The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-02
Big COMPANIES MAY
GO INTO DYESTUFFS
Du POnt and General Chemical
Representatives Attend
Conferences Here.
I. :. SUPPORT EXPECTED

The Du puut de Memoirs Powder
Company and the General Chemical
Company. concerns which together have
Il capitalization OF Sl6o,ooo.ooo, are
considering the ACCESSIBILITY of begin
ming the production Of dyestuffs on an
extensive scale. While nothing definite
could be learned yesterday Of the Plans
OF either company. 1t was said by
chemists that If these great organiZa-
! tions enter the field it will go n long
way toward making the United states
independent Of Germany IN the matter
~ textile and other dyes,
Representatives OF both companies
have recently held long conferences with
Dr. Norton, agent of the Department OF
Commerce. vino Is in this city To GiN' al
the aid he can in behalf Of the ioNern-
ment To men VINO wish to engage IN the
production Of dyes. Dr, 4, u. cham
hers. chemist of the pu Iont Powder
Company. was IN consultation with nm
from . o'clock on Tuesday afternoon
; until II o'clock hat night, and on the
same day Dr. Norton had a long talk
with Henry Wigglesworth and DIR.
Bernhard G Hpsse, vice-president and
chief chemist respectively Of the General
Chemical Company.
Or. Norton admitted yesterday that
these conferences had taken place. but
he refused to ntimate what had been
the subject under discussion.
For both the powder company and the
chemical company the production Of
dyes would be a natural development.
Many Of the products they already use
go into the mauufactur" Of dyes. The
Du pont Powder Company uses great
quantities Of heuZol and toluol In maxi
ing explosives. and il Is from the de-
rivatlves of these that most OF the dyes
are made. The BenZol Products Com
muy, which is connected with the Cen
eral Chemical Company, is already
making anillnc dyes,
I'VE are looking into production OF
dive Intermediates said Dr. Hesse yes
terday, but to say that We are think
ing OF manufacturing them ON an eNttn-
sive scale would he premature. II de-
ponds ON circumstances. The Benzol
Products Company H. already making
anilines. hut whether II will make any
other dyestuns is a question that | can
not answer now
There are two factors in the dye situI-
ton which manufacturers thinking OF
entering the field would like 10 have
settled before they put capital into the
industry. and which many of those who
have called nm DIR. Norton have touched
upon. These factors are: Whether the
Government will protect the infant dye
industry by raising the tariff, and IL
steps will he taken to prevent the dump
ing of "A quantity Of low priced dyes on
the American market when the embargo
Is lifted. The tariff is now about 80 per
cent, ad valorem, hut many manufac-
turers do not consider hat high enough.
Since the arrival OF pr. Norton in the
city manufacturers have been keeping
him busy supplying information that
covers the entire field Of chemical pro-
duction.
Just what the United states IS doing
In the way of producing dyes, and what
needs to be o to supplant the use Of
European dyes. will Ice shown ut the
National Exposition of Chemical Indus
tries to open in the Grand Central Pal
ace on September 20. There win he en-
hibits by the principal dye manufactur-
ers of the country. showing particularly
what has been lone in that line since the
war made home production necessary.
with exhibits of foreign dyes not yet
made here.
The National Association of Ink Man
ufacturers has invited DR.. Norton TO be
It's guest at "A dinner in recognition Of
what he has already done for the chcmi-
cal and other manufacturing Industries
OF the country,