Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-07-23
b, MDUSTRIAL EXPANSION

:$s HI goes without saying tnAS OQr industries are to
Be greatly expanded. after the war, and largely in con-
seauence Of it. The process is already under way, and
there II scarcely a line OF Industrial activity in which
In those lines Of activity in which the United States was
already too we'll toward the front, or actually At the very
front, the work Of expansion is relatively simple. The
concern which has already developed a business ON q
large scale. and operated successfully. can double or
treble It's capacity without any revolutionary revision Of
its methods But in the establishment Of q new indus
try . new problem is presented.
The dye industry furnishes a good example Of the
latter situation. Before the war Germany supplied the
world very largely with its dyes. This was not because
other people could not make dyes, but because, for a
variety of reasons. the Germans found it to their advan-
tage to specialize in dyes, while the manufacturers Of
other nations preferred to specialize On other directions.
The war found Germany the chief producer Of dyes, and
the other nations consumers.
The interruption Of the dye supply worked havoc
with a good many American industries, particularly in
textile work. for in that dyes are indispensable. 1t be-
came evident that it was important for this country, both
for industrial reasons, and as a means of preparation
for possible war, to develop a dye industry of its own.
Chemists and experts Of all kinds went to work on the
problem.
It was not long before 1t was possible to produce
in American laboratories almost every dye that had been
produced in Germany. Announcements to this general
effect which were made from time to time were received
with qualification. But the problem was only partly
solved. 1t is one thing to produce a spoonful Of a sub
stance in a test tube, where the element Of cost is not
considered, and another thing to produce the same sub
stance by the ton or the carload, and to do it on a conn
mercial basis.
The chemical problems having been solved, 1t was
necessary to devise ways Of putting the new formulas
into practical effect, and this involved experiments on
- mammoth scale In the planning Of buildings, the in
;.ventton Of machinery, and the orderly ARRANGEMENT Of
i1focenseA This consumed time and required large in
svsanent from which there WAS no immediate return.
IN these experiments one large concern is reported to
have already spent 81, 800. 900. In another case $s45, eco
Ew~s spent In one year in developing processes Tor the
ipeuanction Of q certain dye, and owing to unexpected
s&1cnlt1es which were encountered it has been possible
thus far to produce only $500 worth Of the dye. These
dfnicu1ties are rapidly being overcome, but these Incl
dents indicate something of the magnitude Of the prob
lens which are to be solved before our dye industry is
plAced on q properly working basis.
The importance of the development Of this industry
Is recognized by public men who have given the subject
serious thought. and it is to be expected that in the en-
actment Of legislation affecting our industries due con-
sideration will be given to measures which will tend to
facilitate the work.