The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-02-08
Interesting Meeting
Held by Engineers
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ployees in navy yards, and third, a
combination of the others
There is frequently criticism of the
methods employed in awarding con-
tracts, but it must be remembered
that in accepting bids for work the
navy department must comply with
laws governing private bidders, and
cannot specify what particular ma
terial is to be used, except the general
manner permitted others
The government carries no fire in
surance. and the buildings are protected
ings are not designed with any effort at
architectural beauty. but rather for
tility"
The speaker then outlined briefly the
methods employed by the navy in heat
ing buildings at navy yards and in dis
posing of garbage. THE work of the
civil engineer in the navy is broad
one" he said, and has many details,
II is interesting, though, and its personal
contacts are pleasant
Mr.. Mclaughlin. of the general cleo
trio company, who is in the city on bust
ness was next called upon for a short
speech. and responded with an interest
Ing discussion of some new equipn4, M
| the company is developing in street cars
which are unusually light and can be
| operated at a high rate of speed.
From this topic he passed to the de-
| for the control of power in certain local
| tiles. Instead of the necessity of keep.
! ing an attendant constantly watching the
| station, is the case with present de-
vices, the new invention is entirely auto
matte and can be controlled easily BY
push-putton from a great distance.
After Mr.. Mclaughlin, r. C. Palmer
OF the Newport Turpentine & Rosin Com
pany, took as his subject. THE Chemica
| Engineers Work in the War" and called
attention to the great strides made ii
4 rN1Teys
pendent this development was upon tIIy
skill of chemical engineers
lie called attention to the supply prob.
lem In the United States of tiuol the
deadly T. N. T.. which is so largely used
in modern warfare, and is the most pow.
erfuI explosive known to science. He
stated that should this country confront
serious shortage In the chemical CON.
ponents of this explosive. that 1t may be.
come necessary to wash gas to extract
from 1t every drop of tiuol.
The United States,'' Mr. Palmer sa id
is probably the greatest producer OF
neaVy chemicals in the world. though
the nitrate supply is limited. We have
discovered that nitrogen may be extract.
edf from the afr, and consequently the
shortage may be overcome. This Wal
would have been over o long, long time
ago. II Germany had not used these ma
chimes to obtain nitrate. an essential II
Inunition making
He then discussed the uses of various
gases by the Germans in attacks On the
had been discarded. lie ouched upon the
relation of the textile industry and the
work of chemical engineers and showed
the connection between future develop
ment OF textile work and dying wher
the war is over, veDturing the prediction
that Germany would not then lead the
world IN producing dye. but that Eng
land, France or this country would as
sumo supremacy in this field bv convert
ing their vast munitions factories into
textile and dyelng plants.
He concluded his address ~,
work OF chemical engineers In solvirfe
problems OF airplane manufacture par.
ticularly in the production Of done >
Several substances have proved valuable
NJ. Palmer said and one in particu1ar
was interesting because if successful a
would permit the use of Transparent
wings which would lower the visibility OF
airpIanes and greatly enhance their mill.
tary value
At the conclusion of the meeting q
letter was read from the secretary of tn,