The Chemical Age, M arch $rd, 1945. W ITH M E T A L L U R G IC A L SE C T IO N
C h e m i c a M
I s l B Ä l R i V O L . L U
No. 1340 S A T U R D A Y , M A R C H 3 . 1945
npniDTUlIBn to t unircMi.nn
LUBRICATED PLUG VILYES in action
From 16 " bore as illustrated down to §" bore, all with the renowned Audco system of lubricating and sealing to ensure tight shut-off and ease of operation
Materials and construction include Cast Iron, Steel, Stainless Steel, A c id Resisting Bronze, Audcoloy, Reinforced Ebonite and Glass.
• I
A U D L E Y E N G I N E E R I N G G O M P A N Y L I M I T E D
• N E W P O R T ' S H R O P S H I R E * E N G -
T H E C H E M I C A L A G E M a r c h 3 , 1 9 4 5
Superfine , Fine, or Coarse Poivders
Produced from friable o r m edium hard substances of free-flowing nature, crystalline materials, fibrous roots, drugs, synthetic materials, chemicals, pigments, oxides, etc.
B R IT IS H R E M A P I N N E D D IS C M IL L S Class A Type
grin d to a fineness usually between 70 per cent, th ro u g h 200 mesh and 99 per cent, th rou gh 300 mesh. ' -
Class B Type
grin d from 70 per cent, th rou gh 100 mesh to 95 per cent, th rough 200 mesh, o r still finer fo r som e materials. ■
Write for catalogue to :
B r i t i s h
’REMA'
I H A N U F A C T Ü R W G C O . L T D .
( P r o p . E D G A R A L L E N & C O . L T D .)
IM P E R I A L S T E E L W O R K S , S H E F F IE L R , 9 .
‘‘ S I M P L I C I T Y ”
STEAM
L A N D A N D M A R I N E T Y P E S H IG H E S T E F F IC IE N C Y
S IM P L E A C T I O N
KEY E N G IN E E R IN G CO- LTD.
PEBBLE
F o r th e g rin d in g of a il k in d s o f P o w d ers.
C hem icals, M inerals, C olours, P a in ts , E n a m els, etc . S u p p lied lin ed w ith h a r d P o rcelain , S ilex , o r special lin in g s, a n d c a n b e in su la te d to s u it p a rtic u la r classes of w ork.
¿end. fo r our fre e illustrated literature S T E E L & C O W L 1 S H A W , L T D .,
Engineers,
( D e p t. NO. 27). C O O P E R S T R E E T , H A N L E Y , S T O K E - O N - T R E N T , London Office : 329, High Holborn, W.C. 1
T e lp h o n e j H o lb o m 6023.
a êev.'CxJs ift/ieftiu ią û(
Ma r c h 3 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E
B A M A G
ACID PRODUCTION
C O N C E N T R A T IO N
a n dR E C O V E R Y PLANTS
For quality and capacity unequalled by other units of comparable size
B A M A G
B A M A G L I M I T E D , U N I V E R S A L H O U S E 60, B U C K I N G H A M j P A L A C E R O A D , L O N D O N , S.W .I
O N W A R O F F IC E A N D A D M I R A L T Y L IS T S - T e le p h o n e : S L O A N E 9 28 2 ( 8 lin e s)
B2ÍO
3 t o r e v e r y p r o d u c t . . .
D r u m s a n d T i e g s
b y
In a wide range of sizes and designs to meet the needs of all trades.
Be guided by years of experience and pack your product in a perfect steel package. If we can be helpful in solving any of your package problems we shall be happy to place ou r service
at your disposal.
TODD BROS ( I S ) LTD
W I D N E S
L A N C ST e le n h o n e s ■ S t- H elens 3271 T e le p h o n e s . W ld n e s 2267.
d m 786
A
MAKE VICTORY CERTAIN
H o w about y o u r next job ? A r e y o u r supplies near enough to the front line ? If you have, to w ait for things to be made and a s s e m b l e d f r o m m a n y w idely separated points, you are in a vulnerable position.
f t i e a t U j & f u K c e ,
T HE C H E M I C A L A G E Ma r c h 3 , 1 9 4 5
W alw o rth maintains several supply depots from which TUBES ' FITTINGS ' VALV ES A N D F I T T E R S * T O O L S
can all be se n t from the sam e place at on e tim e as req uired . You can h elp us supply y o u r re q u ire m e n ts fo r essential w ar w o rk by show ing on y o u r o r d e r s th e a p p ro p ria te G o v e rn m e n t a u th o rity to buy.
W A L W O R T H L I M I T E D
L O N D O N : M A N C H E S T E R : G L A S G O W :
90-96 U nion S tre e t, S o u th w ark , S.E.I 26 B ridge S tre e t, D e an sg jte, 48 Y ork S tre e t, Glasgow, C l
’P hone : W a te rlo o 7081 M anchester, 3 ’P hone : C en tral 6879
’P hone : Blackfriars 6773
________________________________________________________________________________________________ W.39
Ma r c h 3 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E iii
™ r ' A U T O M A ? i c COIL W I N D E R & E L E C T R I C A L E Q U I P M E N T C O . , L T D . W 1 N 0 E R . H O U S E • D 0 U 6 I A S S T R E f l • I O N 0 O N • S • W • I TCUPHOVl VICrORIA 3404,'»
" A V O ” Electrical Testing Instruments are ac
tively engaged on the fighting and factory fronts, sharing a great responsibility with a proud sense of duty and high confidence In the future.
It will therefore be appreciated by our numerous trade friends that we can now only accept orders which beor a Government Contract Number and Priority Rating.
T HE C H E M I C A L A G E Ma r c h 3 , 1 9 4 5
C H L O R A M IN Ę
( C h l o r a m i n e - T )
★
B .P . and COMMERCIAL
Enquiries should he made to the
W holesale and E xport D epartm ent
BO O TS PU R E D RU G CO. L T D N O TT IN G H A M
^068-80^
• ' N / . . : x x X /
Gain customers’ good-will by using Brough’s K.C.C. drums and ensure that your product arrives in the condition you would wish.
The K.C.C. pours dear to the last drop and is a sound ?nd strong job; it can be easily deaned and used again and again.
Particulars sent by return of post.
E . A. B R O U G H & CO. L T D . , L I V E R P O O L , 8
BROUGHS
DRUMS
Ma r c h 3 , 1 9 4 5 T HE C H E M I C A L A G E
RUNGE ISOLATED PHENOL FROM
COAL TAR
1834
1945
We know something
about
PHENOL
W
E felt like saying we knew all about Phenol, but realised m ore modestly th a t such knowledge is never static. But M o nsanto pioneered pure Phenol, and have m ade m ore Phenol, finer Phenol th an anyone else in this country. So if you w ant to know anything about the uses o f Phenol, o r its reactions in those applications, we can m ost likely tell you, and help.But w hat we can ’t tell you, unaided, is ju st how you can apply ou r knowledge
— o r o u r Phenol — to your particular problem s. Especially those post-w ar planning problem s as yet under your hat.
GfíÁDES -
P H E N O L , detached crystal
P H E N O L , Ice crystal
P H E N O L hydrates
P H E N O L , liquefied
P H E N O L /C R E S O L m ixtures Natural and Synthetic
Perhaps you think you m ight use Phenol in a ra th e r different way, but d o n ’t quite see the m ethod. Perhaps Phenol is a key to the problem troubling you. Perhaps y ou’ve n ot included Phenol in your possibilities, because you d id n ’t realise its versatility.
W e should appreciate a chance to talk it over. O ur Technical experience is ready to bring M onsanto products to y o u r service.
M O N S A N T O C H E M I C A L S L I M I T E D R u a b o n , W r e x h a m , D e n b i g h s h i r e
h m o
T HE C H E M I C A L A G E Ma r c h 3 , 1 9 4 5
A N EW PUBLICATION
A ll] R E X Welding Processes Limited have ju s t issued the first of a series of manuals intended to cover the whole field o f Electric A r c W e l d i n g . Volume 1, now available, deals with arc welding equipment and accessories.
The manual contains valuable informa
tion on the choice o f equipment, operation, maintenance, etc., together
with numerous illustrations.
P R IC E 5s., Post Free.
"Mjjyjl 111 ^ i' ■ Yf~
M U R E X
M U R E X W E L D IN G PR O C ES SE S L T D . W A L T H A M CROSS, H E R T S.
