Chemical & Metallurgical Engineering, Vol. 50, No. 10

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O n t h i s p a g e l a s t A u g u s t w e p r o f f e r e d t h e o p i n i o n t h a t a s a c o u n t r y w e w i l l h a v e f a i l e d t o l e a r n f r o m t h i s w a r ’s e x p e r ie n c e i f w e a b a n d o n c o m p l e t e l y t h e r e ­ s e a r c h a n d d e v e l o p m e n t w o r k t h a t h a s m a d e u s m a s t e r s o f m i l i t a r y s c ie n c e a n d t e c h n o l o g y . F r o m t h e r e a c ­ t io n s r e c e iv e d f r o m h i g h o f f ic ia ls i n t h e g o v e r n m e n t a n d i n t h e a r m e d f o r c e s , a s w e l l a s f r o m e n g i n e e r i n g e d u c a t o r s a n d e n g i n e e r s i n i n d u s t r y , w e h a v e r e a s o n t o b e l ie v e t h a t w e a r e n o t g o i n g to m a k e t h e s a m e m i s t a k e s w e d i d a f t e r W o r l d W a r I .

S e c o n d o n l y t o o u r p r o g r e s s i n a p p l y i n g s c ie n c e t o w a r p r o d u c t i o n i s t h e u s e o u r i n d u s t r i e s h a v e m a d e o f e c o n o m ic a n d s t a t i s t i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n b e a r i n g o n s u p p l y a n d d e m a n d , in v e n t o r i e s , p r i c e s a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n t r e n d s . I n t h e W a r P r o d u c t i o n B o a r d ’s c o m m o d i t y d i v i s i o n s , i n t h e O ffic e o f R u b b e r D i r e c t o r , i n t h e P e t r o l e u m A d m i n i s t r a t i o n f o r W a r , a n d e ls e w h e r e , h a v e b e e n s e t u p s t a t i s t i c a l c o n t r o l s t h a t a r e f a r m o r e c o m p r e h e n s i v e a n d e ff ic ie n t t h a n a n y o f t h e i r p e a c e ­ t im e p r e d e c e s s o r s .

U n d e r s t r o n g p r e s s u r e o f w a r t i m e n e e d s , f i g u r e s a r e c o lle c t e d p r o m p t l y , a n a l y z e d , i n t e r p r e t e d a n d p u t t o p r o p e r u s e . T h e n e w e r a g e n c ie s s e e m t o h a v e a v o i d e d o r o v e r c o m e m o s t o f t h e o l d e r i n h i b i t i o n s t h a t s o o f t e n d e l a y e d a n d d e t r a c t e d f r o m t h e v a l u e o f c e n s u s d a t a . B u t a l l g o v e r n m e n t a l d e p a r t m e n t s , i n c l u d i n g t h e C e n s u s B u r e a u , h a v e c o o p e r a t e d w h o l e h e a r t e d l y i n t h e p r o g r a m o f s p e e d i n g u p t h e s t a t i s t i c a l p r o c e s s e s t o m a k e r e s u l t s m o s t u s e f u l i n t h e w a r e ffo rt .

W h a t ’s t o b e c o m e o f a l l t h i s f in e w o r k a f t e r t h e w a r i s w o n ? A r e w e g o i n g t o c lo s e t h e b o o k s a n d b u r n t h e f ile s w h e n t h e w a r t i m e a g e n c ie s a r e a b a n d o n e d ? O r , a r e w e g o i n g t o t a k e s t o c k o f w h a t w e h a v e a c c o m ­ p l i s h e d a n d s e t u p p e r m a n e n t m a c h i n e r y f o r c a r r y i n g o n t h e w o r k t h a t i s o f m o s t v a l u e t o i n d u s t r y a n d t o t h e g e n e r a l p u b l i c ? U n l e s s w e g i v e s o m e t h o u g h t t o t h e s e q u e s t i o n s n o w , t h e a n s w e r s m a y g o b y d e f a u l t d u r i n g t h e h e c t ic d a y s o f d e m o b i l i z a t i o n .

L o o k i n g b a c k t o W o r l d W a r I , w e i n t h e c h e m ic a l i n d u s t r y c a n a p p r e c i a t e s o m e o f t h e b e n e f it s t h a t h a v e

r e s u l t e d f r o m t h e f e w s t a t i s t i c a l s e r i e s t h a t g o t t h e i r s t a r t i n w a r w o r k . F i r s t i n i m p o r t a n c e is u n d o u b t e d l y t h e c e n s u s o f d y e s a n d o r g a n i c c h e m ic a ls , i n a u g u r a t e d b y t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s T a r i f f C o m m i s s i o n i n 1 9 1 7 a s a m e a n s o f c h e e k i n g t h e p r o g r e s s o f p r o d u c t i o n f o r e s s e n t ia l m a t e r i a l s t h a t h a d p r e v i o u s l y b e e n im p o r t e d , I t w o u l d in d e e d b e d if f ic u lt t o p u t a v a l u e o n t h e p a r t p l a y e d b y t h e “ d y e c e n s u s ’ ’ i n b u i l d i n g o u r s y n t h e t i c o r g a n i c c h e m ic a l i n d u s t r y .

F r o m t h e c h e m ic a l s e c t io n o f t h e o l d W a r I n d u s t r i e s B o a r d c a m e t h e p r a c t i c e o f s e t t i n g u p d i s t r i b u t i o n s u r v e y s to s h o w t h e p e r c e n t a g e o f p r o d u c t i o n u s e d i n t h e v a r i o u s c o n s u m i n g i n d u s t r i e s . L a c k i n g o ffic ia l m a c h i n e r y f o r c o n t i n u i n g t h e s e s u r v e y s , C h e m . & M e t.

lia s c a r r i e d t h e m o n f o r a f e w c o m m o d i t i e s s u c h a s s u l p h u r i c a c id , c a u s t ic s o d a a n d s o d a a s h . W e a r e t h e f ir s t t o a d m it , h o w e v e r , t h a t m u c h g r e a t e r v a l u e w o u l d h a v e a c c r u e d f r o m a b r o a d e r p r o g r a m s p o n s o r e d b y a g o v e r n m e n t a l a g e n c y o r a t r a d e a s s o c ia t io n .

