Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1917-01-16
Substitutes and limitations in Germany


The extent to which substitutes and
limitations are rampant in Germany to-
day form one of the most interesting
subjects of the now seasonable re-
views. The "erSatZ"-the German
word for substitutes now common
in the chemical industry, textiles and
metals. Though from time to time
indications of this change in German
life have become known abroad, there
maries which afford a sharper focus on
the situation. Some of the items in
this development, under their respec-
tive heads, are as follows:
Saltpeter: Before the war Germany
imported annually over $40,000,o00
worth of saltpeter for agricultural and
ammunition purposes, mainly from
Chile, and all of this regular supply
was lost at the outset of the war. To-
day countless factories in Germany
before the war there were only a few
such experimental establishments, and
Germany is now able not only to sup
ply the increased amount of saltpeter
has been able to furnish all that is
necessary for fertilizers.
Aluminium: Before the war the
supply of bauxite for the manufacture
of aluminium had been imported from
France, and the cutting off of this
supply led German scientists to discov-
a process of aluminium manufacture by
electricity from ordinary clay.
Mineral Oils: Chemical experts in
the German coal fields have discovered
new ways of extracting oils from their
coal, partly relieving the serious con-
dition resulting from the cutting off
of mineral oil imports, which: in 1913.
amounted to no less than $277, 900, 600.
Rubber: Germany lost practically
all Of her imports of rubber, and to
offset this shortage she has substituted
steel for rubber in innumerable cases
where rubber had been used purely for
it's elasticity. Further the perfection
of the submarine Workmanship made
it possible to bring in enough new rub
Der to mix with the old in the creation
of a regenerated or synthetic rubber.
until now it is said to be sufficient to
last for another eight months.
Graphite: Ceylon was the exclusive
source of supply of graphite used in
Ceylon graphite was SO per cent pure.
Since the beginning OF the war Ger
many has been dependent entirely up
on the inferior Bavarian graphite, but
find a process by which the Bavarian
article can be purified to a 81 per cent
standard.
Rosin: Supplies of this had come
but German chemists have now be-
come able to produce all that is need
ed from the German forests, or are
able to use as substitute for rosfn
the by-products of wood and coal
Textiles: Paper has been adapted
in innumerable instances to serve for
cloth. BY using protoxide of sodium,
sulphite cellulose and paper. a very
durable and satisfactory thread has
been evolved, which, in turn, lends
itself to the creation of sacks and
bags, girdles, doiiies, aprons, working
garments, wrapping cloth and thread
and string. The inventors have dis
covered a way to give the paper
cloth" great resistance to dampness.
Cellulose has been found to lend itself
to the production of gun cotton when
combined with other chemicals, and
nettles have proved themselves to be
the source of cotton batting, thread,
yarn. coloring matter and even feed
stuffs- Dresses and other clothes are
being manufactured out OF artificial
cotton and wool. as they sometimes
were in peace times. Even the reeds
that grow on the banks of lakes and
ponds are being used to make artin-
Copper: Almost the only -unsub-
stitutable" substance has been cop
per, but there has been found to be
plenty Of that en- hand in German in
dustrial plants and elsewhere In
place Of the copper thus taken by the
government there have been installed
aluminium and zinc, out of which
wires and utensils Of various sorts
have been fashioned, with perfect sue