Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1920-05-27
Nv w. LEE LEWIS.

Most Deadly Gas Ever Produced by
Mar.)
"Render unto Caesar the things that
are Caesars. :"
Hrnrath a simple grave in Northum-
bertrand. Pa, lies the dust of hum
bic English clergyman. He was
driven from his native land by re-
ligion> intolerance. and sought and
found in America intellectual freedom.
THIS man. Priestly, never en-ned over
$50 n year vet he discovered oxygen
and laid the foundation of modern
chemistry.
The great steel industries of our
country. the vast rubber business. the
tremendous packing interests would
deem it a rare privilege were this man
living, to contribute TO his comfort,
and give him the scientific tools that
would gladden. his heart, and to ac-
knowledge their Unreasonable debt to
him. But for the man. priestly. they
ci,l, only lay wreath on his last rest
ing place.
Of this country can be traced to the
effort Of some obscure chemist. SOM"
jealous devOtee to pure science. wh'
thought little of self and who never
shared In the fruits of his researches
Fundamental Science.
From the standpoint Of material re-
sources chemistry is the most fundn'
mental science. 1t has to do with the
air we breathe, the water we drink
the food we eat, the clothing W. wea'
and. in varying degree, with every ar
ticlr that enters into commerce. Chem
istry is the science of the composition
of matter. and matter is that upon
which energy, human and otherwise
is expended. The science embraces
the star dust of outermost space, thu
swirlng volcanoes Of sun gases. and
the bacteria that nibble our food.
Consider the value of single dis
covery in abstract chemistry. kirch
off. over hundred years ago. dis
covered that starch could he con
ver,pd into sugar by dilute acids.
by S40O0O,OO0 year because OF that
discovery. Perkin discovered mauve
I'm the coal tar dyes. Its value was
indeXcd by an immediate investment
of S7a0,0OO.O00.
The mercerizing of cotton has add
ed To the delight and wealth of the
world Recent improvements in the
IncundeScent lamp has meant Il saving
of $!O,000,OOO year In the cost of
lighting. You may reach for match
MS you read this. If so, remember It's
chemical history. and pause to con-
slider its place in modern civilization.
Foundation Of Many Industries.
Chemistry is the soul of the pack
ing industry where by-products such
rs digestive ferments, soap, glycerine,
fertilizers. etc, have become as i'm
portant as main products. Chemis-
Try is the foundation of the rubber in
dustry, giving cheaper and better
processes of purifying, vulcanizlng,
and recovering. Steel Is not a native
product but is chemically modified
product. 1t is stated that the Bes-
semcr steel process adds $20,OOO,ON
TO the worlds wealth annually. Chem
is:ry has given us the Davy lamp. the
mine gas Indicator. the gas mask and
the standardized explosive. Chemis-
try has given us most of our pharma-
ceuticalS. and chemo-therapy Is just
I'm its infancy. Ehrlich made over 900
arSrnical compounds before he struck
upon those particular combinations
known as "sansalvarSan" and "neO-
salvarsan." Chemistry has given us
photography, moving-picture films. II.
Illuminating gas, fire extinguishers. ar
titicial gasoline, metallurgical proc
esses -softening and purifying
agents, synthetic fertilizers, insecti-
cideS. paints, explosives, glass, paper,
the gas mantle, the storage battery,
the arc light and has stabilized many
an industry by working up into useful
products every trace Of raw material.
Chemistry has standardized food
products and multiplied the sources
Of supply. 1t has attacked and par
TALLY solved the population problem Of
sewerage and waste disposal, and wa.
ter supply.
Saving Big Problem.
There are $4,000 tons of nitrogen
pressing down upon every acre of the
earth's surface, and yet our fields are
starving fer fixed nitrogen, and in
times Of war our present source OF
supply OF nitrate for explosives is, to
say the least, precarious.
Chemistry is today solving the prob
lem Of fixed nitrogen.
10 further elaborate chemistry's
to write q technical history Of indus
trial development. The other great
contributing factors have been the or
gani2ing ability of business men and
the technical skill of the engineers.
To Improve American chemistry, TO
apply it more and more as an eff
cheney measure In. American industry.
Is better national protection than pro-
1cctiva Tariffs, hattleships or coast de-
lenses. The highest chemical eff
ci, ncy will make us lnvincible In COM
mercc and In war.
As population increases and con-
servalion becomes a matter of vital
importance, 1t follows that chemistry
must assume a more and more signf-
cant place In the well-being of man.
Kind. Chemistry belongs peculiarly to
the age of intensive utilization of q
country's resources. The cream-sklm-
ming Dsriad. has passed: this IL the