The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-05-19
"RUsTLEss STEEL" COMES IN

'RUSTLESS STEEL" COMES IN
 The science of chemistry is aware of many processes that would contribute to the value of commodities of manufacture, if only these processes could be employed with sufficient economy. Industry also is aware of the same truth. As consequence nearly all indus tries of importance maintain laboratories and chemists for the single purpose of research. The object of this research is to evolve some means of turning to practical account the discoveries of science, or of coming upon some new discovery that will prove of value to the industry There are also private labora- tories and chemical concerns carrying on sim liar research in behalf of all industry, well knowing that discovery of value may be profitably disposed of. Therefore, the re- ported discovery of commercially practica- ble plan for manufacturing rustless iron and steel is not the result of chance, but the re- suit of patient, trained, intelligent and delib- crate. research for such plan.
 What does the discovery, if it proves its worth, mean to the world? According to an English authority, the annual loss of iron and steel by rust amounts to seven hundred million pounds, or more than three billion dollars. It is estimated that from sixty-two to sixty-four per cent. of the steel and iron that must continually be replaced has been destroyed by rust. A writer who has a gift for vivid comparisons says that the annual loss to the world from the. rusting of iron and steel would amount to enough to rebuild all the office buildings in New York City every year. That, as every one knows, would run into money.
 Rustless iron and steek have long been known, but the cost of manufacture has been so great as to make them too expensive ex- cept for certain highly specialized uses. Un- der the new process, according to it's inventor, the cost will be only slightly more than the cost of ordinary high-quality steel and iron. Its increased, serviceability would, make it's use more economical than that of a less-ex- pensive but also less resistant article The inventor, by the way, is naturalized Amer ican, born in Persia, by the name of Beram D. Saklatwalla, which is evidence that not all of our immigrants from strange lands are burden on us, or should be barred. It is, perhaps, an argument in behalf of selective immigration. Dr. Saklatwalla comes from a country where of old its iron and steel were famous far and wide. Perhaps his knowl- edge and interest, if not his skill, are an- cestral,
 At first thought it may occur to some that the steel industry would somewhat regret a discovery that promises so greatly to extend the life of their product as perhaps event. ually to reduce the demand. Reflection, how ever, shows very strongly that there is more demand for an article of merit than for one of less merit. The result of the discovery of process by which the life of an article or it's period of service is extended is to de- velop wider market than ever. The steel industry will now have a talking point in behalf of their product that will enable them to compete more strongly and more success fully than ever. It has been the continuous history of the industry in recent decades that it has prOfited by every advance in the pro- cesses and quality of product, even though such advance contributed to the longer life of the product Goods nowadays are sold on quality. Durability is indispensable to de- velOping demand. This discovery, though made outside of the Industry proper, is un- doubtedly one for which the industry's labora- tories have long been faithfully searching. Only chance brought it about that Dr. Sak- latwalla defeated his competitors in the race towards this goal.
 From the viewpoint of conservationists the discovery of an economic process of producing rustless iron and steel is epochal For the manufacturers, it means the entrance into the field of uses now reserved to non-rusting metals, such as high-priced alloys, aluminium, copper and brass. For those who use steel in it's multifarious adaptations the economy is obvious. For the nation it means leader ship in an important field. For the world it comprises all the beIfefits that accrue from added economy in the production or utiliza- tion of a basic commodity. And all this hinges on whether Dr. Saklatwallas process is practical or not. But even if it is not, somebody will soon discover a process di- rected at the same purpose that win be practicable. Enthusiasm at this time, there fore, would at the worst be merely somewhat anticipatory, and not fundamentally astray. -