T elephone W alton Cross 3636
(Blue and Carburerccd)
PRODUCER GAS
(From Coat, C oke, A nthracite, etc.)
HYDROGEN
(Sy Steam— Iren or Catalytic Processes)
CARBON C A R B O N
MONOXIDE D I O X I D E
THE POWER GAS CORPORATION
Stockton - on - Tees
M a r c h 3 , 1 9 4 5 THE C H E M I C A L A G E v i i
G A S C O O L I N G U N IT IN S T A IN L E S S S T E E L Fitted w ith 706 l£ in. Stainless Steel Tubes.
6 ft. diam eter by 8 ft. long between T ub e Plates. Riveted and welded construction.
- Ä ? ^ f f c D ü n n n d l n ° y
& E N G I N E E R I N G C O M P A N Y L I M I T E D
W O R K S W I D N E . S L A N C S
LONDON OFFICE 3 8 V I C T O R I A S T S W I A B B E Y 3 9 6 I
v i i i T H E C H E M I C A L A G E M a r c h 3 , 1 9 4 5
For Heavy Welded KEGS
Consult . . .
T H E
CYCLOPS ENG* Co* L td *
V I C T O R I A C R E S C E N T
B U R T O N - O N - T R E N T
’P H O N E 2 0 8 5
Is a p o in t o f law u n d e r the ne w F a ctory A cts.
The O L D B U R Y
P A T E N T
S A F E T Y C A R B O Y D IS C H A R G E R
will e m p ty th e c o n te n ts o f any car
boy, b o ttle o r vessel and com plies w ith th e c o n d itio n s of th e Factory A ct. 1937.
It elim in ates all risk of b reak ag e and spilling. Ensures th e safety of th e o p e r a to r . It is also th e q u ic k est way of elev atin g th e c o n te n ts o f a ca rb o y , e tc ., up to arheight o f -40 feet.
L
W rite fo r P a m p h le tKESTNER EVAPORATOR & ENGINEERING CO. L td . ____
C h e m ic a l E n g in e e rs - 5, G r o s v e n o r G a rd e n s, L o n d o n , S . W . I
S A F E T Y - ---
IN HANDLING CORROSIVE LIQUORS
Ma r c h 3 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E
B.T.L. P H O T O E L E C T R IC T U R B I D I M E T E R A N D COLORIMETER
A lt h o u g h designed p rim a rily fo r the p u rp o se of m easuring the tu rb id ity of w a ter supplies, this in stru m e n t is capable of being em ployed in the m easurem ent of the tu rb id ity o r clarity of alm ost any o th e r fluid, o r fo r analytical processes w h ich depend o r can be m ade to dep end on tu rb id ity m easurem ents.
A recent n o ta b le a p p li
catio n is its e m p lo y m e n t in the t u r b id im e t r ic m e th o d o f d e te rm in in g the to ta l su lp h u r c o n ten t o f p e tro le u m p ro d ucts as d e sc rib e d in I.P.
Sp e cifica tion 107 45 (T).
S P E C I A L F E A T U R E S :
Elim inates personal ju d gm e n t and its attend ant e rro rs.
S e n sitivity is obtainab le up t o o ne part o f susp ended m atter in ten m illion parts of w ater.
•fa D e te rm in a tio n s m ay be carried o u t in a b rig h tly lit room .
•fa Econom ical c u rre n t consum ption-— o n ly 6-v olt ac cu m u la tor of m oderate capacity required.
N o electrical resistance necessary in the lam p circuit.
An informative pamphlet will be sent on request
BAIRD & TA TLO CK
( L O N D O N )LTD.
Manufacturers of Scientific Apparatus
14-17 S t. C R O S S S T R E E T , L O N D O N , E.C.I
B
X T HE C H E M I C A L A G E M a r c h 3 , 1 9 4 5
By specifying " P Y R E X B ra n d " w hen ord erin g G ra d u a te d G lassw are you a re assu red o f obtaining stro n g serv iceab le glass- w are, w ith division lines and n u m e ra ls e tc h e d clearly a n d precisely , fo r easy reading.
For e v ery d ay la b o rato ry w ork PYREX Brand Glass
w are is g ra d u a te d to N. P. L. class B s tan d a rd , b u t fo r m o re m e tic u lo u s a n a l y s i s o r i n t r i c a t e re s e a rc h w ork, N. P. L.
class A can b e supplied at th e a p p ro p ria te e x tra costs.
PYREX Brand Graduated Q ia n- mart I t lupplitd 0nig through laboratory fu rn iih tri, but Illut- tratrd catalogut and two J r tt cop/e* o f our Chtm ltt't Notebook
» ill bt t i n t d irtct on application to ut.
A s k f o r PYREX B r a n d a n d s e e t h a t y o u g e t it !
r JAMES A. ^ J0BLING& Co.Ltd.
WEAR GLASS WORKS V SUNDERLAND J
SODIUM METASILICATE
T H E N E W I N D U S T R I A L
A L K A L I
effectively solves many problem s req uirin g the use o f a
HIGH-POW ERED CLEANSER
w hich can be applied w ith
SAFETY & ECONOMY
Largely used in the L a u n d ry and T extile Industries, Paper Mills, Dairies, Metal Cleaners, and as a constituent of P ro p rie ta ry Articles.
W rite for particulars t o :
ALCOCK (Peroxide) L LUTON, Beds.
Telephone: 3144/5 Luton.*«
GRADUATED
GLASSWARE
J I a r c h 3 , 1 9 4 5 THE C H E M I C A L A G E
* * * c * £ ,
G o ^ Z
S T U DY P R E V E N T I V E
M A I N T E N A N C E . . . C L E A N
METHO D ICA L L Y , L UB RICATE R EG U LA R L Y
T HE C H E M I C A L A G E M a r c h 3 , 1 9 4 5
We are very p le a se d in deed
with the p u m p , because it is dealing with a job which no other p u m p has done satisfactorily before. We are considering putting down a second pum p.T h e s a tis fa c tio n w h ic h th is C h e m ic a l M a n u fa c tu re e x p r e s s e s m a y b e y o u rs
THE
L a b o u r p u m p
is n ot a g e n e ra l p u rp o se m a s s p ro d u c e d p u m p a d a p te d to c h e m ic a l in d u s t r y , b u t a p u m p d e sig n e d b y a c h e m ic a l e n g in e e r fo r c h e m ic a l s e r v ic e .
BRITISH L a BOUR PUMP CO. LTD.
N I O B A T E W O R K S , B L U N D E L L S T R E E T , L O N D O N , N.7 T e l e p h o n e : N o rth 1663-4 T e l e g r a m s : L a b o u p u m p , L o n d o n
TANKS & VESSELS
Stainless Steel
Aluminium and other
Weldable Metals
M I X E R S P A N S Receivers Dryers, etc.
London Office : 149-151, Abbey House Victoria Street, S.W.1
Also at
M ANCHESTER and CARD IFF
The Chemical Age
A W e ek ly J o u r n a l D evoted to In d u s tr ia l an d E n g in e e r in g C h e m is tr y
B O U V E R I E H O U S E , 154 F L E E T S T R E E T , L O N D O N , E .C .4
T e le g ra m s: A LLA N G A S F L E E T LO N D O N T e le p h o n e : C E N T R A L 3 2 13 (10 lines) G LASGOW : 1 1 6 H ope S tre e t (C entral 3970) B IR M IN G H A M : D aim ler H ouse, P ara d ise S tre e t (M idland 0784-3 ) T H E C H E M IC A L A G E offices are closed on S a tu rd a y s in acco rd an ce w ith th e a d o p tio n of th e fiv e-d ay w eek by
B enn B ro th e rs L im ited
V OL. L I I 0 T / -^ A - A n n u al S u b sc rip tio n a rs .
N o. 134 0 . lyiclICH 3 , .LC^J ? , O verseas 26s.
