The Penn's Grove record., 1919-09-12

SAA~AiAANaI IAAIN DtllutlbLt
Philadelphia is not only the birth
place of our Political independence.
but also the birthplace Of our Indus
trial Chemistry.
The annual meeting of the Ameri-
can Chemical Society was held in Phil
adelphia last week and there and then
was declared the Chemical Indepen-
dence of America.
There were 1000 visiting chemical
experts present during the week and
leaders in their branches made inter-
esting addresses.
The poison gas developed by Ameri-
can chemists during the war proved
more powerful than any produced by
the German chemists, and it was
American chemists who made lewisite,
the most powerful poisonous gas
known, with which it is possible to
e~xterminate a city of 5000 ersons.
Lectures showed that many war
time chemical inventions and appli-
ances proved useful in peace time were
given at the session. One of these
lectures dealt with the inherent posi-
bilities of the gas mask as an indus
trial safeguard.
DR.. Thomas Fl. Norton, who read a
paper on formulation Stones of a
Great Industry pointed out that the
creation of the American coal-tar in
dustry was generally regarded as the
boldest and most noteworthy achieve
ment in the economic annals of the
country.
at means the establishment on our
soil of the most complicated and high
ly organized industry thus far known,
and ends the predominance of Ger
many in the branch of technical indus
try Of which she was most proud. In
addition it has developed a large for
eign trade the value Of which at cur
rent prices equal the sum formerly
paid for foreign dyes"
Growth of Dye Industry
The manufacture of American dyes
in the last two years has steadily in
creased. This is shown in a special
| bulletin sent out to stockholders in the
Chemical Foundation. The report, dis
cussing production in 1917, 1918, and
the first half of 1919, says:
In 1917 the total output in America
was 45,977, 245 pounds, valued at $751;
796,228. While we imported about an
equal amount in 1918, seventy-seven
ll1dilUI P1OdO1tQ ft3OOOs /
900 pounds, valued at SCI, 900 900.
Thirty-fve manufacturers produced
over S22,0 900 900 worth of crudes and
twelve manufacturers of intermediates
produced 54,80S,3 15 pounds, valued
at S123, 817, 1866.
"There was wei 5000, 900 pounds
of finished products manufactured
| during the year valued at S83,095,404
T. 1n1O z,-. 10000 4,o IL o-,.oxt ~ yi1lr /
the total exports of dyes, including
natural dyes for the fiscal years,
amounting to S~16,921,388. In June,
1919, aniline dyes valued at $743,476
were cleared for export from New
York.
"Nearly 300 different dyes were
made in 1918, many of which were
missing in 1917. American manu-
facturers have specialized in azo IN
duline, and sulphur dyes. The latter
dyes which are relatively cheap, are
used extensively on cotton. Great pro-
gress is being made by American con-
Germs in the production of fast dyes
made by the Germans before the war.
At least three plants are manufactur-
ing indigo in quantity, and we are
promised other vat dyes in quantity
In the near future.
German Industrial Plans
The most interesting news that de-
veloped in the symposium OF dyestufrs
was the assertion by Major Theodore
w. Sill that Germany was making ex-
tensive preparations tc make speedy
industrial conquests in the United
States and other countries. Major
Sill based his statement on personal
observations made on a tour through
Germany with a number of American
army officers. The German factories
are in the best of condition and ready
to start production, he said. He eX-
planned that they were built manly
with the idea of having them turned
rapidly from a peace basis to a war
use and back again to a peace status.
He said there was a tendency IN this
country to forget the aus OF the war
and the need of 'watchfulness.' he
said the buying by Americans of Ger
man dives and other Boche products
would help the Germans to gain the
mastery of the worlds markets for
which they were earnestly striving and
he emphasized the fact that Amerla is
now able to make sufficient dyestufts,
every bit as good as the Germans
made dyes.
The progress of glass, clay and fire
brick industries and various others IN
which chemistry plays a prominent
part also was discussed