New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-10-22
HUMBLE CORN COB
FOUND VALUABLE
BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY DlScov.
ERS 1T is AN IMPORTANT
RAW MATERIAL.
EXCELLENT ADHESIVE MADE
Furfural, a Costly Chemical, Saved
as a By-Product-Method of Produc-
ing Phthalic Anhydride Developed
for American Dye Industry.
BY JAMES p.

BY JAMES p. HORNADAY.
WaShingt0n.-COrn cObs, which from
the beginning of agriculture in Amer
lea have been a vast product, arr
about 20 become an important raw
material in manufacture. Capital a
various places is becoming interested
In the establishment of cob utilization
made in the bureau of chemistry by
which it was found that the entire
content of the corn cob can be made
into highly useful articles. From II
chemists produce a very excellent ad
hesive.
After the high grade adhesive is
removed, a considerable quantity OF
Il lower grade product can be made
and the residue is practically pure
cellulose, from which it is possible tC
manufacture a great number of com
mOdities, including a very good quality
of paper. Some valuable lime prod
ucts also are recovered.
After all these processes had been
worked out, it was discovered that q
considerable quantity of a very costly
Observation-Disclosures being lost
This Is now saved as Il by-product and
an ever larger quantity of 1t can be
produced by redistribution of the adhe
sive. Before this discovery was made
furfural used to sell as high as 500
a pound. Furfural is a basic inter
nnA.ltnrtr In 1,t, N nfnDtt - atI I'm
addition, is so effective as an insect.
eide that it was used 70. that purpose
wen when it sold At 500 "A pound.
Development In Dye Industry.
The agricultural department has also
recently obtained important results in
connection with the development of
American dyes. When the importation
of chemicals from Germany was
stopped by the war, a shortage CO
phthalic anhydride developed in this
country almost Immediately. This
product, which Is used in the manr-
facture of a number of important dyes
: and drugs, had previously been pro
duced only in Germany and Austria,
Attempts were made by manufacturers
In this country to use the German proc
ess, but it was found to be costly and
difficult TO handle. Experiments then
were conducted In the color laboratory
of the bureau of chemistry to devise
a new process In which air instead
of mercury and sulphuric acid, which
the Germans had used. could be en-
a1n-.l gpnongcfn1 method VraS
found, and the bureau of chemistry
co-operhted with manufacturers In
placing the new process on a com
mercial scale. As n result, we are not
only producing ph:halic anhydride In
this country but we are also exporting
1t to Switzerland in competition with
German manufacturers.
Recently there was established In
the bureau of chemistry an "oflice OF
development work" The new office
will act as the gO-between from science
to industry. a force OF engineers will
take up each new project for dealing
with waste products as soon as II
has passed the experimental stage In
the government laboratories and at
tempt to develop its commercial pos
sibilities. II offers, without fee, a
service similar to that which n mining
engineer performs for m investor who
engaged him to report IN n gold mine.
Great Rush Of Immigrants.
II Is barely possible that congress
may be called into extra session i'm
mediately after the November cleo
tions to deal with the immigration
problem. In any event. the subject
viii have TO be taken up when the
legislative body comes together In De
rember. The rush of immigrants has
swamped the immigration machinery
of the government. Men, women and
children anxious to reach free Amer
lea have swarmed on 10 Ellis Island.
New York city, during the last few
weeks in unprecedented numbers.
Plans are now being worked out by
the immigration bureau here for maxi
ing further use of the facilities for
handling immigrants at Boston. Bal
I timore, Norfolk and n or W ports
en- the gulf. The newcomers nearly
all desire TO land in New York city.
and the officials says they expect to
find some difficulty in splitting up the
stream. but It must be done, they say.
or else passage must he denied the
throngs that are sailing for the port
of New York. Not so many months
ago the tide was flowing the other
way. Immediately after the war there
was a rush for passports. 1t has been
well-nigh impossible for foreigners to
return 10 their homes since the ut
break of tie World war unless they
were going home to fight. and SO IL
was not regarded as strange that thou
sands upon thousands should be anx-
ious to go back for the purpose of
looking u? relatives If for no other
reason.
Bringing Back Their Friends.
What happened. so the immigration
officials saw. is that these thousands
Of foreigners who had become par
TALLY Am~ericanized Immediately be-
came propagandists in their former
homes. They talked enthusiastically
of free America and as a result near
ly every one of these foreigners Is