D raw ing the V iper’s Fangs T
H E p l a n s d r a w n u p a t th e C r im e a nC o n f e r e n c e in v o lv e , a m o n g o th e r t h in g s , t h a t G e r m a n y a n d o t h e r a g g r e s s o r n a tio n s s h a ll be r e n d e r e d im p o te n t to d i s t u r b th e p e a c e o f th e w o rld a g a in a t le a s t f o r th e n e x t h a l f c e n tu r y . T h e le a d e r s o f th e A llie d n a tio n s h a v e d e c la r e d : “ I t is o u r in fle x ib le p u r p o s e to d e s tr o y G e r m a n m il i ta r i s m a n d N a z is m a n d to e n s u r e t h a t G e r m a n y w ill n e v e r a g a i n b e a b le to d i s t u r b th e p e a c e o f th e w o rld . W e a r e d e te r m in e d to d is a r m a n d d is b a n d a ll G e r m a n a r m e d fo r c e s : b r e a k u p f o r a ll tim e th e G e r m a n G e n e r a l S ta ll t h a t h a s r e p e a te d l y c o n tr iv e d th e r e s u r g e n c e o f G e r m a n m il i ta r i s m ; r e m o v e o r d e s tr o y a l l G e r m a n m il i ta r y e q u ip m e n t ; e lim in a te o r c o n tr o l a l l G e rm a n i n d u s tr y t h a t c o u ld be u s e d fo r m ilita r y p r o d u c t i o n ; b r i n g a ll w a r c r im i n a l s to ju s tic e a n d s w ift
p u n is h m e n t a n d e x a c t r e p a r a ti o n in k in d fo r th e d e s tr u c tio n w r o u g h t b y G e r m a n s ; w ip e o u t th e N a z i P a r t y , N a z i la w s , o r g a n is a t i o n s , a n in s titu tio n s , re m o v e a ll N a z i a n d m il i t a r i s t in f lu e n c e s fro m p u b lic offices a n d fro m th e c u l t u r a l a n d e c o n o m ic lif e o f th e G e r m a n p e o p l e ; a n d ta k e in h a r m o n y s u c h o t h e r m e a s u r e s in G e r m a n y a s m a y be n e c e s s a r y to th e f u t u r e p e a c e a n d s a f e ty o f th e w o r l d . ”
I t c a n n o t b e d o u b te d t h a t th e tw o p r i n c i p a l i n d u s t r ie s w h ic h c o n tr ib u te to th e p o w e r o f a n y n a tio n to m a k e w a r a r e iro n a n d s te e l a n d c h e m ic a ls . W e s h o u ld r e g a r d p e tr o le u m a s p a r t o f th e c h e m ic a l i n d u s t r y , s in c e th e p r o d u c tio n o f a v ia tio n s p i r i t h a s b e c o m e e s s e n tia lly a c h e m ic a l p ro c e s s . T h u s , w h e n th e U n ite d N a tio n s a n n o u n c e t h a t th e y w ill
“ e li m in a t e o r c o n tr o l a ll G e r m a n in d u s tr y t h a t c o u ld b e u s e d fo r m il i ta r y p r o d u c ti o n ,” th e iro n a n d s te e l in d u s tr y a n d th e c h e m ic a l i n d u s t r y m u s t be th e p r im e o b je c tiv e s o f th e s e m e a s u re s .
C o n tr o l o f th e c h e m ic a l in d u s tr y in v o lv e s m a n y c o n s id e r a tio n s . W e m ay w ith a d v a n t a g e q u o te fro m a r e c e n t l e t t e r to th e P r e s s b y M r. J o h n B ro w n , th e g e n e r a l s e c r e ta r y o f th e I r o n a n d S te e l F e d e r a t io n , w h o s a id : “ T h e r e c a n b e n o q u e s tio n t h a t P a g e s G e r m a n y m u s t b e
c u r ta il e d , n o t o n ly in its d ir e c t a r m a m e n t p r o d u c tio n , b u t a ls o its h e a v y in d u s tr y m u s t bo lim ite d to s u c h a n e x te n t t h a t it is o n ly a b le to s a tis f y n o r m a l h o m e c o n s u m p tio n p lu s a n a d e q u a te s h a r e in th e e x p o r t m a r k e ts , w h ic h f o r a p e r io d o f a t l e a s t 15 to 20 y e a rs w i l l h a v e to b e u s e d f o r r e p a r a tio n s . F u r t h e r m o r e , it m u s t a ls o b e ta k e n in to a c c o u n t t h a t G e r m a n y ’s h e a v y in d u s On O th er
X o te s and C om m ents ... ... 193 A lu m in iu m P rice R ed u c ed ... 194
S cien ce in Peace ... ...195
R e fle c tiv e S ilv e r C oatings ... 198 P ersonal X o tes ... ... ... 200
M e t a l l u r g i c a l S e c t i o n Z in c P la tin g fro m C yanide
S o lu tio n s ... 201
L e tte rs to the E d ito r ... ... 205 Isa no Oil ... 206 F e r tilis e r O ffences ... ... 206 N ew C ontrol O rders ... 200 G erm a n P a t e n t s ...207 N ew s fro m F ra n ce ... ... 207 Irish B a u xite ... ... 207
B ritish N y lo n ... 207
G en era l X cw s fr o m W e e k to W e e k 208 F o rth co m in g E ve n ts ... 210 S to c k s a n d S h a res ... ... 211 B ritish C hem ical P rices ... 212
1 9 1
T H E C H E M I C A L A G E M a r c h 3 , 1 9 4 5 tr y w a s a t a l l tim e s a S ta te - s u b s id is e d
i n d u s t r y a n d n e v e r s to o d on its ow n fe e t, a n d it is o n ly ju s tic e if w e a s k t h a t o t h e r E u r o p e a n c o u n tr ie s b e p r o te c te d in th e f u t u r e a g a i n s t s u c h u n f a ir c o m p e ti t io n . ” T h e G e r m a n G o v e r n m e n t h a s for; m a n y y e a r s ' s u b s id is e d e x p o r t tr a d e f o r e n d s w h ic h c a n n o t b e d e fe n d e d . In t h a t w a y G e r m a n y h a s b u i lt u p a n e x p o r t tr a d e a n d a r e p u ta ti o n fo r c h e m i
c a ls a n d c h e m ic a l e n g in e e r i n g , w h ic h m a y o r m a y n o t h a v e b e e n d e s e r v e d , b u t w h ic h is p u r e ly f ic titio u s in r e la ti o n to w h a t c o u ld b e d o n e by o th e r n a tio n s w ith e q u a l c o n d itio n s o f o p p o r tu n ity . H o w f a r is G e r m a n y to b e a llo w e d to r e ta in h e r e x p o r t t r a d e in c h e m ic a ls a n d c h e m i
c a l e n g in e e r i n g p r o d u c ts ?
T h e G e r m a n e x p lo ita tio n o f p a te n ts h a s a ls o b e e n u s e d fo r m a i n t a i n i n g h e r w a r p o t e n t i a l r a t h e r t h a n in th e in te r e s ts o f s o u n d tr a d e . I t is w id e ly s u g g e s te d , p a r t i c u l a r l y in A m e r ic a , t h a t G e r m a n - in s p ir e d c a r t e l s h a v e p r e v e n te d th e U n ite d N a tio n s f r o m m a n u f a c t u r i n g m a n y s u b s ta n c e s i m p o r t a n t f o r m a k in g w a r , w h ile f u ll p r o d u c tio n w a s m a i n ta in e d in G e r m a n y . W e d o n o t m a in ta in t h a t c a r t e l s a r e n e c e s s a r ily b a d o f th e m s e lv e s , b u t c a r t e l s o p e r a te d in t h is w a y a r e c e r t a i n l y b a d , a n d c o n s e q u e n tly th e r e m u s t in th e f u t u r e b e so m e f o r m o f G o v e r n m e n t c o n tr o l o f a ll c a r t e l s , w h e th e r p u r e ly d o m e s tic o r in te r n a t i o n a l . T h e o b je c ts to w h ic h w e h a v e r e f e r r e d w e re a c h ie v e d p a r t l y b y b u s in e s s a r r a n g e m e n ts , b u t m o re c o m p le te ly b y th e o p e r a tio n o f th e s p e c ia l G e r m a n s y s te m o f t a k i n g o u t f o r e ig n p a te n t s ir r e s p e c tiv e o f w h e th e r th e y w e re w o rk e d o r n o t.
