Evening star., 1921-04-03

M n <NAN hdS pdSSSo thA0oeh
l" stone age. the bronze age
and the iron age and is now
entering an amazing age
which may be recorded in future MS
tory as the nitrogen age" The
present and coming generations OF
Americans will hear more about nj
trogen than all of their ancestors
from the time of Adam and Eve down
to the beginning of the Harding ad-
ministration.
During the next few years nitrogen
will become as prolific a source OF de-
bate in Congress and all state legisia-
lures as the tariff. equal suffrage and
prohibition have been in past years:
men will be elected to office on the nj
trogen issue; newspapers and maga-
zines will print columns about II,
Presidents will discuss it in their
messages to Congress; country school
teachers and college professors will
make more fuss over it than they
now do over the dead languages;
farmers will overlook the weather.
prices and many other choice subjects
W uiSNusS It. Hlth '" "oihSh VI N''S
cities will soon find it TO be a fasci-
mating topic of conversation because
it affects their future eating and
clothing.
Why Simply because the future
supply of daily food for the men
women and children of America prac-
tically depends upon the use of nj
trogen as fertilizer by the farmers
of the United States
CCIENTISTS have made the startling
discovery that the air we breathe
contains an inexhaustible reservoir of
the stuff that is needed for rehabili-
tating worn-out farm lands. keeping
present good farms in high state of
fertility and. best of all. to wonder
fully increase the acreage production
everywhere over its present capacity.
1t sounds mighty like a fairy story
to say that ii is possible TO reach Up
into the sky and pluck something out
of it that men can put into their gar
dens and farms that will make the
ground richer and the crops greater.
Neverth heless that's just exactly what
is going to take place in every nook
and corner of this vast and beautiful
Country of ours.
Here in Washington is located the
greatest nitrogen research laboratory
on the western hemisphere for the in
vestigatien and discovery of the
cheapest and most effective methods
of procuring nitrogen fertilizer from
the skies. This world ed labora- :
tory is housed in the buildings of the
American University. 1t is Technically
known as the fixed nitrogen re-
search laboratory and was founded by
an order of the Secretary OF War.
March 2s. 1919. by authority of the
national defense act.
1t is generally conceded that the
scientists at the head of this institu-
tion are the ablest men in their line
of work that America has thus far
Richard C. Telman. formerly head of
the division of physical chemistry Of
the University of Illinois. During the
war he served as major in the
chemical warfare service. He is the
man who developed the famous toxic
the allied armies in the spring drive.
but which was unnecessary on account
of the signing of the aFmistice. Four
millions of these candles were in
process of manufacture when the
war ended.
The first director of the laboratory
was DR.. Arthur B. Lamb. now pro-
neoted with the laboratory in the
capacity of consulting engineer. DR..
Alfred T. Larson. who knows more
about ammonia catalysts than any
man on earth, is the head of the
catalyst- division The chief of the
Brahane. Capt. R. S. Tour conducts
the catalyst testing plant. DR.. Sc
bastian Karref is in charge Of the
electric arc section, and H. n. Framp-