U n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f D e a n E d w i n F . G a y , o f t h e H a r v a r d B u s i n e s s S c h o o l , t h e W a r I n d u s t r i e s B o a r d p u b l i s h e d d u r i n g 1 9 1 9 a n d 1 9 2 0 a n e x h a u s t i v e s e r ie s o f b u l l e t i n s o n t h e w a r t i m e h i s t o r y o f p r i c e s f o r p r a c t i c a l l y a l l i m p o r t a n t g r o u p s o f c o m m o d it ie s . M a n y o f t h e s e s e t u p p r i c e i n d e x n u m b e r s w h i c h h a v e s i n c e b e e n c o n t i n u e d b y o t h e r g o v e r n m e n t a l a n d p r i ­ v a t e a g e n c ie s . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , h o w e v e r , m o s t o f t h e m a c h i n e r y w a s d u m p e d b a c k i n t o t h e B u r e a u o f L a b o r S t a t i s t i c s w h e r e p r i c e s t u d i e s a r e m a d e b y o t h e r t h a n c o m m o d i t y e x p e r t s . T h o s e w h o h a v e h a d e x p e r ie n c e w i t h s o m e o f t h e B u r e a u ’s i n d i c e s c a n a p p r e c i a t e w h a t t h a t h a s m e a n t i n t h e w a y o f i n a d e q u a c y a n d o c c a ­ s i o n a l b u t u n i n t e n t i o n a l i n a c c u r a c y .

M a n y o t h e r e x a m p l e s o f w a r t i m e a d v a n c e s a n d p e a c e t im e r e t r e a t s i n t h e c o l le c t io n a n d u s e o f s t a t i s t i c s c o u l d b e c it e d f r o m t h e e x p e r ie n c e s o f t h e B u r e a u o f M i n e s , t h e G e o l o g i c a l S u r v e y , a n d t h e C o m m e r c e D e p a r t m e n t . Y e t t h e s e a r e p e r h a p s s u f f ic ie n t t o r e ­ m i n d u s t h a t W a s h i n g t o n n o w h a s a w e a l t h o f f a c t s a n d f i g u r e s t h a t c o u l d b e o f a l m o s t i n e s t i m a b l e v a l u e

w e r e t h e y t r a n s l a t e d in t o c o n t i n u i n g s t a t i s t i c a l s e r v ­ ic e s to A m e r i c a n i n d u s t r y . N o r s h o u l d w e f o r g e t t h a t f r o m t h e p u b l i c i n t e r e s t it i s s h o r t s i g h t e d a n d p e r h a p s u n f a i r to le t t h e s e f i g u r e s b e c o m e t h e e x c l u s iv e p r o p ­ e r t y o f t h o s e w h o h a v e w o r k e d s o h a r d a n d p a t r i o t ­ i c a l l y i n t h e i r c o m p i l a t i o n . N o m a t t e r w h a t is d o n e , 't h e s e m e n a n d w o m e n w i l l r e t u r n to p r i v a t e e m p l o y ­ m e n t w i t h m u c h b e t t e r k n o w l e d g e o f t h e i n d u s t r i e s t h e y h a v e b e e n s t u d y i n g , N o o n e w i l l d e n y t h e m t h a t c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r t h e i r w a r w o r k . B u t i f w e a r e w is e a n d h a v e l e a r n e d w e l l o u r w a r le s s o n N o . 2, w e w il l i n s i s t o n p r o m p t e r , m o r e c o m p r e h e n s i v e a n d m o r e i n t e l l i g e n t s t a t i s t i c a l s e r v i c e s a s a r e s u l t o f i n d u s t r y ’s w a r t i m e e x p e r ie n c e s .

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A n a m a z i n g r e c o r d o f i n c r e a s i n g o u t p u t h a s b e e n m a d e b y t h e c h e m ic a l i n d u s t r y s in c e 1 9 4 1 . P r e s i d e n t R o o s e v e l t r e c o g n i z e d t h i s i n h i s S e p t e m b e r r e p o r t to C o n g r e s s w h e n h e s a i d : “ S i n c e t h e o u t b r e a k o f t h e w a r in E u r o p e , w e h a v e i n c r e a s e d o u r o u t p u t o f p e t r o l e u m b y 6 6 p e r c e n t . W e h a v e s t e p p e d u p o u r b i t u m i n o u s c o a l p r o d u c t i o n b y 4 0 p e r c e n t ; c h e m ic a ls b y 3 0 0 p e r c e n t ; i r o n o r e b y 1 2 5 p e r c e n t ; h y d r o e l e c t r ic p o w e r b y 7 9 p e r c e n t , a n d ste e l b y 1 0 6 p e r c e n t . ’ ’

F e w r e a l iz e t h e s t u p e n d o u s effort, w h ic h h a s b e e n m a d e s o s u c c e s s f u l l y i n c h e m ic a l i n d u s t r y . T h e y f a i l to r e a l iz e t h e m a g n i t u d e a n d t h e s u c c e s s b e c a u s e c h e m ­ i c a l s h a v e n e v e r f a i l e d to b e r e a d y w h e n n e e d e d . T h i s is a s u b j e c t f o r s e l f - c o n g r a t u l a t i o n a n d a d e t e r m i n a ­ t io n to m a i n t a i n t h e r e c o r d u n s p o i l e d b y a n y f u t u r e f a i l u r e .

TOM ORROW 'S INDUSTRIES

I n o u r F e b r u a r y n u m b e r w e p u b l i s h e d a l i s t o f a b o u t f i f t y s o - c a ll e d “ i n f a n t i n d u s t r i e s ’ ’ w h i c h m a y be e x p e c t e d to e x p e r ie n c e r a p i d g r o w t h i n t h e p o s t w a r p e r io d . T h e l i s t h a s b e e n w i d e l y r e p r i n t e d a n d h a s a ls o b e e n t h e s u b j e c t o f c o n s i d e r a b l e d i s c u s s i o n a n d c o n t r o v e r s y . O f c o u r s e e v e r y o n e w o u l d l i k e to h a v e u s p i c k t h e w i n n e r s . A s a m a t t e r o f f a c t , w e w e r e o n t h e v e r g e o f c o n d u c t i n g a p o l l a m o n g 01:c m . & M e t.