O n e o f th e m e a n s o f c o n tr o l l in g G e r m a n p o w e r to m a k e w a r w o u ld b e to c o n fis
c a te a ll e x is ti n g G e r m a n p a te n ts a n d to k e e p a c lo s e w a tc h o n th e e x te n t to w h ic h G e r m a n p a te n t s w e re ta k e n o u t in o th e r c o u n tr ie s f o r th e f u tu r e . S o m e in d ic a ti o n o f th e m e th o d s t h a t m ig h t b e p u r s u e d a p p e a r e d in o u r is s u e o f F e b r u a r y 10, a n d f u r t h e r c o m m e n ts w e re p r o v id e d b y a c o r r e s p o n d e n t in la s t w e e k ’s is s u e .
T h e r a m if ic a tio n s o f th e G e r m a n c h e m ic a l in d u s try ' a r e w id e s p r e a d . I t is b e lie v e d t h a t th e r e w a s v e r y c lo s e w o r k i n g b e tw e e n th e G e r m a n c h e m ic a l p l a n t i n d u s t r y a n d th e G e r m a n c h e m ic a l in d u s tr y . W h e t h e r it w ill e v e r b e p o s s ib le to c o n tr o l th is w 'o.rking w e d o n o t k n o w . W e s h o u ld r a t h e r s u g g e s t t h a t it g iv e s
a m o d e l w h ic h c o u ld v e r y w e ll b e f o llo w e d in B r ita in . I n B r i ta i n th e r e h a s b e e n a lm o s t c o m p le te d iv o r c e m e n t o f th e c h e m ic a l in d u s t r y f r o m th e c h e m ic a l p l a n t i n d u s t r y , w ith th e r e s u l t t h a t n e it h e r h a s b e e n a b le to h o ld i ts o w n in f o r e ig n m a r k e ts w ith th e G e rm a n s . T h is w a r m a y h a v e t a u g h t u s a le s so n w h ic h w e o n ly l e a r n t p a r tl y a s a r e s u lt o f th e l a s t w a r.
O n e o f th e d iffic u ltie s o f c o n tr o l l in g a c h e m ic a l i n d u s tr y is t h a t p l a n t p u t in fo r o n e p u r p o s e c a n b e r e a d i ly a d a p t e d to o th e r u se s. W h a t e v e r c o m m is s io n is se t u p w ill r e q u ir e to b e s ta ffe d by c h e m ic a l e n g in e e r s o f w id e e x p e r ie n c e in th e m a n u f a c t u r e o f c h e m ic a ls o f w a r v a lu e . S u c h e n g in e e r s w o u ld b e a b le to d is c o v e r q u ic k ly w h e th e r a p p a r e n tl y in n o c u o u s p l a n t c o u ld b e tu r n e d o v e r e a s ily to w a r p r o d u c tio n . I t is n o t n e c e s s a r y t h a t th e c o n tr o l c o m m is s io n s h o u ld h a v e o n it c h e m ic a l e n g in e e r s w h o f u l ly u n d e r s to o d e v e r y p ro c e s s . I t is th e m a n u f a c t u r e o f e x p lo s iv e s a n d c e r ta in o th e r w a r c h e m i
c a ls t h a t m u s t be f o r b id d e n a n d r e n d e r e d im p o s s ib le f o r g e n e r a tio n s to c o m e.
I t h a s o f te n s e m e d to u s t h a t c o n tr o l o f te c h n ic a l e d u c a tio n in G e r m a n y m ig h t b e m o r e e ffe c tiv e th a n m a n y o th e r m e th o d s o f r e g u l a t i n g c h e m ic a l p r o d u c tio n . I f c e r t a i n m a n u f a c tu r e s a r e f o r b id d e n to th e G e r m a n s a n d if th e p e r m itte d n u m b e r o f c h e m ic a l e n g in e e r i n g s tu d e n ts a t G e r m a n u n iv e r s itie s a n d te c h n ic a l c o lle g e s c o u ld b e s e v e re ly r e s tr ic te d fo r a p e r io d , th e w o r ld d o m in a tio n o f G e r m a n c h e m ic a l p l a n t m ig h t w e ll r e c e iv e a m o r ta l b lo w .
T h e A llie s m u s t d e c id e h o w f a r G e r m a n y is to c o n tin u e to b e a n i n d u s tr ia l n a tio n . T h e r e c a n b e n o q u e s tio n th a t w ith in th e l a s t c e n tu r y G e r m a n in d u s t r i a l i s t s h a v e b u i lt u p f o r th e m s e lv e s a h ig h p la c e in te c h n ic a l p r o d u c tio n . W h a t w e m u s t t r y to d is c o v e r is h o w to e n s u r e (1) th a t fo r th e f u tu r e G e rm a n in d u s tr y c o m p e te s w ith th e r e s t o f th e w o r ld o n e q u a l t e r m s ; a n d (2) th a t p la n t i n s t a l l e d in G e r m a n y is n o t u s e d a n d c a n n o t b e u s e d fo r th e p r o d u c tio n o f w a r p o t e n t i a l . I n o u r v ie w th e c h e m ic a l a n d th e c h e m ic a l p l a n t i n d u s tr ie s o f th is c o u n tr y a r e in t h e b e s t p o s itio n to sa y h o w t h a t s h o u ld b e d o n e ; w e h o p e t h a t th e y w ill p u t t h e i r id e a s b e f o re th e G o v e r n m e n t a n d t h a t th e G o v e r n m e n t w ill p a y d u e a tt e n ti o n to th e m .
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H I L E o n e M in is te r l a s t w e e k w a s t a l k i n g o f p o s t- w a r tr a d e a n d d e c l a r in g t h a t B r i t a i n ’s s a lv a tio n c o u ld be fo u n d o n ly in e x p a n s io n a n d f re e d o m , a n o th e r M in is te r w a s b r i n g in g f o r w a r d a B ill to l im i t th e f re e d o m o f th e m a n u f a c t u r e r to e s ta b lis h h is w o rk s in th e p la c e w h ic h h is k n o w le d g e , e x p e r ie n c e a n d j u d g m e n t m a y te ll h im is b e s t fo r h is in d u s tr y . T h e D is tr ib u tio n o f I n d u s tr y B ill is s a id to b e i n te n d e d to p r o v id e m o re v a r ie d e m p lo y m e n t in w h a t w e re f o r m e r ly k n o w n a s “ s p e c ia l a r e a s ” ; b u t a g e n e r a l p r o v is io n la y s it d o w n t h a t th e B o a rd o f T r a d e m u s t b e n o tifie d o f a l l p r o p o s a ls to e r e c t a n y w h e re i n d u s t r ia l b u i ld i n g s w ith a n a g g r e g a t e flo o r s p a c e e x c e e d in g 3000 sq. ft. T h e B o a r d m a y b y O r d e r p r o h ib it th e e r e c tio n o r e x te n s io n o f i n d u s tr ia l b u i ld i n g s e x c e e d in g 3000 sq. ft. in a n y a r e a w h e r e f u r t h e r i n d u s t r ia l p r e m is e s w o u ld b e “ s e r io u s ly d e t r i m e n ta l to th e p r o p e r d is tr ib u tio n of in d u s tr y ” — th e D e p a r tm e n ts in W h it e h a ll p r e s u m a b ly d e c id in g w h a t c o n s titu te s p r o p e r d is tr ib u tio n . T h e r e w ill be v ig o r o u s c r itic is m , in P a r l ia m e n t a n d o u ts id e , o f a le g i s l a ti v e p r o p o s a l w h ic h w o u ld c a r r y S ta te r e g im e n ta tio n o f in d u s t r y in to th e p e a c e y e a rs . C o n tro l o f in d u s tr y h a s b e e n a c c e p te d in w a r tim e u n d e r e m e r g e n c y p o w e rs r e g a r d e d a s n e c e s s a r y fo r th e s u c c e s s fu l p r o s e c u tio n o f th e w a r , b u t e v e ry p r o p o s a l to p e r p e t u a t e c o n tr o ls w ith o u t l im it w ill be f o u g h t. I n d u s t r i a l e x p a n s io n a n d th e r e h a b ilita tio n o f o u r t r a d e a n d c o m m e rc e
— th e lif e b lo o d o f th e n a ti o n — c a n n o t b e a s s u r e d b y c o n ti n u i n g c o n tr o ls a n d re s tr ic tio n s , n o r c a n th e p ro m is e s o f th e r e s to r a tio n o f o u r lib e r tie s b e f u lf ille d by m e a s u r e s o f th e k in d n o w b e in g in tr o d u c e d .
