The Washington herald., 1917-12-01
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Investigation would she that the
process could be conveniently adopted
In the United States. A considerable
number Of experts were sent by Pres
ident du Pont to Europe, commission
ed thoroughly to investigate these
processes and make report thereon.
The investigation showed that this
utilization of the electric arc for the
fixation OF nitrogen from the air has
resulted in establishing in Europe an
industry upon very large scale and
satisfactory commercial basis.
Thereupon the du Pont Company be-
gan study Of the question: Does sat
isfactory hydro-electfic power for this
purpose exist in the United States?
That question was speedily answered
in the affirmative. But II was also
discovered that this power was not
available because 1t Is under the gov
ernment's restriction.
II the government was willing to
permit the du Pont Company to utilize
necessary water power. providing al
ways that the public interests were
protected, then there would be ample
Justification for the investment of
caritaLin a great plant whose capac-
fly would be sufficient for the needs
Of the government in war times and
also for the needs of the farmers.
This Wilmington company stood
ready to negotiate a contract with
the government which would compel
the company to begin Immediately
the building Of a plant in units OF
any magnitude which the government
might decide was requisite and the
du Pont Company would furnish the
entire capital.
Congress In Indifferent.
Congress, however, was Indifferent,
for although ,-ere was introduced to
that body a bill which IL enacted
into law. would have made possible
the construction and operation of
works for the production. Of nitric
acid in amounts sufficient for a ma
tfonal defense, nevertheless Congress
paid no heed to the bill. Had it
been adopted the Secretary OF War
in cooperation with the Board of En-
gineers could have granted permits
for the construction of dams, storage
or diversion works or other structures,
for the utilization of hydro-electric
power, in or across any OF the navi-
gable waters of the United States.
The output of a plant of this kind
would, upon the request of the Sec
| retary of War, be delivered to the
United States and the price for it
would include such profit, in addition
to cost, as the Secretary of War de-
| cided to be reasonable.
The bill was, never heard of. 1t
was in fact pigeonholed. Lat& when
We were actually at war Congress de-
ctded to appropriate so, ZOO, 600 for the
construction of-a hydro-electric plant
at Muscle Shoals, Alabama, in which
the European process of the fixation
Of atmospheric nitrogen is to be used
The process itself Is not the least
remarkable of the many demonstra-
tions of what electricity and the elec-
tro-cheInical industry are hereafter tC
mean for the United States and for
the world.
Furthermore It entails the utiIiza.
ton of two inexhaustible resources.
for water power is inexhaustible and
so is the nitrogen that is in the at
mosphere. Had Congress realized what
was impending very likely it would
have adopted such legislation as would
have made it possible for the Secre-
tary of War to perfect contracts with
the du Pont company whereby, by
this time. abundant nitric acid
through the 6xation of the nitrogen
that is in the air could be obtained.
The war may be long continued be-
fore the government plant at Muscle
Shoals begins to produce nitric acid
HOLLAND.