r e a d e r s w h e n w e d i s c o v e r e d t h a t o u r f r i e n d l y c o n ­ t e m p o r a r y , T h e R e s e a r c h V i e w p o i n t ( w h i c h i s p u b ­ l i s h e d p e r i o d i c a l l y b y G u s t a v u s J . E s s e l e n . I n c . ) , h a d s t o l e n a m a r c h o n u s . W i t h o n e o f i t s r e c e n t i s s u e s i t i n c l o s e d a b a l l o t a n d a s k e d i t s r e a d e r s t o n a m e “ t h e s i x b u d d i n g i n d u s t r i e s w h i c h w ill , i n t h e n e x t d e c a d e , c o n t r i b u t e m o s t t o t h e p r o g r e s s , e m p l o y m e n t a n d g e n ­ e r a l w e l f a r e o f A m e r i c a . ”

T o p r a n k a m o n g t h e 3 9 i n d u s t r i e s l i s t e d i n t h e r e ­ t u r n e d b a l l o t s w e r e t h e f o l l o w i n g te n , w h i c h a r e lis t e d w i t h t h e i r p e r c e n t a g e s o f t h e t o t a l v o t e : A v i a t i o n , 9 0 : r a d i o a n d e le c t r o n ic s , 9 0 : p l a s t ic s , 8 7 ; h o u s i n g , ’ 5 0 ; a l l o y s a n d m e t a l l u r g y , 4 3 ; f o o d p r o c e s s in g , 4 3 ; s v n - t h e t ic r u b b e r , 3 6 ; c h e m ic a l e n g i n e e r i n g , 3 6 ; s y n t h e t i c d r u g s , 3 0 ; a n d a u t o m o t iv e , 28 . A s t h e e d i t o r w i s e l y n o t e d , c h e m ic a l e n g i n e e r i n g i s n o t a n i n d u s t r y , b u t a p r o f e s s i o n . S i g n i f i c a n t l y , it is o n e t h a t to s o m e d e g r e e s e r v e s a l l o f t h e o t h e r s , b u t p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e s i x i n d u s ­ t r i e s i n t h e l i s t t h a t a r e p r e d o m i n a n t l y c h e m ic a l. H e a l s o n o t e d t h a t a ll, w i t h t h e p o s s i b l e e x c e p t io n o f h o u s -

94

i n g , a r e i n d u s t r i e s t h a t h a v e l o n g d e p e n d e d u p o n r e ­ s e a r c h f o r t h e i r c o n t i n u e d d e v e l o p m e n t .

T h i s g r e a t d e p e n d e n c e o n t h e la b o i - a t o r y a n d t h e p i l o t p l a n t w a s a ls o c o n f i r m e d n o t l o n g a g o w h e n th e e d i t o r s o f P r i n t e r s ’ I n k a s k e d s e v e r a l t h o u s a n d b u s i n e s s m e n t h i s q u e s t i o n “ W h i c h o f t h e f o l l o w i n g w a r t i m e d e v e l o p m e n t s d o y o u t h i n k w i l l p r o d u c e t h e g r e a t e s t c h a n g e i n c o n d i t i o n s u n d e r w h i c h y o u r b u s i ­ n e s s w i l l o p e r a t e d u r i n g t h e p o s t w a r p e r i o d ? ” T h e y w e r e o f f e r e d s e v e n f a c t o r s f r o m w h i c h t o s e le c t t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t . H e r e ’s t h e w a v t h e v o t e t u r n e d o u t m p e r c e n t a g e o f t h e t o t a l : N e w p r o d u c t s , 1 8 ; n e w m a t e r ia ls , 1 7 ; n e w m a n u f a c t u r i n g p r o c e s s e s . 1 7 ; a f t e r - m a t h o f w a r t i m e c o n t r o ls , 1 6 ; n e w c o m p e t it io n , 1 3 ; s h i f t s i n p u r c h a s i n g p o w e r , 1 1 ; a n d s h i f t s i n p o p u ­ la t io n , 6 .

A g a i n i t i s a p p a r e n t t h a t t h e p o s t w a r p e r i o d p u t s it s p r i m a r y c h a l l e n g e u p t o t h o s e w h o a r e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r n e w a n d i m p r o v e d p r o d u c t s a u d p r o c e s s e s . R e ­ s e a r c h is t h e s o u r c e o f i m p r o v e m e n t a n d i m p r o v e m e n t s m a k e t h e j o b s t h a t a r e n e e d e d to c a r r y u s o n t o h i g h e r s t a n d a r d s o f g o o d l i v i n g i n t h e p o s t w a r w o r l d .

FEWER AND BETTER PACKAGES

W h e n t h e t im e c o m e s t o c o n s o l i d a t e o u r w a r g a i n s a n d to c a p it a liz e t h e l e s s o n s w e h a v e l e a r n e d a n d a r e s t i l l l e a r n i n g , t h e r e a r e t h r e e “ S ” f o l d e r s i n t h e c a l l - u p hie. T h e y d e a l w i t h S u b s t i t u t i o n , S t a n d a r d i z a t i o n a n d S i m p l i f i c a t i o n . I n e a c h o f t h e s e t h e r e i s a s u b d i v i s i o n m a r k e d “ P a c k a g e s a n d P a c k a g i n g M a t e r i a l s . ” H e r e , in d e e d , a r e r e c o r d s o f p r o g r e s s t h a t s h o u l d b e c a r e - i u l l y s t u d i e d b y c h e m ic a l c o m p a n i e s i n c o n n e c t io n w i t h p o s t w a r o p e r a t io n s .

W h a t h a s b e e n a c c o m p l i s h e d w i t h t h e u s e o f p a p e r p r o d u c t s i s t r u l y r e m a r k a b l e . D e v e l o p e d a s s u b s t i t u t e s t o i m e ta l, f ib e r o r w o o d c o n t a in e r s , m a n y a r e p r o v i n g a r s u p e r i o r t o t h e o l d e r m a t e r i a l s i n t h e w a r t i m e s e r v ic e s t h e y a r e r e n d e r i n g . T h e s a m e s e v e r e t e s t s h a v e , h o w e v e r , e l i m i n a t e d o t h e r s u b s t i t u t e s w h i c h n e e d n o l o n g e r d e m a n d s e r i o u s c o n s i d e r a t i o n . T h e s e a r e

e s s o n s t h a t i n d u s t r y s h o u l d n o w b e s t u d y i n g .