S c ie n t ific P u b lic it y in A m e r ic a
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H A T E V E R p r e p a r a ti o n s a r e b e in g m a d e b y th e B r itis h G o v e r n m e n t a u th o r i t ie s to m a k e k n o w n t h r o u g h o u t th e w o r ld th e a c h ie v e m e n ts o f B r itis h s c ie n tis ts d u r i n g th e w a r — a n d p a s t e x p e r ie n c e d o e s n o t le a d u s to e x p e c t t h a t th e s e p r e p a r a ti o n s w ill b e e ith e r tim e ly o r w e ll-c h o s e n — th e r e is e v id e n c e t h a t th e h ig h e s t a u th o r i t y in th e U n ite d S ta te s isC O M M E N T S
t a k i n g s te p s to se e t h a t th e w o r k o f h is c o m p a tr io ts d o e s n o t s u ffe r f r o m n e g le c t.
T h e r e h a s c o m e in to o u r h a n d s , a lm o s t by a c c id e n t, a c o p y o f a l e t t e r a d d r e s s e d by P r e s i d e n t R o o s e v e lt to D r . V a n n e v a r B u s h , d i r e c to r o f th e O ffice o f S c ie n tific R e s e a r c h a n d D e v e lo p m e n t. I n th is h e a s k s , a m o n g o t h e r t h in g s , f o r r e c o m m e n d a tio n s o n th e f o llo w in g p o i n t s : (1) W h a t c a n b e d o n e , c o n s is te n t w ith m il i ta r y s e c u r ity , to m a k e k n o w n to th e w o r ld a s so o n a s p o s s ib le th e c o n tr i b u tio n s w h ic h h a v e b e e n m a d e , d u r i n g th e w a r e ffo rt, to s c ie n tific k n o w le d g e ? (2) W h a t c a n th e G o v e rn m e n t do no w a n d in th e f u t u r e to a id r e s e a r c h a c t i v i tie s b y p u b lic o r g a n is a t i o n s ? (3) C a n a n e ffe c tiv e p r o g r a m m e b e p r o p o s e d f o r d is c o v e r in g a n d d e v e lo p in g s c ie n tific t a l e n t in A m e r ic a n y o u th ? T h e r e a r e , it s h o u ld b e s a id , s o m e s ig n s t h a t th e tw o l a t t e r q u e s tio n s a r e n o t p a s s i n g u n h e e d e d in B r itis h o fficial q u a r te r s , b u t w e se e l i t t l e in d ic a tio n t h a t a n y r e a l a tt e n ti o n is b e in g g iv e n to th e first.
S o m e c a r e f u ll y c e n s o re d h a n d - o u ts , m a n y o f th e m a d m i t te d l y o f h ig h in te r e s t, a r e b e in g is s u e d b y p r i v a t e c o n c e r n s ; b u t o n ly th e f a in t e s t o t w h is p e r s h a s so f a r i n te r r u p t e d th e u n if o r m ity o f o fficial s ile n c e . W e h a v e h e a r d , u n o ffic ia lly , t h a t th e S c ie n tific A d v is o ry C o m m itte e to th e C a b in e t C o u n c il h a s a p p o in te d a n a r c h i v i s t ; s u c h a s te p , h o w e v e r , is, to s a y th e le a s t o f it, a m b ig u o u s .
W o rk s C h e m is t s ’ C h a r t e r
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I X “ f r e e d o m s ’’ f o r th e w o rk s c h e m is t w e re d e m a n d e d b y D r . C. H . S p ie r s a t a r e c e n t s y m p o s iu m o f th e L o n d o n g r o u p o f th e I n t e r n a ti o n a l S ociety* o f L e a th e r T r a d e s ’ C h e m is ts . T h e s u b je c t u n d e r d is c u s s io n w a s “ W h a t th e L e a th e r I n d u s t r y E x p e c ts fro m th e S c i e n t i s t ,’’ b u t a f t e r th r e e c a p t a i n s o f th e l e a t h e r in d u s tr y h a d e x p r e s s e d t h e i r v ie w s o n th e m a t t e r , th e y h e a r d a fe w s u g g e s tio n s o n w h a t th e s c ie n tis t e x p e c ts f ro m th e l e a t h e r i n d u s tr y . D r . S p ie r s , w h o m a d e th e s u g g e s tio n s , s p e a k s w ith a u th o r i t y , a s h e is a l e c t u r e r o n th e s c ie n c e o f l e a t h e r m a n u f a c t u r e a t th e L e a th e r s e l le r s ’ T e c h n ic a l C o lle g e a n d a m e m b e r o f v a r io u s t e c h n ic a l c o m m itte e s , a n d h a s b e e n e n g a g e d o n v a r io u s a s p e c ts o f le a t h e r r e s e a r c h fo r th e G o v e r n m e n t194 T HE C H E M I C A L A G E Ma r c h 3 , 1 9 4 5 d u r i n g th e w a r . D r. S p ie r s w a s
d e li b e r a t e l y p r o v o c a t iv e ; h a v in g first s tig m a tis e d th e l e a t h e r t r a d e s ’ c h e m is ts th e m s e lv e s fo r n o t a t t a i n i n g a r e q u is ite s t a n d a r d o f k n o w le d g e , h e th e n a s k e d , o n th e c h e m is ts ’ b e h a lf , f o r th e six
“ f r e e d o m s ” w h e re b y th e y 'm ig h t c a r r y o u t t h e i r w o rk e f fe c tiv e ly . T h e s e w e re : F r e e d o m fro m O b s tr u c tio n , F r e e d o m f ro m D iv e r s io n , F r e e d o m fro m S q u a lo r , F r e e d o m f ro m I s o l a ti o n , F r e e d o m fro m W a n t , a n d F r e e d o m f ro m D i s c o u r a g e m e n t. N o d o u b t in o t h e r b r a n c h e s o f th e c h e m ic a l a n d a l l i e d i n d u s t r ie s m a n y o r a l l o f th e s e fre e d o m s a r e e n j o y e d ; b u t it m ig h t b e w o r th th e w h ile o f c e r ta in e m p l o y e r s o f w o r k s c h e m is ts j u s t to c o n s id e r f o r a m o m e n t w h e th e r t h e ir c h e m is ts a r e g e t t i n g a f a i r d e a l in a ll th e s e r e s p e c ts . I t m a y b e r e m a r k e d t h a t
“ f r e e d o m f ro m w a n t ” d o e s n o t m e a n j u s t St r is e in w a g e s , b u t r a t h e r th e p r o v is io n o f e q u ip m e n t a n d f a c ilitie s to do th e w o rk p r o p e r ly . Q u ite b y th e w a y , it is w o r th n o tin g t h a t D r . S p ie r s u tte r e d a n u r g e n t d e m a n d fo r m o re c h e m ic a l e n g in e e r s in th e l e a t h e r i n d u s t r y ; if th e i n d u s t r y is to c o m e in to lin e w ith m o d e r n p r a c tic e , it w ill d o w e ll to a c c e d e to th is re q u e s t.
