The sun., 1918-07-28


NJ the United States is an infant 4
years old. His parents were war time
zsceaziiy and the science of our few first
rate specialists in organic chemistry. The
number of these specialists engaged in
turning ont others-that is, professors of
their subjects in large scientific schools
and colleges-could almost have been reck-
oned on ten fingers. 1t still can be. Any
German university had an equal number
years before the war.
That is how Germany built up the
organization of chemists who very largely
cade her what she was and have enabled
her through four years in the iron ring
10 continue to be what she is
Our infant chemical industry is lusty
child at present He has thrlven past all
expectation, especially the Germans /;
they were confident of leaving us high
and dry without their coal tar drugs, their
dyes, their optical glass. their potash and
so on. They are disappointed. And the
promise of the future of this infant is
unlimited.
Whether or not after peace trade
boycott is called against Germany, even
If she is left free to peddle her chemical
manufactures in all markets, it is within
his blrthright 10 make the United States
world supreme in tine enormous commerce
fhat f.oncarpS hmm
Need of Chemical Engineers.
But-and this ''bui' is the point of the
message herewith conveyed through THE
SUN by Prof. Treat Baldwin johnson of
elo Sheffield Scientific School of Yale
Advancement in lines of industrial chem
istry means chemists and expansion of
chemical industry means chemical engl-
neprs. Lots of them. An army of them.
Highly trained experts, of whom we have
been producing one where ten are now
required and where hundred bid fair TO
be required five wears hence.
And unless We set straight about pro-
dueing more by enabling the likely young
mlfu WIFI II cHtuliCdl buTU ~ Stl
necessary education and complete it, our
infant chemical industry will either die
of starvation of the brain or will have TO
be infused with foreign blood.
For both Government and private man
ufacturers, being confronted with a war
and the shutting off of German exports,
have been suddenly awakened 10 the eX
istence in our midst of lore called or
ganic chemistry, which lore is what they
need in their new business. 1t used to go
abegging. Why risk money in expert
ments in making our own chemicals when
the Germans could SO cheaply supply our
needsi There was no market 10 speak OF
for chemical investigators and chemical
engineers.
Now there is one. one that is appalling.
Organic chemistry rules a spacious roost.
Your manufacturer is offering bonanza
pay to almost any sort Of chemist
trained, half trained. hardly trained at all
who can rig and run his plant for him.
Government Gets the Best Free.
The Government doesn't pay on that
scale, because it doesn't have 10. 1t gets
the great expert free by appeal in the
name of country and the bright instructor
and the likely advanced student by special
service draft. In short, If gets them.
Those whom il leaves are strongly tempted
by the manufacturer
Twenty years experience in teaching,
and perhaps his own early experience also,
have convinced Prof. Johnson that the
great majority OF the young fellows ~ho
really should have advanced training in
his subject are fellows who can't afford
it. They abe not to be expected TO strug-
gle along and comnlete six or eirh. Nears