I t is n o t t o o s o o n t o r e v i v e a n d r e v i s e o u r t h i n k i n g a . 0 U ^ s t a n d a r d i z a t i o n o f p a c k a g i n g a n d p a c k a g e s iz e s. H e r e t h e N a t i o n a l B u r e a u o f S t a n d a r d s is i n a n e m i a e p o s i t i o n t o h e l p a n d i s d e s i r o u s o f p r o m o t i n g s o u n d p o lic ie s t h r o u g h t h e c o o p e r a t i o n o f g o v e r n m e n t a n d i n d u s t r y . I t s r e c e n t L e t t e r C i r c u l a r L C 7 2 6 , b o r n e N o t e s o n S t a n d a r d i z a t i o n ” s u g g e s t s p r a c t i c a l v a j s m w i c h s i m p l i f i c a t i o n h a s b e e n o r c a n b e d e v e l ­ o p e d .

M a n y i n d u s t r i a l e x e c u t iv e s p r o b a b l v d o n o t r e a l iz e W c T c„o m m e r c ia l ^ v a n t a g e t h a t h a s b e e n a c h ie v e d '■ I , w " rc m P s t h r o u g h c o m m o n a c t i o n o n p a c k ­ a g i n g p o lic ie s A l i m i t e d n u m b e r o f s iz e s o f p a c k a g e s o f n a e t r eC ted V * * * * * i t s e l f ' A ^ c a l r e l a t i o n s e le c t io n l n i t i C U St° m e r n e e d I a r g e l y S ^ e s t h e f a c t o r v n J t P r a c t i c a l w o r k i n g c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e w o H - a L I ! “ l n t 0 a c c o u n t- T h e r e s u l t i s a s u m e i ’ J S B i • £ d i s t i n c t i v e t h a t s e r v e c o n ­ s u m e r s n e e d s w i t h o u t b u r d e n o n i n d u s t r v I n f a c t

f r d a "reat ^0Ver-al]

; % f ap Plication of such plans.

E v e n i n d u s t r i a l g r o u p s f o r w h i c h p a c k a g i n g p r a c ­

°CT0BER 19J<S

* C H E M IC A L & M E T A L L U R G I C A L E N G I N E E R I N G

t ic e i s n o t a v i t a l p a r t o f m e r c h a n d i s i n g p o l i c y c a n o f t e n p r o f i t f r o m a s i m p l i f i e d p a c k a g e p r o g r a m . I t t a k e s t im e t o o r g a n i z e s u c h p r o g r a m s , a n d s t i l l l o n g e r e f f e c t iv e ly a n d s i m p l y t o p u t t h e m i n t o effect. I t w i l l h e w o r t h w h i l e , t h e r e f o r e , t o l o o k o v e r t h e s i t u a t i o n i n e a c h i n d u s t r y a n d se e w h e r e i m p r o v e m e n t s o f t h i s s o r t c a n b e s t b e d e v e lo p e d . T r a d e a s s o c i a t i o n g r o u p s a r e p e r h a p s t h e m o s t e f f e c t iv e a g e n c ie s f o r a c t io n . B u t a n i n d i v i d u a l e x e c u t iv e o r a s i n g l e c o m p a n y c a n o f t e n i n i t i a t e s u c h a m o v e m e n t f o r t h e b e n e f it o f h i s o w n e s t a b lis h m e n t , a n d f o r t h e g o o d o f h i s i n d u s t r y , too.

H O W HIGH THE STOCK PILES?

Ab u n d a n t s u p p l i e s o f m o s t s t r a t e g i c m i n e r a l s a r e n o w a v a ila b l e . T h e r e r e m a i n v i r t u a l l y n o s h o r t a g e s o f i m ­ p o r t e d o r “ c r i t i c a l ” r a w m a t e r i a l s o f t h i s t y p e . A t p r e s e n t W a s h i n g t o n i s m o r e c o n c e r n e d a b o u t w h a t to d o w i t h s u r p l u s s t o c k p i l e s o f s o m e o f t h e s e m i n e r a l s t h a n i t i s a b o u t t h e m e e t i n g o f a n y r e a s o n a b l e n e e d s o f t h e f o r e s e e a b le f u t u r e .

T h e s e f a c t s a r e o f i m p o r t a n c e t o a n u m b e r o f d i v i ­ s i o n s o f t h e p r o c e s s i n d u s t r i e s t h a t u s e t h e s e s t r a t e g i c

m i n e r a l s . N o l o n g e r d o t h e y a s p r o c e s s o r s - n e e d to w o r r y a b o u t r a w m a t e r i a l s u p p l i e s f o r n e x t m o n t h o r n e x t y e a r . I t i s a m a t t e r o f m u c h g r e a t e r c o n c e r n t h a t t h e f u t u r e p r i c e s o f t h e s e r a w m a t e r i a l s s h o u l d n o t b e u n d u l y h i g h .

T h e g o v e r n m e n t i s c o n t i n u i n g t h e a c c u m u l a t i o n o f c e r t a i n o f t h e s e s t r a t e g i c m a t e r i a l s u n d e r a b o n u s s y s t e m . T h i s i s a d a n g e r o u s p r a c t i c e w h e n o n e c a n f o r e ­ se e t h a t r e n e w e d i m p o r t o f m u c h c h e a p e r r a w m a t e ­ r i a l m a y b e r e s u m e d i n t h e n o t d i s t a n t f u t u r e . O n e w o n d e r s , f o r e x a m p le , w h e t h e r c h e m i c a l e n g i n e e r s w i l l h a v e t o p a y e x c e s s iv e l y f o r a l l o y s t e e l f o r y e a r s to e o m e m e r e l y b e c a u s e t h e g o v e r n m e n t is c o n t i n u i n g t o s u b ­ s i d i z e t h e m i n i n g o f s u b m a r g i n a l d e p o s i t s o f c e r t a i n m i n e r a l s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .

M a n y o f t h e d i v i s i o n s o f ■ t h e c h e m ic a l i n d u s t r y w h i c h p r o c e s s s c a r c e m i n e r a l s c a n w e l l s t u d y t h e s e b a s ic q u e s t i o n s a n d m a k e c l e a r t o o ffic ia l W a s h i n g t o n t h e l o n g t e r m m e a n i n g o f p r e s e n t e v e n t s . N o o n e w i s h e s t o t a k e a c h a n c e o n r e n e w e d s c a r c i t y . B u t i t is a ls o i m p o r t a n t t h a t w e a v o i d e x c e s s iv e h i g h - c o s t s t o c k ­ p i l e s t h a t w i l l l a t e r p r o v e a n e e d le s s b u r d e n d u r i n g p o s t w a r r e a d j u s t m e n t .