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O N S I D E R I N G h o w th e s c ie n c e of c h e m is tr y h a s d e v e lo p e d in r e c e n t y e a r s , it is n o t a lt o g e th e r s u r p r i s i n g t h a t th e r e h a s b e e n n o h o l d e r o f th e c o m p r e h e n s iv e t i t l e “ P r o f e s s o r o f C h e m is tr y ” a t C a m b r id g e U n iv e r s ity s in c e th e d e a th o f S ir W i l l i a m P o p e in 1939. L a s t y e a r s a w th e a p p o in t m e n t o f P r o f e s s o r A. R . T o d d to th e c h a i r o f o r g a n ic c h e m i s t r y ; P r o f e s s o r E . K . R id e a l a n d P r o f e s s o r R . G . W . N o r r is h h a v e h e ld , r e s p e c tiv e ly , th e c h a ir s o f c o llo id s c ie n c e a n d o f p h y s ic a l c h e m is tr y s in c e b e f o re th e w a r , a n d it is n o t m a n y y e a r s s in c e th e c h a i r o f th e o r e tic a l c h e m is tr y w a s o c c u p ie d b y P r o f e s s o r L e n n a r d - J o n e s . A n o b v io u s g a p r e m a in s , a n d w e a r e p r o m p te d to a s k : W h a t a b o u t in o r g a n i c c h e m is tr y ? T h e lo p s id e d n e s s o f th e e x is ti n g s t a te o f a ffa irs h a s a p p e a r e d m o re p r o m in e n t s in c e P r o f e s s o r T o d d ’s a p p o in t m e n t , a n d i t is w id e ly f e lt t h a t so m e d e f in itiv e s te p to w a r d s a b a la n c e d a d ju s tm e n t is i m m i n e n t ; a n i n te r e s t in g r u m o u r c o n n e c ts th e n a m e o f D r . H . J . E m e le u s , n o w a t th e I m p e r i a l C o lle g e in L o n d o n ,w ith th e p o s s ib le n e w c h a i r o f i n o r g a n ic c h e m is tr y . F u r t h e r s ig n s o f im p o r t a n t m o v e m e n ts in th e c h e m ic a l w o r ld a t C a m b r id g e a r e c o n ta in e d in a r e p o r t p r e s e n te d to th e S e n a te r e c o m m e n d in g in c r e a s e d a c c o m m o d a tio n f o r c e r ta in o f th e s c ie n tific d e p a r t m e n t s n o w h o u s e d in c o n d itio n s t h a t h a v e b e e n d e s c rib e d a s
“ s l u m l i k e . ” I t is r e c o m m e n d e d , in te r a lia , t h a t th e L e n s fie ld s ite , w h e re th e S c o tt P o l a r R e s e a rc h I n s t i tu t e s ta n d s , s h o u ld b e u s e d f o r th e d e p a r t m e n t s o f o r g a n ic a n d i n o r g a n ic c h e m is tr y , p h y s i
c a l c h e m is tr y , c o llo id s c ie n c e , a n d m e t a ll u r g y . T h is g r o u p i n g a n d r e h o u s in g o f th e c h e m ic a l d e p a r t m e n t s is a g o o d a n d lo g ic a l s te p , e v e n th o u g h it im p lie s a s l i g h tl y lo n g e r j o u r n e y fro m th e a c a d e m id c e n tr e o f th e U n iv e r s ity .
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F r o m £ 1 1 0 to £ 8 5
T
H E M in istry of A irc ra ft P ro d u c tio n an n o u n ces th a t th e C o n tro l of A lu m inium (No. 5) O rd e r, 1940, c o n s titu te d th e M in ister of A irc ra ft P ro d u c tio n th e sole seller of v irg in alu m in iu m in th e U .K . In N ovem ber, 1939, it w as a n n o u n ce d th at v irg in a lu m in iu m in ing o t o r notch b a r form would be sold u n til f u rth e r n o tic e at £ 1 1 0 p e r to n . de liv ered to co n su m ers' w orks, w ith e x tra s fo r o th e r form s an d p u ritie s . S ta rtin g on M arch 1 th e M in ister w ill sell v irgin alu m in iu m in in g o t o r notch b a r form a t£85 p e r to n , d eliv ered to co n su m ers’ w orks, w ith e x tra s for p u ritie s. F ro m th e sam e d a te d ie M in ister w ill cease to tr a d e in th e follow ing form s of u n w ro u g h t alu m in iu m , w hich w ill in fu tu re be o b ta in e d u n d e r licence issued by th e L ig h t M e ta ls T o n tr o l from th e n o rm al com m ercial sources— ro ll
in g blocks, ro llin g slabs, b ille ts , w ire b a rs.
T h e p rice cu t confirm s re c e n t forecasts, re p o rte d in T h e C h e m i c a l A g e of J a n u a ry 17, of a re d u c tio n designed to b rin g th e B ritish q u o tatio n in to line w ith th e ^ U .S . level of 15 c en ts p e r lb ., as well as to ab so rb th e g re a tly e x p an d e d p ro d u c tiv e c ap a c ity of th e B ritis h alu m in iu m in d u s try now larg ely used in a ir c r a f t m a n u fa c tu re .
U .K . o u tp u t rose fro m less th a n 30,000 to n s in 1939 to a b o u t 60,000 to n s by 1944.
O f th e 1944 to ta l o u tp u t of some 2,000,000 to n s, th e U n ite d S ta te s c o n trib u te d n e a rly 1,000,000, an d C a n ad a a b o u t 500,000 tons.
A glossary of G erm an, F re n c h , R u ssian and S panish w elding terras h a s been p u b lished by th e A m erican W elding Society, 33 W est 39th S tre et, N ew Y ork 18, N .Y . (P rice 50c.).
J Ia r c h 3 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E 1 9 5
Science in Peace
Conference of A ssociation of Scientific W orkers
T
H E v alu ab le c riticism s m ade by P r o fesso r H a ro ld L aski in a re ce n t lec tu re befo re th e B ritis h A sso ciatio n of C hem ists (and reported 011 p. 181 of last w eek’s issue), re g a rd in g th e re lu c ta n c e of most scien tists to ta k e p a r t in civic affairs, evid en tly do not ap p ly to T h e A ssociation of S cien tific W o rk ers. In an open co n feren ce 011 “ Science in P e a c e ,” held on F e b ru a ry 17-18 a t C a x to n H a ll, W es tm in ste r, the A ssociation d e m o n s tra ted th e m any co n stru c tiv e p o ssib ilities offered by science for hum an ad v an cem en t. I ts d e c lare d object, w as to m ake th e fu lle st use of science in o rd e r to m eet th e m anifold needs of th e people. P o litic a l d ecisions alone cannot b rin g ab o u t social s e c u rity , full em ploym ent, good h e a lth an d h o u sin g ; th ese in v o lv e th e fu llest use of science an d th e m obilisatio n of re so u rce s 011 a scale unknow n h ith e rto .
T h e p ro g ram m e of th e co n feren ce w as a r ran g ed u n d e r th re e h ead s : S cience and P r o d u c tio n ; T h e F u tu r e D evelopm ent of S c ien c e; an d S cience in E v ery d ay L ife, p re sided o v er resp ectiv ely by P ro fe sso r P . M. S.
B la c k ett, S ir R o b ert W a ts o n -W a tt and P r o fessor N. Levy. T h e first session showed th a t fo r th is co u n try , as for th e w orld as a w hole, e x p an sio n , an d n o t re s tric tio n , of p ro d u c tio n , w as th e problem . I t discussed th e re la tio n s betw een science an d lab o u r, and th e need s of th re e v ita l in d u strie s— fuel and pow er, e n g in e erin g , an d chçm iedls. T he second session w as c o n cern ed w ith problem s of fu n d a m e n ta l re sea rc h an d of applied science as well as w ith q u estio n s of finance a n d o rg a n is atio n . T h e final session d is cussed th e a p p lic a tio n of science to hum an n e e d s ; co n su m er re se a rc h , food, an d agri- c u ltu re , h e a lth services, an d housing being th e m ain su b je cts.
S c i e n t i s t s n o t “ G a d g e t e e r s ” P ro fe ss o r B la c k e tt stre sse d th e p o in t th a t sc ien tists w ere n o t “ g a d g e te e rs.” T h e rôle of th e sc ie n tist in in d u s try w as n o t to assist in th e p ro d u c tio n of expensive lu x u rie s for th e rich b u t in a id in g th e o u tp u t of ch eap and b e a u tifu l goods for th e m asses. I t is g en erally a d m itte d , he said , th a t ap p lied science in th is c o u n try needs to be g reatly in cre ased in am ount and in m any cases m uch im proved in q u a lity . I n th e ap p lied physical sciences, by fa r th e m ost im p o rta n t ob jectiv e was th e im p ro v em en t of th e p ro cesses of p ro d u c tio n , so as to low er th e re a l costs of o rd in a ry a rtic le s o f con su m p tio n . T h e re w as a g rav e d a n g er th a t fa r too m uch of o u r n a tio n a l re so u rce s in physics and lig h t en g in e erin g w ould be dev o ted to cash ing in on th e p o st-w ar boom , r a th e r th a n to th e basic d ev elo p m en t w ork n ecessary to
o b ta in an im p o rta n t rise in p ro d u c tiv ity . T h e m ain need w as to im prove m a te ria ls an d p ro d u c tiv e processes an d to in v en t new ones. T h e possib ility of fa r-re a ch in g a d vances in m a te ria ls and m achines d e p en d ed on o u r fu n d a m e n ta l know ledge of n a tu re . A la rg e dev elo p m en t of fu n d a m e n ta l re se a rc h was th u s an esse n tia l p a rt of any p ro g ram m e of in c re asin g hum an w elfare.
