Evening star., 1920-11-28

ground are almost certain to become
contaminated, with dire results.
Chlorpicrin gas was first prepared by
an English chemist, Stenhouse. in 1848.
When pure 1t is a colorless liquid. It
was first used in warfare by the allies
Though it is not as poisonous as some
or the other gases. 1t is, neverthe-
lessless. very toxic. having the addi-
tional war advantage of producing
nausea, thus causing the removal of
the gas masks and the exposure of
the troops to other more poisonous
gases. 1t is also lachrymator, caus-
ing temporary blindness when pres
ent in comparatively small guam
titles.
Chlorpicrin was the first of the
toxic gases to be made on a large
scale in the United States for war
purposes, and the method used in it's
manufacture was the same as the
one originally used by Stenhouse.
Chlorpicrin has a high boiling point
and is used chiefly in artillery shells
or bombs. and is rarely used alone
otherwise.
The cooperation of a number of
chemical firms was of great value to
the government in the development
Of the processes Of manufacture for
phosgene and chlorpicrin. A consid-
erable part Of the work relating to
phosgene was carried on in the ex-
perimental laboratories at Niagara
Falls. while unit plant was con-
structed at Stamford. Conn, and op-
Grated by the government for con-
Quoting similar experiments on chlor-
picrin. AS the development of these
processes advanced arrangements
were made to build and operate
plants for the production at these
points OF ph9sgene and chlorpicrin on
plans were formulated for the erection
Of plants for producing these gases
on Gunpowder reservation.
Lhe construction of the chlorpicrin
plant on the reservation started on
January 25, 1918, and this plant was
in operation by June of that year.
Designing the phosgene plant. how
ever. was a more complicated prob
lem. and the actual construction did
not begin until March 1. This work
was completed on July and the
plant was put into operation imme-
diately. Many problems arose in the
operation Of these chemical plants,
and In order to cope with these salts
factorily a suitable laboratory was
built and equipped.
X X X 4
Gunpowders reservation remained
under the administration of the
trench warfare section until March
6. 1918. At that time Lieut.. Col Will
rector of the gas service and chief
of the chemical service section, was
appointed colonel in the ordnance de-
partment and made commanding Of
ficer Of the Gunpowder reservation,
which was thereby withdrawn en-
tirely from the trench warfare Sec
tion and made a separate unit in
the ordnance department. On May 4
of the same year the name. Gun
changed to "Edgewood arsenal,"Aand
the reservation remained an integral
part of the ordnance department un-
til June %, 1918, when it again was
transferred. this time to the chem
casioned by the organization of the
gas service Of the Army into the
chemical warfare service. with Maj.
Gen. william l.. Sibert as it's director.
The work Of construction was car
entns red on Of hs Eer of the
although there We're delays due to
the lack of proper transportation and
the scarcity and general ineficiency
Of labor. When it became known
to the workmen that poison gas was
actually being made the real trou-
bles began. Gas scares occurred. the
worst OF these being caused by an
enormous cloud of dust raised by the
passing of heavy team. The cry of
"Gas" was enough to send the near
by workmen running for safety. AS
they ran they soon gathered COM
panions until finally hundreds and
thousands were in a panic-stricken
fight.
Since the labor proved unsatisfac-
tory, soldiers were detailed to the
filling plants, the largest number
present at any one time being 5000.
Civilian labor was still used in con-
struction work. and the highest num-
ber employed at one time was about
1880. Work went on night and
day and building after building arose
with amazing rapidity. Barracks were
built for the workingmen. officers
quarters erected and temporary
hospital completed. In connection
with the first filling plant q power
plant was built and a water system
installed having capacity OF 81
500 900 gallons q day.
A few figures will aid in impressing
the reader with the immensity of this
project. There are 665 buildings. cover
permanent, the largest individual
building being the Bush river power
house. completed at the cost of
$4,000 900. having a capacity of 1880
gallons of salt water per minute. The