Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1915-03-11
NEW VOL. 50-No. 10.
Two Notable Inventions.

Two discoveries, both OF vast impor-
tance TO American industries and one re-
garded also as priceless military asset,
were announced in Washington lastweek
by Secretary Lane Of the Interior Depart
ment. They are are chemical processes
developed after years OF research by DR..
Walter F. Rittman, chemical engineer OF
the Bureau Of Mines.
One invention is expected TO enable oil
refiners TO increase their output OF gaso-
line by 200 per cent; the other makes
possible the production from crude petro-
leum of toluol and benzol, bases Tor dyes
and high explosives. for which in the
past the United States and The rest OF the
world have depended almost exclusively
upon Germany.
Dr. Rittman has applied for patents up
OH his processes 10 prevent the possibil-
ty OF any private monopoly in their use
and will dedicate them TO the American
people.
These processes" said Secretary
Lane, "are fraught with the utmost i'm
portance. The STANDARD Oil Company
has had big advantage over the inde-
pendents in the production OF gasoline,
having patented process whereby three
times the amount OF gasoline is obtained
from a given quantity OF crude petroleum
which the independents now get. lnde-
pendent producers. as whole, have
never been able even TO approach these
results.
Nov the Federal Government, through
the efforts OF DR.. Rittman. proposes to
make free tor the use OF all process
confidently expected 10 increase their
yields Of gasoline fully 200 per cent, and
perhaps more. Dr. Ritter claims that his
process is safer, simpler and more eco
nomical These are economic factors OF
great importance.
with a steadily increasing demand Tor
gasoline for automobiles, motorboats and
engines, this fortunate discovery comes
at the proper time. II is but two years
ago that the automobile industry. fearful
the supply OF gasoline might not be ade-
quate for its rapidly expanding business.
offered 10000 prize for substitute
that would cost less than gasoline. This
new process adds TO the hope that in
spite OF the wonderful growth in the use
OF gasoline there may not be any short
age in the future. am led 10 believe
that il will not be only OF inestima5le val
ue TO refiners commanding but limited
capital as we'll as those OF wealth, but al
so 10 the hundreds OF thousands Of users
OF gasoline. When il is realized that
the gasoline industry each year yields
from 500, ,000, 600 TO $3.50, ,000, 900 the very
great importance OF this discovery Is cas-
lily seen.
The second process discovered by
DR.. Rittman may prove OF much greater
value than the first, in that II suggests the
establishment OF an industry In which
Germany heretofore has been eminent
the dye industV-and also promises
indirectly measure OF national safety OF
incalculable imoor. Among the neces-
Sary ingredients Of high explosives. toluol
and benzol are in the first rank. Hereto
fore these products have been mainly OBJ
tanned in Germany and England from
coal tar. Manufacturers OF high expIo-
sives have had TO depend largely on these
sources.
"The Federal Government now propo-
ses 10 obtain toluol and benzoI from crude
petroleum. These products can be pro-
duced from practically any American pc
troleum."