W A S H I N G T O N H I G H L I G H T S

N A T IO N A L B O S T E R re v ie w o f p r o fe s ­ s io n a l d e fe rm e n t cases is b e in g h a n d i­

c a p p e d b y a n e w W M C p o lic y . U n d e r the c h a n g e d p la n o f a ctio n these cases m u s t be h a n d le d t h r o u g h the U n it e d St a t e s E m p lo y m e n t S e rv ic e . I t n o w becom es n e c e ss a ry th a t each e m p lo y e r o f ch e m ists a n d e n g in e e rs s h o u ld e d u ­ cate a s f a r a s p o s s ib le the lo c a l e xe cu­

tiv e s o f U S E S . T h e le a d e rs o f tha t im p o r t a n t se rv ic e h a v e so fe w cases in v o lv in g p r o fe s s io n a l m e n tha t w it h ­ o u t the g u id a n c e o f in d u s t r ia l e xe cu­

tiv e s th e y m a y m a k e s e rio u s e r r o r s in th e ir re c o m m e n d a tio n s r e g a r d in g de­

ferm en ts.

D E C E N T R A L IZ A T IO N o f W P B is b e in g p la n n e d . C h a ir m a n D o n a ld N e ls o n w ill be d e lig h te d to h a v e s u g g e s t io n s r e g a r d in g the t r a n s fe r o u t o f W a s h ­ in g to n o f s u c h u n it s as c a n better se rv e the in d u s t r y f r o m one o f the m a n y field offices. N o u p h e a v a l is p la n n e d , fo r t u n a t e ly ; b u t s te a d y p r o g r e s s is to be m a d e a s o p p o r t u n it y d e v e lo p s f o r p u t t in g t h is g o v e r n m e n t a g e n c y a s n e a r a s p o s sib le to the in d u s t r ie s w ith w h ich it w o rk s.

W H IS K E Y m a n u f a c t u r e w ill n o t be r e ­ su m e d i f p la n s o f W P B a n d W a r P o o d A d m in is t r a t io n c o n tin u e a s n o te d d u r ­ i n g e a r ly O ctobe r. F o o d officials o b ­ je ct to u s in g g r a in f o r a lc o h o lic b e v e r­

a g e s o f t h is s o rt w h e n there is a s e r i­

o u s p r o s p e c t iv e s h o r ta g e o f fo o d stu ffs.

W P B does n o t d a re to a llo w w h is k e y c a p a c it y to be u se d e xc e p t f o r in d u s ­

t r ia l alcohol. I t re a liz e s tha t the de­

m a n d f o r a lc o h o l w it h w h ic h to m a k e s y n t h e tic r u b b e r n e x t y e a r w ill be m u c h g r e a te r t h a n m o st e stim a te s h a v e i n ­ d ica te d h ith e rto . T h u s it is no t s u r ­ p r i s i n g th a t the h a r d - liq u o r in d u s t r y is fo rc e d to re m a in in the chem ical b u sin e ss.

*

P O O L E D H A U L A G E b y p r iv a t e m o t o r c a r r ie r s o fte n re q u ir e s p a y m e n t s f r o m on e c a r r ie r g r o u p to a n o t h e r in o rd e r to a d j u s t the d iffe re nce s in cost o f the d e liv e r y b u s in e s s d o n e f o r the pool.

I t is n o w r u le d o ffic ia lly th a t su c h p a y ­ m e n ts a re n o t s u b je c t to the F e d e r a l t r a n s p o r t a t io n t a x o f 3 p ercent. T h a t t a x is collected b y U n c le S a m on the in d iv id u a l sh ip m e n ts. I t is fo rt u n a t e f o r s h ip p e r s o f ch e m ic a ls th a t a d o u b le t a x b u rd e n does n o t develop t h r o u g h a se co n d c h a rg e w h en s u c h in t e r c o m p a n y settle m en ts a re made.

C O M M O N C IT IZ E N S H IP w it h the citize n s o f the B r i t i s h E m p i r e w a s p ro p o se d b y W in s t o n C h u r c h ill a t H a r v a r d U n i ­ v e r s it y w ith n o c a s u a l p u rp o s e , d e ­ s p it e the o ff-h a n d n a t u re o f h is re fe r­

ence. M o s t A m e r ic a n s w ill -welcome c o n tin u e d close c o o p e ra tio n w ith the o th e r E n g l i s h s p e a k in g p e o p le s o f the w o rld . W e w ill k n o w m u c h m o re a b o u t them a n d be a b le to w o r k w it h them m u c h m o re c lo se ly in the f u t u r e th a n in the p a st. B u t A m e r ic a n s m i l w a n t to k n o w w h e th e r o r n o t c o m m o n c it i­

z e n s h ip , w h ic h we m ig h t w elcom e, w ill n e c e ss a r ily m e a n a c o m p le te ly fre e -

tra d e sta tu s f o r go o d s. T h a t m ig h t do m u c h to p u ll d o w n the s t a n d a r d o f li v i n g in the U n it e d S t a t e s w it h o u t c o r r e s p o n d in g g o o d a b ro a d . A m e r ic a n ch em ical e n te rp r is e h a s m u c h a t sta k e in these m a tte rs. I t w ill h a v e to do a lo t o f s e rio u s t h in k in g a n d p la n n in g in o rd e r tha t A m e r ic a n w e ll-b e in g ca n be pro te cte d w it h o u t p r o m o t in g a n a r ­ row', selfish in d u s t r ia l p o lic y a t hom e.

W O M E N 'S W A G E S s h o u ld e q u a l th o se f o r m en r e n d e r in g the sa m e se rvice s.

