The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1916-10-19
WAR HAS CREATED
BIGNEW INDUSTRY
United States Makes Remarka-
Bile Strides in Manufacture
of Chemicals.
FREED FROM FOREIGN Yoke
Production Of Nearly Enough Coal Tar
Dyes to Meet Domestic Demand
Big Feature Of Develop
naent.


mo branch of American industry has
ever presented such a marvellous rate
of expansion as has that of chemical
technology during the past two years"
says DIR. Thomas II. Norton, one of
Uncle Sans special commercial agents,
who has been devOting a large part
of his time to the study of this new
development of American industry. In
cluded in this industry is the manu-
facture of coal-tar dyes, for which the
United States depended almost entire
ly upon European manufacturers until
the war cut off the supply.
"The national exposition of chemical
industries, held recently in New York."
says Doctor Norton, showed the won
derful strides that had been made in
this field during the past two years.
''The degree to which this nation
was dependent upon foreign sources
for the greater part of its chemicals,
drugs and dyes was revealed to US in
brusque, uncomfortable manner as
the rapid succession of embargOes con-
sequent upon the great European con-
tiict suddenly threatened a multitude
of manufacturing activities, dependent
upon regular supplies of certain chem
icals, with dislOcatiOn or paralysis" p"
says Doctor Norton.
Wonderful Progress Shown.
'The exposition recently held was
barometer, as it we're, showing in
vivid, picturesque way the wonderful
progress and adaptation characteristic
of these past few months, how Ameri-
can enterprise, skill, science and cap
ital have united to lay broad and deep
the foundations of a comprehensive
and self-cOntained national chemical in
duStry. While the genius and energy of
European chemists have been cOncen-
trated upon means and methods of de-
strOying life and annihilating armed
power, American chemists have been
equally active In synthetic, cOnstruc-
tive fields, swiftly evolving, one after
another, various branches Of industrial
effort destined to emancipate US from
foreign commercial yoke.
Among the many interesting fea-
lures illustrative of this evolution
were such exhibits as the following :
The barium industry, now utilizing to
the fullest extent the bOundless do
mestic deposits of barytes; the con-
tact sulphuric acid process, now un-
surpassed in volume and perfection
of method; chemical glassware apd
porcelain, equal to the finest products
of Germany; bleaching powder Of the
highest grade, of which, two years
ago, but one-Quarter of the country's
needs was of domestic origin; the
numerous sodium compounds, such as
the ferrocyanide and the chlOrate, now
effectively and satisfactorily replac'
ing the corresponding potassium salts
formerly imported in such quantities
large group of medicinal chemicals
hitherto secured exclusively from
across the Atlantic, etc.
There were instructive exhibits
showing how American ingenuity Is
seeking to solve the nitrogen problem
and free us from further dependence
upon Chile's swiftly vanishing stock Of
nitrate.
THE most striking feature of the
exposition was found in it's revelation
of the astonishing rapidity with which
an American coal-tar chemical indus
try is being created. Formerly mos
of the cOal-tar, benzOl and ammonia
liberated by our by-product coke ov
ems, was allowed to go to waste. Nov
it is all recovered.
Growth Almost MushroomIike.
There has been an almost mush
roomlike growth Of the industries pro
ducing dyestuffs, explosives, photo
graphic chemicals, and synthetic me
dicinals, flavors and perfumes iron
prosaic coal-tar. And yet there is littl
of the mushroom about the spaciou
factories and jungles of machiner
which have so swiftly appeared upO
the scene.
"Two years ago single firm mad
aniline on small scale, while six con
panies produced artificial dyestuft
from intermediates imported from Ell
rope.
To-day 18 companies are manufat
turing synthetic carbolic acid, and owe
40 are producing aniline and other ii
termediates. Over 80 companies ar
making coal-tar dyes. The total nun
Der of operatives in this branch tw
years ago was 400; now single estat
lishments employ 1000 workmen. l
1914 we made One-tenth of the Syr
thetic colors consumed in the Unite
States by assembling" foreign sem
. manufactured material. Today we prC
duce three-Quarters of the amount c
artificial colors normally required b
{ our textile, paper, and other industries
! and every pound is made from Amer
} can coal tar! The production is larg'
ly concentrated upon a few staple co
; ors, used in great amounts. The VI
t riety of shades available is, howeve
} being rapidly increased. A few yeal
will see the American industry abb
, to supply the great bulk of the dome
} tic 1rmand both in quantity and in v;
riety."
Canning Season Prospers.