The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-01-07
A TRULY GREAT SCIENTIST

A TRULY GREAT SCIENTIST
A good citizen and a truly great
scientist was lost to the world when
DR.. George washington Carver, 70,
who vas born a slave ,nd became
one OF the greatest Of American
scientists, died at his home on the
campus OF Tuskegee Institute,
where he had taught since 1896.
His chemical discoveries, espe-
cially OF products that can be made
from sweet potatoes and peanuts.
increased the income OF the South
many millions OF dollars. Through
out his life he had preached crop
diversification and self-sufficiency,
and last year was honored by the
Progressive Farmers Association
for having contributed the greatest
service 10 southern agriculture.
He was appointed collaboration in
the Bureau OF Plant Industry OF
the United States Department OF
Agriculture in August, 1895, be-
came a member OF the Royal So
ciety of Arts, London, in 1917. and
was awarded the spingarn Medal
in 1928 for his research in potash,
peanuts and sweet potatoes. and
the Theodore Roosevelt medal in
1929 for distinguished service to
science.
He was an excellent painter.
and the Luxembourg Galleries Of
Paris requested one OF his paint
ings. Native clays dug within a few
miles OF Tuskegee formed the base
OF his paints.
Although he received offers that
would have made him a millionaire,
he refused to leave Tuskegee, until
last year when he did some re-
search in Henry Ford's laboratories.
His formulas would have made him
very wealthy, but he gave them
freely to the world.
The late Thomas A. Edison invit-
ed DR.. Carver 10 work with him. He
had many experiences such as in
Washington when the COMPRESSION
al Ways and Means Committee gave
him 10 minutes in 1921 to testify
about the then pending Smoot-Haw-
ley tariff bill. His testimony was so
engrossing that he was kept testi-
flying an hour and As minutes.
Wherever he became known he won
admiration and resp ct
DR.. Carver never patented any
Of his discoveries. He was never
married and left no relatives. In
1870, he gave $33,0O0-what was left
OF his life savings after a bank
failure-to create a foundation TO
perpetuate research in creative
chemistry.
He was born OF slave parents on
the plantation of Moses Carver near
Diamond Grove. Mo. about 1864.
Night riders kidnapped him and his
mother while he was still a baby.
His master ransomed him for a
$500 horse. but his mother already
had been sold by her abiuctors and
he never saw her again.
From the plantation where he
was born, he went TO Minneapolis.
Kan, and obtained a grammar and
high school education while sup
porting himself. Then. under numer-
GUS handicaps, he managed at Iowa
State College. to gain a bachelors
and masters degree in agriculture.
He was class poet in his final year
at Iowa State. and DR.. L. II. Pam
nell. the college president, said he
was the most brilliant student he
had ever known.
Booker T. Washington, who mad
founded Tuskegee Institute, invited
him to take charge OF the instr
tute's agricultural courses IN 1896.
When Dr.. Carver arrived, he had
four oxen. a few pigs and chickens,
a few tools and $500 acres Of poor
land with which to work. The farms
onall sides, impoverished by years
OF cotton growing, were becoming
more run down every season.
PLANT peanuts, sweet potatoes.
greens, corn--anything Anything
but cotton" he urged farmers.
soon the peanut crop was so large
he market was flooded He turned
10 the laboratory TO find uses for
peanuts.
Before he died. he had made
more than 300 useful products from
peanuts. including cheese, condl-
ments, paper. coffee, plastics,
stains. insulating board and face
face powder. He made lis products
from sweet potatoes, including ink,
glue. stains and crystalized ginger.
He developed new uses for cot
ton. and proved Il could be used to
build roads. He was the first person
TO make newsprint from southern
pine.
81 am only a trail blazer for
those who come after me-" he said
with characteristic modesty, when
he created a foundation with his
lie savings. u hope the South Will
be the first 70 take advantage OF
the foundation and contribute to
IL. And I hope the foundation will
serve all the people regardless Of
race. color or creed
His wish should be fulfilled.
Ranking with Booker T Washing.
ton. a life such AZ his should be a
valuable inspiration Tor an people.
Long may his memory live
Buy More war Bonds
The leather in an average-size
woman's pocketbook would make a