T h a t at least, is n o w the a v o w e d p o lic y f o r w h ic h C .I. O . in te n d s to fig h t in the p o stw 'a r p e rio d . P r e s id e n t P h il i p M u r r a y h a s a n n o u n c e d the in t e n tio n o f h is o r g a n iz a t io n to p r e s s f u r t h e r w it h th is p h ilo s o p h y f o r w id e r e m p lo y m e n t o f v 'o m e n in jo b s f o r m e r l y h e ld e x­

c lu s iv e ly b y m en. T h e p ro c e s s in d u s ­ trie s p r o b a b ly w ill no t h a v e a s m a n y w om e n w o r k in g f o r them in peace tim e s a s now', but, lo o k in g ahead, w e m u s t a n t ic ip a t e s u c h p ro b le m s a n d be p r e ­ p a r e d to so lv e them .

M O L A S S E S is a g a in to be s u p p lie d f o r a lco h o l m a n u f a c t u r e o n the E a s t e r n S e a b o a rd . T h is is n e c e ss a r y to s a v e g r a in f o r fo o d . I t re p re se n t s o n e o f the a d v a n t a g e s o f g r e a t e r c o n tr o l o v e r the sea a n d g r e a te r a v a ila b le t o n n a g e s p a c e in t a n k e rs. F o r t u n a t e ly , th is m o la s s e s m o v e m e n t w ill n o t in t e rfe re w it h s u g a r p r o d u c t io n in C u b a a n d P u e r t o R i c o ; n o r w ill it be a llo w e d to in t e r fe re w it h the d e v e lo p m e n t o f c h e m ic a ls f r o m s u r p l u s m o la s s e s there.

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f ^ D A T S a f t e r t h e f i f t h b i e n n i a l A w a r d f o r C h e m i c a l E n g i n e e r i n g A c h i e v e m e n t w a s o f f i c i a l l y p r e s e n t e d o n D e ­ c e m b e r 2 , 1 9 4 1 , A m e r i c a w a s p l u n g e d in t o t h i s g r e a t g l o b a l w a r . S i n c e t h e n h e r e v e r y r e s o u r c e h a s b e e n d e d i c a t e d t o t h e p r i m a r y t a s k o f d e f e a t i n g t h e e n e m y f o r c e s t h a t c h a l ­ l e n g e d h e r f u t u r e a s a n a t i o n o f f r e e m e n . B e ­ c a u s e o f w a r t i m e r e s t r i c t i o n s , t h e s t o r y o f a l l t h a t h a s b e e n a c c o m p l i s h e d b y A m e r i c a n i n ­ d u s t r y d u r i n g t h e p a s t t w o t r y i n g y e a r s c a n n o t y e t b e t o ld , h u t t h e r e i s o n e v i t a l c o n t r i b u t i o n w h i c h i s f a s t a p p r o a c h i n g c o m p l e t i o n a n d f o r w h i c h a g r a t e f u l c o u n t r y h a s n o t b e e n s l o w to e x p r e s s it s a p p r e c i a t i o n . I r e f e r to t h e b u i l d i n g o f a g r e a t s y n t h e t i c r u b b e r i n d u s t r y — A m e r ­ i c a ’s a n s w e r t o e n e m y c o n t r o l o f t h e c h i e f n a t u r a l s o u r c e s o f a m a t e r i a l s o e s s e n t i a l to t h e w i n n i n g o f t h e w a r a n d t h e p r e s e r v a t i o n o f o u r n a t i o n a l e c o n o m y .

4 h e s y n t h e t i c r u b b e r p r o g r a m h a s b e e n a p t l y c a l l e d “ t h e b i g g e s t j o b o f c h e m i c a l e n g i ­ n e e r i n g i n t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e w o r l d . ” T o h a v e c r o w d e d i t i n t o t h e e x t r a o r d i n a r i l y t i g h t s i t u ­ a t i o n o f t h e p a s t 2 4 m o n t h s w i t h r e s p e c t t o c o n s t r u c t i o n m a t e r i a l s , m a n p o w e r a n d t r a n s -

p o r t a t i o n c a l l e d f o r a v i r t u a l m i r a c l e o n t h e p a r t o f t h e i n d u s t r y a n d p r o f e s s i o n . I t h a s b e e n p o s s i b l e o n l y b e c a u s e o f t h e p a t r i o t i c p o o i n g o f t e c h n i c a l k n o w l e d g e a n d r e s o u r c e s , o f l a b o r a t o r y a n d p l a n t f a c i l i t i e s , o f m a n a g e ­ m e n t , r e s e a r c h a n d e n g i n e e r i n g .

T h i s g r e a t g r o u p e f f o r t s o f u l l y m e e t s t h e o b j e c t i v e s f o r w h i c h t h e A w a r d f o r C h e m i c a l i o f o n e f m g A c l l i e v e m e n t w a s e s t a b l i s h e d i n 1 9 4 3 t h a t t h e C o m m i t t e e h a s u n a n i m o u s l y a g r e e d t o p r e s e n t t h e 1 9 4 3 a w a r d to t h e e n t i r e A m e r i c a n S y n t h e t i c R u b b e r I n d u s t r y . T h e e d i t o r s o f C h e m i c a l & M e t a l l u r g i c a l E n g i ­ n e e r i n g a r e p l e a s e d t o j o i n w i t h t h e s e l e a d e r s o f c h e m i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g e d u c a t i o n i n s p o n s o r ­ i n g o n b e h a l f o f t h e c h e m i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g p i o f e s s i o n , t h i s a w a r d t o t h e m a n y c o r p o r a t e g i o u p s t h a t h a v e c a r r i e d t h e m a j o r r e s p o n s i - o ' 0 1 r^ ie d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e A m e r i c a n o y n t h e t i c R u b b e r I n d u s t r y .

T h e p r i m a r y p u r p o s e o f t h i s 1 9 4 3 a w a r d w i l l b e to s i g n a l i z e t h e a c h i e v e m e n t s o f A m e r f c a n i n d u s t r y — p a r t i c u l a r l y t h o s e r u b b e r , c h e m i c a l a n d p e t r o l e u m c o m p a n i e s t h a t h a v e h u n t a n d o p e r a t e d t h e b u t a d i e n e , s t y r e n e c o p o l y m e r , b u t y l , n e o p r e n e a n d t h i o k o l p l a n t s

C O M M I T T E E

Professor ALFRED H. WHITE, C h a irm a n Professor Emeritus, Deportment of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.

SIDNEY D. KIRKPATRICK, Secretary

Editor, Chemical & Metallurgical Engineering, N ew York, N. Y.

CHARLES S. KEEVIL, Bucknell University, lewisburg, Pa.

WILLIAM N. LACEY, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif.

