Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-08
WEAK SPOT DISCOVERED
IN UNCLE SANS ARMOR
He Must Find New Supply Of Sui
phnrio Acid il Allies Are to
Win War.
sHoRTAG GELS ALARMIN
Government Scientists Arc Working
Night and Day to Evolve Process
Which Will Solve Problem-Detici.
ency Must De Overcome.
by JOHN c. MEI.LET~r.


WASHINGTON. October 7.-uncl'
Sam has found weak spot in hi:
armor. More. he has found that IL ht
does not Immediately take steps te
strengthen this weak spot. all hi:
armor may be found useless.
The weak spot is sulphuric acid-tht
king OF chemicals.
1t effects: Munitions. because no high
explosives can be made without It; foot
supplies. because no fertilizer can be
made without it. ard communication
because paper cannot be made with.
out 1t.
And Uncle Sam has planned to use
more munitions and food In the next
few months than anybody else has ever
used. He has always used more print
paper than any one else. The king
of chemicals will, therefore, have to be
and indeed is. most seriously being
reckoned with.
TERRIBLE SHORTAGE
IN SULPHURIC ACID
The United States is facing a ter
rifle shortage in sulphuric acid. and
the government is just waking up TO
the fact. The situation is serious be-
cause Germany and her allies appear 10
have all they need.
There is an apparent shortage in
this country of more than 40 per cent.
Supplies that are available are sell
ing TO the government as well as TO
commercial users at prices about three
times normal.
Last year the United States used
6,250,ooo tons OF sulphuric acid. Be-
cause of war mrnition needs. next
years demand is estimated at $780,
100000 tons. To make all the eXplo-
sires Pershing's boys will use. and at
the same time keep up the country's
food supply by providing fertilizers at
the usual peace rate the government mt
has to overcome a 40 per cent shortage
and after that make 20 per cent IN
crease on normal supplies of the king
OF chemicals.
The War Department. paying exor-
bitant prices and facing the necessity
OF Communicating supplies. and the In
terror and Agricultural Departments
arc all working on the problem. What
the answer will be, cannot be told
One thing is certain. and that Is, all
these departments realize that the
American success in the war depends
on solving the sulphuric acid problem.
Sources OF the acid are pyritcs and
sulphur. The United States produces
only 1878 per cent OF the iron pyrites
used In making sulphuric acid here
Denmark is supplying France and
England and, perhaps, Germany. Italy
Ia using her entire supply of sui
phur and maintaining an embargo.
Spain formerly gave US 40 per cent
OF our supply and could now send
some, but the shipping problem hobs
up at this point The United States
shipping Board is being bes!eged with
demands for cargo space. so that py-
rites can be imported. hut ships are
not yet TO he had
ONLY ONE SOURCE,
AND THAT Is LIMITED
AS for sulphur. the United States
does not produce nearly enough OF
its own. There is only one source a
limited area In Louisiana and Te,as
All controlled by one group OF inter-
ests.
Government scientists are workins
night and day, therefore, on three
phases of the problem-to get ships,
10 md new pyrites deposits, and To
produce sulphuric acid and sulphur
IN some new manner. A bulletin re.
SSi'tiS 'sFueu Dy me Bureau OF Mines
describes a.&new process that will not
only supply .-the deficiency, but Will
bring the price down TO n fgure lower
than IT has ever been Further. |,
VIII prevent serious damage to sneI.-
Ing and refining plants, the world
over.
me new process, called the Thieeen
process consists Of utilizing the waste
gases and vapors given off by tho
smelters. and turning them into sui.
phur. This can ne done. the govern.
rnent has learned. at Il cost of $40 ne-
ton Tor crude sulphur. Munition mink
ers are buying sulphur at prices ranp-
lhS from $40 TO SIS per ton, and hav-
ing a hard time getting It. Each ton
or suinhur Will make three tons OF
suiphurin acid. And, according Ia Tn,
best estimates available, 5000 IONS n,
potential sulphur Is being wasted dali,
AT the rehneries in the form of esrun.
ing sulphur dioxide gases These case,
are constantly working untold dcs,ruc
lion 10 crops so that If the new i,;aa
is put into operation, n big savi,o
VIII result in the avoidance OF cror
destruction
Frediction Is made that, just as tn.
government found IL necessary To reg.
ulate prices Of coal steel and conn.r
II VIII soon have TO step in and tall.
command OF the situation with ree,,I
to SuiDhuric acid