Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-16

Another hoax perpetrated by the Euro
mean war was blown to bits today. II was
the tale-believed everywhere--that Ameri-
"a could not make dyes like those that
used to come from Germany
But America can make the same dyes.
She is making them. She is making vir-
tually as great a quaEtity as the Germans
ever sent over here.
A few miles out Of Philadelphia, at Mar
Gus Hook the Benzol Products Company
Is turning out huge quantities of analine
oil This aniine oil, the essential basis of
aniline dyes Is made into tints as fair
and perfect as any the bearded wizards of
German science ever conjured out of their
test tubes.
ONLY A YARN
Never until today was there auaver in
the monstrous national fairy tale that of all
the products cut off by the war, none was
less capable of being initiated than the
famous dyes. IT was like the fantastic yarn
that spread through England, that the an
cient fighters of Agincourt came to life and
turned the tide at the retreat from Mons.
The fable went a-glimmering when con-
frmation was given at the offices Of the
General Chemical Company. in the Morris
Building. that a $20,O00,O00 National Ami
line and Chemical Company would make
dyes like the German product as long as
the war lasts-and then some more.
The Marcus Hook plant. which sprang
up two years ago, created by the war-made
necessity for dyes. is one of three concerns
to be joined in the merger, The others are
the Schoellkopf Anine and Chemical
Works, of Buffalo. and the Becker Aniline
and Chemical Works, Brooklyn.
Why weren't the dyes made here before
the war? Because Of the Kaiser--directly
--oftcials Of the chemical company said.
Wilhelm same to America and beat Amer
leans by using the famous whip saw"
methods of predatory trusts. He subsi-
died German dye works to such an extent
that they could pay freight across the water
pay the custom house duties and vet under
sell American manufacturers. The idea was
TO wear out United States concerns by a
campaign of this kind and then have a
monopoly.
The plan worked.
Just how well it worked Is shown by it's
fruits 1t set 10o.o00,000 Americans to
thinking that they could not get dyes any
where in the world except Germany.
Early in the war the Benzol Products
and General Chemical plants, then in Frank
ford. started to turn the trick. The idea
was. 1t is admitted today, that even II their
industry should be wiped out after the
war, their profits would be great enough to
make the scheme pay
Then it grew.
EMPLOY 500 WORKERS
Five hundred men are working at the
Marcus Hook plant, D. W. Marshall, as
sistant general manager Of the Benzo Prod
ucts Company, said today. Twenty-three
buildings are in operation and six more
are being built. When the merger is com.
pleted the plant will be still further en-.
larged it was said by one of the Genera
Chemical Company officials in the Morris
Building.
As it is. the present output is IS per cen,
as great as the Imports used to be, he de-
clared
The Marcus Hook plant will he linked IL
the corporation with the Schoelkopf ant
Becker concerns. At the Becker works. II
Brooklyn. benzol is derived from coal tar
At Marcus Hook the benzol is converted int,
anline oil, This is shipped to Buffalo
where the colors are added.
Five million dollars is the capital Of tn
Becker concern. The company owns. il
addition to the Brooklyn plant, factories a
Newburg and Wappinger Falls, N. Y. Tn
schoellkopf Company is capitalized a
100000. 1t owns the present Nationa
Anine and Chemical Company, capitalize
at s1,00O,O00
The Marcus Hook Compapys stock
held by the General Chemical Company, tn
Barrett Company and the Semet.Solve
Company, of Syracuse, N. Y Although
is to be incorporated for $40, 900 900, tn
stock Of the new consolidation will be hel
closely and not put on the market Gen
eral Chemical officials said. Working car
tal will, however, be provided.
America never lacked chemists to formu
late German-ike dyes, according to tn
General Chemical Company officer VIII
shattered the lcng-lived hoax. 1t ha
not had a chance to make the product bt
cause of lack of capital.
When peace comes the new concern wi
try to get tariff law to protect 1t fro
foreign competition. If that fails. 1t is d,
clared, business will go right on, 'regart
less"