Evening journal., 1915-12-14
Need OF HOME DYES
As REVEALED BY WAR
Lack in Wilmington Indus
tries Not Soon to be
Supplied
RAW MATERIAL
Is PLENTIFUL

With hosieries and other industries
in Wilmington and elsewhere suffer
ing from lack of dyestuffs, brought
about by the European war, a dis
patch from Washington indicates lit
tie prospect Of early relief through
development of local production TO
Offset the scarcity from abroad.
OF the raw material, coking coal,
it is stated the United States, has
abundant supplies, and the potential
output OF coal tar ana the light oils
from gas plants. gas benzol,' is far
greater than that of Germany. How
ever, the actual output of these basal
substances has been much less. In
1918 the United States, with an out
put of 475,060.000 tons Of bituminOus
coal. the o-rce of coal tar, produced
only about 15O,000,O00 gallons OF coal
tar and 100000 gallons of "gas ben
zOl."
Germany, with coal outl ut of 1885,
100000 tons in the same year, pro-
duced more than $4,000 900 gallons OF
coal tar and about 5O,00O,000 gallons
of benzol. In the fiscal year ended
June 80, 1914. Germany export coal
tar dyes. worth $4,000 600, whereas
the United States in the same year
imported dyes worth Sl0,0OO,OOO al
most the entire consumption in this
country. With imports of dyestuifs
reduced and with an extraordinary
demand for benzol, to1uol, phenol and
other intermediate" products, there
has been an increased domestic pro-
duction. But so far this increase has
been greater in intermediate products
than finished dyestuffs.
Not only is there an abundant
source Of coal tar dyestuffs in this
country, but another source of benzol
and toluol has been developed by Doc
tor Rittman, of the bureau of mines
who obtains them from petroleum
The United States leads the world in
the output of petroleum and produces
more than go per cent. of the tota
annual yield. Prom coal tar and pc
troleum the products necessary fol
the manufacture of synthetic dyestuns
can be produced in quantities far II
excess CT our needs.
That the urgent needs of textile
manufacturers in the United States
can be met in part, at least. by The
use of natural dyes obtained from log
wood. fustic and the tannins, whicl
NuA Ut nau III AetA 90 oAHRAA~of - Nr--'
to be true. and it is expected tha
there will be a permanent increase il
their production. AS the more bri
liant and easily applied synthetic dye
supplanted vegetable dyes, and as on
country has almost monopolized tn
production of synthetic dyes, it II
mains to be seen, it is said, whethe
vegetable dyes can hold their ow
when competition again become
keen.
The establishing of a synthetic dy
INDUSTRY on a permanent basis in tn
United States is regarded as nece
sary to industrial independence. Ho
TO meet the competition o. anoth6
country in which the services of tn
ablest chemists and millions of Go
lars have been given to upbuilding III
industry is said to be a problem {
first importance.
The subject is urged for carefl
investigation by the government
order that Congress, users of dy
stuffs and the public may be informt
regarding the work t. be done in e
tablishing and upbuilding the indu
try. This investigation, it is suggest'
should be undertaken by the burei
of mines as part of its investigation
for the increase Of efficiency in ut
zation of mineral resources.
such an Investigation, it is set for
should cover % the present output
coal tar. benzol and ,oluol in q
United States and the means where
this output can be most economical
increased; 90 the present status
the manufacture of the intermedia
compounds. phenol, naphthol, anili
oil. etc, in this country, the increa
in output since the beginning of
war in Europe. and the outlook
domestic producers when hostilit
cease; CD the possible developme