A n O v e r h a u l o f M e t h o d s
M r. G . D . X. W o rsw ick , an O x fo rd eco n o m ist a t p re sen t w orking a t th e O xford in s titu te of S ta tis tic s , said th a t th e task a fte r th e w a r w as n o t only to m ake good th e d am ag e w ro u g h t by th e w ar, b u t to lau n ch an assault on th e poverty of m ankind. E ven in B rita in , w here th e av erag e s ta n d a rd of living w as re la tiv e ly h ig h , th e b u lk o f the p o p u latio n w ere u n d e r-n o u rish e d , u n h e a lth y , and ill-housed. T h e re a re g re a t u n satisfied needs in B rita in , and th ese a re to be m et, n ot only by a m ore e q u ita b le d is trib u tio n of p u rc h asin g pow er, b u t by a g re a t in crease in to ta l o u tp u t of goods an d services. T h e ex iste n ce of needs is no g u a ra n te e th a t th ey w ill be m et. T h ese needs h av e alw ays e x is te d , y et science h as been fru s tr a te d in its efforts to meet them .
I t ¿s o ften said th a t th e d evelopm ent of back w ard c o u n trie s w ill h a rm hom e in d u s
trie s and d estro y e x p o rt m a rk e ts . T h is is tru e in a re s trie tio n is t econom y w hich is tech n ica lly s ta tic . B ut in an e x p an d in g econom y, w ith in d u stry flexible and con
tin u a lly develo p in g tech n ica lly , c e rta in c o u n trie s can alw ays p ro d u ce th in g s needed in o th e r c o u n trie s n o t yet ad v an ced enough to p ro d u ce them for them selves. T h e p a t
te r n of tra d e will a lte r, b u t its volum e may well rise.
In B rita in a d ra s tic o v erh au l of p ro d u c tio n an d d is trib u tio n m eth o d s is necessary.
In som e in d u strie s, such as coal a n d tr a n s p o rt, n a tio n a l o w n ersh ip w ill set th e sta g e for th e technical advances required. P ro d u c tio n an d d is trib u tio n costs m ust be a s c e r
ta in e d , so th a t efficiency can be scien tifi
cally d e te rm in e d . New disco v eries m u st at once becom e av ailab le to all m a n u fa c tu re rs an d p ro d u c tio n and q u a lity co n tro ls should be e x te n d ed an d im p ro v ed . “ P la n n in g ” need n o t involve b u re a u c ra c y . M ethods of co n tro l can be freely an d d em o c ratica lly a d ap ted to th e object required.
O n c o al, B r ita in ’s only m a jo r so u rce of fu el, will d e p en d th e p ro sp e rity of o u r people in peace, said D r. M . R u h e m a n n . T h e fuel an d pow er in d u stry se ts th e scien tis t an d en g in e e r th re e m a jo r task s. T he first, a geological p ro b lem , h a s been all b u t solved. T h e second ta s k is t h a t of b rin g iu g
T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma r c h 3 , 1 9 4 5
th e coal to the e a r th ’s su rfa ce . T h is e n g i
n e erin g fe at is th e g ra v est b o ttle n ec k of B ritish in d u stry . T h re e B ritis h m in e rs a re needed to ra is e th e am o u n t of coal tbp,t one m in e r d eals w ith in th e U .S .A . T h e re are p ro fo u n d re aso n s for th is a n d , if th e B ritish sc ien tist is a t fa u lt, he h as fa iled , n o t as a sc ien tist, b u t as a citize n . T h e th ir d task of th e sc ie n tist is to en ab le th e coal to be su itab ly u tilise d . T h is involves th e phy si
c ist, th e ch em ist, an d th e e n g in e er. I t is receiving m uch m ore a tte n tio n th a n th e pro b lem of co al-g ettin g , b u t still n o t enough.
T h e sc ien tist w ould like to see a co n certed scientific a tta c k on th e fu el problem as a w hole, se ttin g him self th e ta s k of d o u b lin g th e o u tp u t of coal p er rnan -sh ift, w hile at th e sam e tim e lig h ten in g th e toil an d lessen ing th e risk of th e m iner.
C h e m i c a l a n d A llie d I n d u s t r i e s T h e chem ical in d u s try ’s full c o n trib u tio n to an e x p an d in g B ritis h econom y re q u ire s, a cco rd in g to D r. N. L evy, au in d u s tria l r e search c h em ist, c h e a p e r p ro d u c tio n of coal, its in creased use- as a chem ical raw m ate
ria l. a n d sy stem atic recovery of v alu a b le by products w hen used as a f u e l t h e advance
m ent o f a g ric u ltu re , w hich c an be achieved ill p a r t th ro u g h an ex te n d ed fe rtilis e r p r o gram m e, for th e p ro d u c tio n of food and of cro p s w hich can be th e source of chem ical raw m a te ria ls ; th e sy stem atic review of n a tio n a l reso u rces, th e u tilis a tio n o f in d u s tria l a n d o th e r w aste m a te ria ls , and tjie d e v e lo p m e n t of processes based on h o m e-p ro duced m a te ria ls ; th e in cre ased p ro d u c tio n of heavy o rg a n ic ch em icals, from all so u rc es;
.the d ire c te d p ro d u c tio n of b u ild in g m a te ria ls of all ty p e s ; an d im p ro v em en ts in th e p re sen t system of c o n tro ls over th e in d u stry .
T h e p rice of coal is th e m ain econom ic fa c to r d o m in a tin g chem ical p ro d u c tio n . T h e p re sen t em p h asis 011 the use of coal as a source of raw m a te ria l for hig h ly -p riced p ro d u c ts of th e chem ical in d u stry is c e r
tain ly technically stim u la tin g to th e coal
m in in g in d u stry , b u t does n o t o f itself have th e effect of ch ea p en in g coal. T h e efficiency w ith w hich b y -p ro d u cts a re reco v ered from coal m ust be g re a tly in cre as ed to avoid the p re s e n t trem en d o u s w aste of v a lu a b le m a te ria l. F o r ex am p le, m eth a n e re co v e red from coke-oven g as could com pete w ith calcium c a rb id e as a raw m a te ria l fo r c e rta in types of p las tic s.
A p p lie d S c ie n c e a n d T e c h n o lo g y T h e s ta n d a rd of life of th e people of E n g lan d in th e n e x t few y e ars w ill larg e ly d e pend on how a d eq u a te ly an d in te llig e n tly science is em ployed in in d u stry , P ro fe ss o r J . D . B e rn a l, F .B .S ., co n te n d ed . T h e n a tu ra l resources of B rita in are lim ite d : th e re is all th e m o re reaso n to g et th e best advice a n d to ta k e it. In th e p a st in d u stry h a s too o ften b een re g a rd e d as a m ea n s of
producing cheap goods in large q u a n titie s irrespective of the uses and qu ality of the goods and of the lives o f the w orkers who produce them . T h e m odern aim fo r in d u s try is to satisfy the need s of th e consum ers, th a t is, of th e w hole people, and a t th e sam e tim e pro v id e them in th e ir w orking h o u rs, no less th a n th e ir leisu re, w ith th e p o ssib ilities of w o rth -w h ile and in te re s tin g lives.
T o a ch iev e -th is end re q u ire s th e d e lib e ra te th in k in g o ut of in d u s tria l tec h n iq u e ^ and a p p ly in g science to th em , an d th e finding o u t of consum er needs. T h e w a r h a s show n u s th a t th is can be done in th e m a tte r of w eap o n s; th e m eth o d s a re know n, th e m en a re tr a in e d ; th e re a re n o t enough of them , b u t enough to m ake a good s ta r t. I t is only by m ak in g th e effort th a t we will effectively find o ut th e b est ways of ap p ly in g science to in d u stry . W e could begin by seeing th a t all th e in d u s trie s in th e c o u n try use science as in te llig e n tly a n d on as a d e q u a te a scale as th e b e st firm s in th e c o u n try do to-day.
