There was an instan-
taneous profit of ~ cents a pound, or
so2S,OOO on the whole undertaking.
SO. j. $. s. who writes "A letter to
the New York newspapers saying that
l sacrificed half a million profit. has
made the loss too small. Nevertheless.
l do not feel fiat,ered by his letter,
which is too fulsome and strikes me as
a shaft OF sarcasm hurled my way.
No. l have no idea who he is"
But is II fair to say hat you sacri-
need half a million when you will make
large profits on this same carbolic acid
converted by our mpan into aspirin.
salicylate of soda and other medicinal
preparations? the chemist was asked,
Tells OF Risk Accepted.
why not?" he inquired. Now I
have all the worry, expense and risk
OF manufacturing. The risk is consider
able. Carbolic acid is normally s or
y cents a pound. Suppose the bottom
rails out or Its war price, or the war
ends during the life of these contracts.
The price will sink rapidly and where
VIII my profits be?
Please remember that I take big
chances. and though my firm needed
lhls acid Tor the manufacture Of medi-
zines my ann was first of all to keen IL
from being used for ammunition. |
uont Know OF any one else who would
have acted as I did in buying il. Oh,
yes. do. Henry Ford would have done
H. and for the same reason
Or. Schweitzer's contracts were made
with Thomas A. Edison's new carbolic
acid plant and included. the chemist
says. all the acid made there in excess
OF Mr.. Edison's own needs. The man
VINO says he gave up an easy half mil
non is one of the most moderate pro-
man in some respects, In New York.
ana certainly the most rosy checked.
smiling and thoroughly good natured
defender OF the Kaiser who has vet come
into wide public notice. He is UNIQUE
IN thls rtspect-he does not demand an
en- bargo on munitions of war or spend
ms days md -nights denouncing the sale
or powder, shot and shell as "wicked.
m~urderous,' &c.
Not but that Or. Schweitzer believes
the export OF war munitions 10 the Al
Hes should be stopped he does. But he
urges such an embargo on the ground
mat this country should observe a
higher neutrality"
Il think the President should issue n
war~ing to Americans" he said. mot 10
travel on any but ships OF a neutral ma
ton There Is a recent precedent In the
case OF Mexico. where Washington
warned Americans to leave that country.
] believe that II President Wilson were
to issue such a warning the tide OF feel
Ing In Germany against Americans
would be turned and that friendly rela-
tons between this country and ny
would he restored and maintained with
out n break to the end OF the war-and
/ hope long thereafter.