The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-11-11

Washington. ID. T., NOV ~ ny
government has at last started IN .
small way a much needed enter
prise. One bureau in the depart
ment of agriculture-the bureau OF
chemistry-is going to turn some
Of its discoveries to practical use
by finding out their commercial
possibilities, and giving the puDiic
the benefit of its research.
This means that If the chemists
of the sugar experiments labora-
tory, for instance, find an improved
method Of making cane syrup the
bureau may not, as heretofore an
nounce the big discovery to the
country and then start something
else.
Instead, hit seems likely that
the new process could be devel-
oped profitably by syrup manufac-
turers, and if there is special need
for it, chemical engineers of the
bureau will take up the matter.
Data will be obtained to show the
condition of the market. whether a
higher price can be obtained for the
better product, whether new ma
chinery is needed for the new pro-
cess, and the cost, whether the pro-
ject is practicable on small scale
Equipped with facts. figures, and
perhaps a small working plant
where syrup has been successfully
made by the government process
the bureau is in a position to fur.
nish help to anyone who is inter
ested.
The branch Of the bureau Of
chemistry which is to form this
liaison between science and thu
public is called the Office of devel
opment work. 1t was planned b!
DR.. Carl Alsberg. chief of the bu
reau of chemistry. who felt tina
the discoveries of his bureau were
not often enough understood by thu
people who could have made use O
them. The trouble was that tn,
bureau had no way of helping peo
pie who were always writing to i
to know if each new process wOult
be good commercial venture ant
if so how to go about starting
work. To help these business mel
and manufacturers, and also pri
vate citizens who might be inter
+. ested in the use of a discovery mad
by the bureau. the Office of develop
ment work has been opened.
Many OF the processes worked GU
by the government chemists ar
practicable only on large scale. il
an deliberately equipped plant. Blu
in some cases the farmer or house
wife profits by the chemical exper
! iments.
Gas Out Of Straw.
, It is hoped that this may be tru
in the case of the straw gas expert
ments> now being conducted at tn
government experimental farm a
Arlington, Va. Gas was severa
years ago obtained from straw
During the war. England eked on
her gasoline supply by attachin
bags containing the. straw g.s t
a the top of automobile buses. TIL
difficulty with straw gas can b
seen right there. It has never bee
u satisfactorily reduced to a con
!. pressed liquid. When that
\ achieved, and the quality Of gas OF
tanned from different kinds of stra
have been studied and compare,
the bureau of chemistry hopes I
= be able to show the farmer how I
, make his own gas for light, he;
:. and power for stationary engine
. and tractors. The governmel
y chemical engineers could not,
q course. go to every farm and civ
i actual assistance in establishing
I gas production plant, but it coul
4, furnish all necessary informatic
regarding costs, equipment and Il
@ product.
IS The office that is to furnish tn
II service is so new that it has scare
v ly mapped out its campaign.