Evening star., 1934-11-10
CHEMISTS ASSIST
BUILDING REVIVAL
Scientists Urge Industry to
Use Findings in Mod
ernization.

Chemical science is aiding the re-
vival of building. DR.. E. r. Weidlein,
director of the Mellon Institute of In
dustrial Research. declares in SYM
postum Of the American Chemical
Society. "Modernize or fossilize" is
the keynote of the symposium, in
which leaders Of the chemical indus
try are urging manufacturers to en-
bark upon program of modernization
involving the services of science.
The enormous purchasing power
held back during the past four years is
bound to be released when property
stimulated, and 1t is up to science and
industry to show the way by going
ahead with the development Of their
products and expanding activities,
offering the consumer new and i'm
proved products at lower COSTS" DR..
Weidlein says.
THE chemical industry as a whole
has maintained it's research activities.
has improved its manufacturing proc
esses and the quality of its output,
and has developed new and useful
products, many of which will be offered
industry for rehabilitation.
Lower Costs Sought.
"The improved method in the manu-
facture Of phenol, making it available
at much lower cost, has greatly stim-
ulated the plastic industry. These
new plastic materials are now being
developed for the building trade.
Building construction Is funda-
mental in any period of prosperity and
new developments that tend toward
reduced costs will add greatly to the
revival of business. There are many
other synthetic materials available
which will make possible substantial
reductions in the cost of construction
and maintenance of buildings.
New and improved roofing ma
terials, at lower costs, are being used
on many repair jobs. new method
for insulating old roofs is finding wide
application. 1t not only renders more
comfort in the home during the Sum-
mer months, but greatly reduces the
fuel bill in the Winter.
such comforts and conveniences as
We enjoy-both rooms, ice boxes, rsdia-
tors, electric light. vacuum cleaners
and now the introduction of air -condi-
tioning-are all industrially produced
and we could not afford a single one
of them if they were not developed
through scientific research supported
by industry and then maSS-produced.
The home of the future will be to the
home of the present what this years
latest model motor is to the horse and
buggy of 40 years ago.
New Markets Cut Costs.
There are many methods of cutting
costs and one of the later procedures
is to develop sources of raw materials,
either by synthesis of the natural sub
stance or by the use of new products
developed through research. This
usually results in the creation of new
industries, thereby increasing employ
ment.
THE value of any product depends
upon supply and demand and if the
supply through the synthetic product
exceeds the demand, it stimulates
further research to create new mar
kets. This results in lower costs,
thereby increasing the purchasing
power Of the consumer.
Never have there been such un-
limited opportunities for people OF am
bition, initiative and ingenuity to capi-
talize upon the new avenues of trade
that are constantly opening up in al
most every line of human endeavor.
To concentrate thought and effort up
on dividing existing things, rather
than on the creation of new ones, is
a sure sign of degeneracy. 1t is the
doctrine of one who would take from
others rather than create for him.
SELF