B u t th is m ust be done in a co-ordinated w a y : th is is no question of bureau cratic re g im en ta tio n , b u t of th e co -o p erativ e efforts of sc ien tis ts an d tec h n ician s. W e w a n t to see th a t th e scientific effort, w hich is now in very sh o rt sup p ly , is fa irly d is trib u te d betw een th e in d u s trie s of th is c o u n try an d in sid e each in d u stry . T h e o ld e r tra d itio n a l in d u s tries have never had a 'c h a n c e to see w h at rcien ce could do fo r th em . L oo k in g a t th e seven big in d u stria l groupings in th is co u n
try we get some idea of w h at is m ean t.
B a s ic I n d u s t r i e s ’ N e e d s
C oal m in in g is a d m itte d everyw here to be in a v ery bad s ta te . O n e x is tin g w orld s ta n d a rd s it is tec h n ica lly b a ck w a rd an d im poses en tirely unnecessarily h a rd conditions o n th e m in ers. I t w ill ta k e a lo t m ore th a n science to pift th e m ines rig h t," b u t th e re is 110 n a tu ra l reason why our m ines should n o t b e as effectively w orked as those in th e U n ite d S ta te s o r th e S oviet U nion. T h e m etal in d u s try is also an old a n d b a ck w a rd in d u stry b y m o d ern s ta n d a r d s ; o u r steel p rice s c a n n o t com pete w ith th o se of th e U n ite d S ta te s. W e should be p re p a re d , h e re a g ain , to m ake fu lle r use of science in a ra d ic a l way. P ro fe ss o r B e rn a l re fe rre d h e re to th e full-scale use of ch eap oxygen, p ro d u c ed along th e lin es of P ro fe ss o r K a p itz a ’s w ork, in th e Soviet U nion.
T h e chem ical in d u s try , w hich uses r e se a rc h e x ten siv ely , is d o m in a ted by p riv a te com m ercial a n d not b y n a tio n a l in te re s ts , a n d th e full in te g ra tio n of c h em istry w ith o th e r in d u s trie s a n d w ith a g ric u ltu re is h in d ere d . T h e te x tile in d u s try need s a ra tio n a l re ju v e n a tio n from science. E ven m ore so does th e b u ild in g in d u s try , fo r w ith o u t th e fu ll use of science in th e b u ild in g
Ma r c h 3 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E 1 97 in d u s try we sh all n ot see enough houses in
th is c o u n try ¡11 our tim e.
W e sim ply c a n n o t afford, w ith o u r p re sen t s h o rta g e of tra in e d m en , to d u p lic a te w ork by c o m p etitiv e a n d secret in v estig a
tions. N or c an we allow w ork to be c a rrie d out in a grossly inefficient way sim ply b e
cause th e firms c o n cern ed a re too sm all or too b a ck w a rd to m ake use of science. H ere th e G o v ern m en t m u st ste p in and v a stly in crease th e scope of th e in d u s tria l re sea rc h asso ciatio n s. I t is only th e G o v e rn m en t th a t can p ro v id e th e b ack g ro u n d of co o r d in a te d policy in th e n a tio n a l in te re s t.
A ny u seful o rg a n is atio n of science will r e q u ire a ra p id ly in cre asin g num ber of scien tific and tech n ical w o rk ers of a ll g ra d es. T h e w ar show ed how te rrib ly sh o rt we w ere in th is re sp ec t. T h e scientific w o rk er should be in a responsible position in in d u stry , able to use in itia tiv e and ta k in g p a rt in all dis missions, on policy. J u s t as much as the m anual an d a d m in istra tiv e w o rk er, he should form p a rt of th e collective d irec tio n of in d u stry .
A t th e m om ent, such a claim w ould not he opposed by any resp o n sib le body of in d u s tria l o p in io n , b u t a t th e end of the w ar we m u st bew are of lip-service to science, and com placency. T h e very e x isten ce of th is c o u n try d e p en d s on th e p ro p e r u tilis a tion of science. T o secu re th is w ill need th e utm o st elTorts o f th e sc ie n tists in every section of in d u stry and th e e n erg e tic b a ck ing of th e o rg an ised w o rk ers.
O r g a n i s a t i o n a n d F in a n c e B rita in ’s leading position in th e world of fu n d am en tal science was being m aintained before th e w ar only by the work of a few individuals and lab o rato ries. In applied science we had already lost th e lead. As a consequence th e in d u strial efficiency of th is country had fallen behind A m erica, G erm any, and R u ssia, said D r. S. L illey. T h ere was too m uch em phasis on th e developm ent of.
sm all im provem ents in in d u strial p ro d u cts and too little a tte n tio n to fu n d am en tal advances. T h e in terv al betw een new d is
coveries and th e ir application w as excessive.
T he scientific a c tiv ity of a co u n try can be m easured roughly by th e am ount of money spent 011 it. T lie pre-w ar a n n u al expendi
tu re of G reat B rita in was about £7 m dlion, or a little over 0.1 per cent, of th e annual income, as ag ain st 0.0 per cent, for America and 0.8 per cen t, for R u ssia. W e m ust aim to increase our expenditure to som e £'24 m illion per an n u m , i.e ., 0.5 per cent, of our p resen t incom e, w ith in 10 to 15 y e a rs; m ade up as follow s: In d u s tria l research, £10 m illio n ; a g ricu ltu ral research, £600,000;
a g ric u ltu ral advisory service, £6 m illion;
m edical research, £4 m illio n ; consum er re search, £500,000; fu n d am en ta l research,
£ ‘2.5 m illion—a to ta l of £23.6 m illion.
In order to co-ordinate th e whole scientific
efforts of th e co u n try a N ational R esearch and D evelopm ent B o ard , re sp o n sib le to th e L ord P re sid e n t of th e Council, w as sugges
ted, to survey our needs and resources and to plan th e broad lines of scientific w'ork accordingly. T h is B oard would n o t, in general, inte rfere in th e carry in g o ut of the w ork, and the m axim um freedom would be given to scientific w orkers.
I n f o r m a t i o n S e r v ic e s
In fo rm atio n services provide th e channels of com m unication betw een scientific w orkers;
if th e y are clogged, the whole of scientific a ctiv ity is hindered and its effectiveness as a social force crippled. T h ey are cjoggcd now, claim ed M r. E . C arter, lib rarian and ed ito r of the R .I.B .A . T hey m ust be re
garded as an in teg ral p a rt of scientific endeavour and n ot ju s t as a technique applied on th e surface.
T h ere are five elem ents in the inform ation process; v iz ., the original production of the item of inform ation, th e lab o rato ry w o rk ; its p u b lica tio n ; its collection in to lib ra rie s;
its classification, indexing and a b stra c tin g ; and its d is trib u tio n . H ith e rto , th e first tw o stag es, i.e ., the fu n d a m e n ta l form in which th e m aterial is prepared fo r p u b lication, and the publication process, have been neglected.
S c ie n c e a n d t h e H u m a n i t i e s S p eak in g 011 “ T h e P la ce of S cience in C u ltu re ,” P ro fe sso r 11. F a r r in g to n , who occupies th e C hair of Classics a t Sw ansea, m ain tain ed th a t science w as n ot only the key to the u n d erstan d in g of m a n ’s n atu ral environm ent, but it was essential to the u n d erstan d in g of hum an histo ry . T he effect of applied science 011 h u m an history had been overw helm ing. T h e progress of m aterial ciyilisation in th e p ast had depended on science, and th e extension of the benefits of m aterial civilisation depended upon fresh ap p licatio n of sc ien ti
fic know ledge. T h ere were tw o replies, he said, to the contention th a t education in general should be in the h u m an ities, not in th e m indless processes of inorganic n a tu re or th e soulless, processes of organic n a tu re . F ir s t, nobody seeks to s u b s titu te science for th e hu m an ities b ut to include it w ith th em as one of th e suprem e achieve
m en ts of the hum an m ind. To th e figures of th e sa in t, the pro p h et, the law giver, and the a r tis t, we m u st add th a t of the. scientist as w orthy of inclusion am ong th e benefactors of m ankind. Second, science is of im portance n o t sim ply as an add itio n to th e n u m b er of th e h u m an ities, but for its m ethod and tem p er, w hich have a c o n trib u tio n to m ake to o th er activ ities of the hum an sp irit. Our w hole sp iritu al inheritance has become m aterial for scientific an alysis. I n th is process both th e h u m an ities and science will be transform ed and enriched.
