Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-08-16
Finding Our R..es,ness.

Scores of articles which contributed
to our comfort or actual needs, have
been reaching us for years In steadily
increasing quantities. 1t was so much
cheaper or easier to have these things
brought in ships. we paid little atten-
ton to what might happen to that
supply. OF late we have been pros
pecting our mountains and valleys,
plains and ocean beds, and are rap
idly bringing to light undreamed OF
resources. Our factories are already
manufacturing articles which three
years ago they could not produce. A
few instances will suffice to illustrate
the widespread effort, and afford great
encouragement for the future.
For years our iron furnaces depend
ed on Germany for a certain kind OF
clay indispensable to their operation.
So far as anyone knew there was no
clay equally good in this country. A
call was sent out and $500 samples
were sent in. On supposedly worth
less farm in southern Illinois was
found vast deposit Of clay even
superior to the imported. For months
past two steam shovels have been
loading into cars this vital commodity.
which has proved its ability to with
stand several hundred degrees more
heat than the imported article.
Chemists glassware. such as bowls.
retorts, etc.. has for years all been i'm
ported, and largely from Germany.
That supply also ceased abruptly. In
response to the dire necessities Of our
chemists, some American GLASS maxi
ers were induced to try their hand with
the result that at the end Of a year
some startling results have been
achieved. Not only has our home
made product been brought UP to the
standard OF the articles formerly inn
ported, but II even a great deal better.
One industrial chemist who operates
large laboratory ordered q years
supply Of the American product. Now,
after eight months use, he finds that
at the average rate Of breakage the
Quantity he has been buying every
twelve months is going to last sixty
months; or five years life for the
American product against one years
life for the foreign.
The same encouraging reports come
from many other directions. A sci-
entific measuring instrument requiring
very great accuracy, the manufacture
of which has never been attempted
here, is now made at home with re-
suits in every respect equal to the i'm
ported article. Whether our ability to
do some things quicker than is done
abroad will offset the differences In
the cost Of labor there and here. and
so enable our manufacturers to COM
pete after the close Of the war, re-
mains to be seen.
The Diamond Match Company has.
at an expenditure Of 100000. erected
plants by which for the first time in
this country high grade muriate OF
potash liz now produced In commercial
quantities. On account OF the higher
cost OF labor here. It's cost II more than
that Of the formerly imported article.
We have been at 4 great disadyant-
age IN the matter OF dyes. Makers OF
rooiing tile, fDT ;;IisttssIccse, -eenze II
guarantee the lasting colors In red and
green tile. Germany has devoted the
most critical scientific study to dye
making for over forty years. We had
practically neglected both the study
and manufacture. While we have not
as yet perfected our processes to the
high standard OF the German dyes.
great deal of progress has been al
ready made, and new and promising
| results are constantly being announced.
| During the years 1915, 1916 and to date
| in 1917, no less than S189,000.000 has
been invested by the companies or
/ ganized to expand or engage in the
making Of dyes and chemicals. Re-
| suits of the most encouraging nature
are announced We already are pro-
ducing many dyes as good as. or even
| better than the imported. and in others
| OF the more difficult processes are
making rapid and satisfactory prog
ress We may fairly claim to have
made as much advance in two ana