WARREN L. McCABE, Carnegie institute of Technology, Pittsburgh, Pa.

CARL F, PRUTTON, Case School of Applied Science, Cleveland, Ohio

REUBEN S. TOUR, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio

CHARLES HECKER, Clarkson College of Technology, Potsdam, N. Y.

ARTHUR W . HIXSON, Columbia University New York, N. Y.

ARTHUR H. RADASCH, Cooper Union, New York, N. Y.

FRED H. RHODES, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y.

ALLAN P. COLBURN, University of Delaware Newark, Del.

CHARLES G DUNCOMBE, University of Detroit, Detroit, Mich.

LEON D. STRATTON, Drexei Institute of Technology, Philadelphia, Pa.

WAITER H. BEISLER, University of Florida Gainsville, Fla.

JESSE W. MASON, Georgia School of Technology, Atlanta, Ga.

n e e r i n g a c h i e v e m e n t

HARRY McCORMACK, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, III;

DONALD B. KEYES, University of Illinois, Urbana, III.

ORLAND R. SWEENEY, Iowa Stole College, Ames, la.

W. L. FAITH, State University of Iowa, Iowa City, la.

PAUL H. EMMETT, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.

HARVEY A. NEVILLE, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa.

PAUL M . HORTON, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, La.

ROBERT C. ERNST, University of Louisville, Louisville, Ky.

WILBERT J. HUFF, University of Maryland, College Park, Md.

f o r CHEMICAL ENGINEERING ACHIEVEMENT

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m t h e G o v e r n m e n t ’s s y n t h e t i c r u b b e r p r o g r a m . . e a t a n d p e r h a p s e q u a l c r e d i t s h o u l d h e g i v e n t o t h o s e c o n c e r n s t h a t h a v e c o n t r i b u t e d m o s t i m p o r t a n t l y t o t h e p r o c e s s e n g i n e e r i n g a n d d e s i g n o f t h e s e p l a n t s . I n c l u d e d , t o o , a r e t h e c o m p a n i e s t h a t h a v e c o n s t r u c t e d n e w o r e x p a n d e d f a c i l i t i e s f o r p r o d u c i n g e s s e n t i a l c h e m i c a l s , c a t a l y s t s a n d f e e d s t o c k s w i t h o u t w h i c h t h e p r o g r a m w o u l d h a v e f a i l e d . A n d f i n a l l y , r e c o g n i t i o n i s d u e t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n c o m p a n i e s a n d t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r s o f c h e m i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g a n d p r o c e s s c o n t r o l e q u i p m e n t w h o s e j o i n t c o n t r i b u t i o n s w e r e e s s e n t i a l to t h e s u c c e s s o f t h e e n t i r e p r o j e c t .

T o l i s t b y n a m e e a c h o f t h e c o m p a n i e s t h a t b e l o n g i n o n e o r m o r e o f t h e f o r e g o i n g g r o u p s i s i n d e e d a n h e r c u l e a n t a s k a n d o n e t h a t l i e s b e y o n d e v e n t h e c o m b i n e d k n o w l e d g e a n d e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e C o m m i t t e e o f A w a r d . F o r - t n n a t e l y , h o w e v e r , t h e a b l e s t a f f s o f t h e O f f ic e o f t h e R u b b e r D i r e c t o r a n d t h e R u b b e r R e ­ s e r v e C o m p a n y a r e a v a i l a b l e f o r o u r c o n s u l t a -

l o n a n d w i t h t h e i r c o o p e r a t i o n a n d s u p p o r t , t h e l i s t i s b e i n g c o m p i l e d f o r p u b l i c a t i o n i n o u r N o v e m b e r i s s u e . A t t h a t t i m e C h e m . &

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t i a t e d a r t i c l e a n d r e p o r t , a m o r e d e t a i l e d e x p l a n a t i o n o f t h e m a n n e r i n w h i c h t h e s e i n ­ d u s t r i e s h a v e s h a r e d t h e i r e n g i n e e r i n g a n d m a t e r i a l r e s o u r c e s i n b u i l d i n g t h e A m e r i c a n S y n t h e t i c R u b b e r I n d u s t r y .

R e s p e c t f u l l y s u b m i t t e d ,

Si d n e y D . K i r k p a t r i c k, S e c r e t a r y C o m m i t t e e o f A w a r d

N O T E . I h e 1 9 4 3 A w a r d f o r C h e m i c a l E n ­ g i n e e r i n g A c h i e v e m e n t w i l l b e a p p r o p r i a t e l y p r e s e n t e d t o t h e A m e r i c a n S y n t h e t i c R u b b e r I n d u s t r y a t a s u b s c r i p t i o n d i n n e r to b e h e l d i n t h e g r a n d b a l l r o o m o f t h e W a l d o r f - A s t o r i a H o t e l i n N e w Y o r k C i t y o n W e d n e s d a y , D e ­ c e m b e r 8 , 1 9 4 3 , i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e 1 9 t h E x p o s i t i o n o f C h e m i c a l I n d u s t r i e s . M e m b e r s o f t h e c h e m i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g p r o f e s s i o n a n d o t h e r s i n t e r e s t e d i n c e l e b r a t i n g t h i s a c h i e v e ­ m e n t o f A m e r i c a n i n d u s t r y a r e c o r d i a l l y i n ­ v i t e d t o j o i n u s o n t h i s o c c a s i o n . F o r f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n , a d d r e s s M . A . W i l l i a m s o n, p u b ­ l i s h e r , C h e m i c a l & M e t a l l u r g i c a l E n g i n e e r i n g 3 3 0 W . 4 2 n d S t . , N e w Y o r k , 1 8 , N . Y .

WALTER G. W HITMAN, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass

GEORGE GRANGER BROWN, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.

CHARLES A. M A N N , University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn.

JAMES R. LORAH, University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo.

HENRY J. MASSON, New York University, New York, N. Y.

CHESTER P. BAKER, Northeastern University, Boston, Mass.

JAMES R WITHROW, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

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DONALD S. CRYDER, Pennsylvania State College, State College, Pa.

MELVIN C. MOL5TAD, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.

JAMES COULL, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa.

DONALD F. OTHMER, Polytechnic institute of Brooklyn, Brooklyn, N. Y.

JOSEPH C. ELGIN, Princeton University, Princeton, N. J.

JOHN L. BRAY, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.

LEWIS S. COONLEY, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N. Y.

ARTHUR J. HARTSOOK, The Rice Institute, Houston, Tex.

HOWARD S. GARDNER, University of Rochester, Rochester, N. Y.

CHARLES D. LUKE, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N. Y.

ROBERT M . BOARTS, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn.

EUGENE P. SCHOCH, University of Texas, Austin, Tex.

J. HENRY RUSHTON, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.

FRANK C. VILBRANDT, Virginia Polytechnic institute, Blacksburg, Va.

HENRY K. BENSON, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash.

OLAF A. HOUGEN, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.

ERNEST D. WILSON, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Mass.

BARNETT F. DODGE, Yale University, N ew Haven, Conn.

M A G N E S I U M

Production at the World’s Largest Plant

R O B E R T H . R A M S E Y Assistant Editor, Engineering & Mining Journal

. C hem. & M e t I N T E R P R E T A T I O N .

W e h a v e a ll h e a rd rum ors a n d stories ab o u t th at p la n t out in N e v ad a—

Basic M agnesium , Inc. Some h a v e b ee n exag g eratio n s w hile others, soun d in g fan tastic, h a v e b e e n u n d erstatem en ts. In order to get the true story for its re a d e rs, our sister publication. Engineering and Mining Journal, sen t Mr. R am sey out to Las V egas la st M ay. His acco u n t of construction a n d o p eratio n s a t BMI a p p e a re d in the O ctober issu e of E.&M. /., pp. 61-67. The follow ing description is la rg e ly a b stra c te d from Mr. R am sey 's a rtic le .—

Editors.

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o u t h e r n N e v a d a , at first g la n c e a p p e a r s to be p o p u la t e d a t p r e s ­ ent la r g e ly b y so ld ie rs, t a r o dealers, a n d e m p lo y e e s o f B a s ie M a g n e s iu m , In c . I n fac t, B M I , a s it is ca lle d d o w n there, tak e s u p m o re space, i s the s u b ­ ject o f m o re g o s s ip , h a s cost m ore m o n e y, a n d a c tu a lly t u r n s o u t m ore m etal tha n a n y o t h e r on e m a g n e s iu m p la n t in the w orld.

E v e r y t h i n g a b o u t B M I is colossal.

I t use s a ll the p e a t m o s s C a n a d a can s u p p ly , a ll the p o w e r B o u ld e r D a m can sp a re , a ll the m e n it c a n get, a ll the e lectrica l e q u ip m e n t thre e o f o u r la rg e st c o m p a n ie s c o u ld m a n u fa c t u re , a n d it is s till g r o w in g , a lth o u g h B M I w a s re p o rt e d i n A u g u s t to be o p e r a t ­ i n g a t a b o u t 1 0 0 p e rc e n t o f c a p a c ity . T o g iv e y o u a n id e a o f w h a t th is 100 p e rce n t m e an s, B M I a t f u l l c a p a c ity p ro d u c e s o v e r tw ice a s m u c h v o lu m e o f m etal, m e a su re d i n c u b ic feet, as on e o f o u r la r g e r o p e n -p it c o p p e r m ines.

I t m u st be adm itted, ho w ever, tha t a lth o u g h b o th C a n a d a a n d th e U n it e d S t a t e s p r o d u c e d so m e m a g n e s iu m m e tal a s f a r b a c k a s 191S, G e r m a n y h a s u n t il re c e n tly led in m a g n e s iu m p ro d u c t io n a n d te ch n o lo g y, ch iefly becau se m a g ­ n e siu m is on e o f the v e r y fe w m e tals G e r m a n y p o sse sse s w it h in h e r b o rd e rs.

A l l o y s o f m a g n e s iu m w ere u se d b y the G e r m a n s in the first W o r l d W a r a n d w e re m a n u fa c t u r e d a ft e r w a r d b y I. G . F a r h c n iu d n s f r ie u n d e r the trad e n a m e o f E le k t r o n a llo y s, a c ir c u m ­ sta nce to w h ic h B a s i c M a g n e s iu m , Inc., ow e s its existence.

M a j o r C . J . P . B a ll, a B r i t i s h officer, becam e in te re ste d i n these a llo y s d u r ­ i n g the w a r, a n d f o r y e a r s th e re a fte r h e w o r k e d t o w a r d f o r m in g a c o m p a n y

to p ro d u c e them in E n g la n d . I n 1 9 3 6 he w a s su c c e ssfu l a n d M a g n e s iu m E l e k ­ tron, Ltd ., w a s form ed, a c o m p a n y w h ic h w a s able to p u rc h a s e G e rm a n pa te n t in fo r m a t io n a n d w h ic h ha d the benefit o f G e rm a n expe rie nce in m a g ­ n e siu m p ro d u c tio n . A t p re se n t the b ig M E L p la n t n e a r M a n c h e st e r a c­

c o u n ts f o r a b ou t SO p ercen t o f E n g ­ lish m a g n e siu m p ro d u ctio n .

P L A N T H IS T O R Y

B a s ic M a g n e s iu m , Inc., w a s o r ig in ­ a lly the c o rp o ra te re su lt o f a u n io n betw een M a g n e s iu m E le k t r o n , Ltd., w h o w a s to f u r n is h the technical k n o w ­ ho w , a n d B a s ic R e fra c to rie s, In c ., a C le v e la n d , O h io , firm headed b y H o w ­ a r d P . E e lls , w h o w a s to s u p p l y the r a w m a te ria l a n d dire ct the en te r­

p rise . D e fe n se P la n t C o rp . financed the deal w h e re b y a m a gn e site d e p o sit in G a b b s V a lle y . N e va d a , ow n ed b y B a s ic R e fra c to rie s , Inc., w o u ld be de­

v e lo p e d , a n d a re d u c tio n p la n t erected o n a site c o n v e n ie n t to B o u ld e r D a m p o w e r. T h e con tract w a s s ig n e d on A u g . 13. 1 9 4 1 : a c re w o f m en w ent in to th e desert to cut the sa g e b ru sh o il the p r o p o s e d p la n t s ite in Se p te m ­ b e r : fo u n d a t io n s w ere b e in g p o u re d in N o v e m lie r ; a n d in A u g u s t . 1942, m a g n e s iu m in g o t s w ere b e in g p r o ­ duced. C o n s t ru c t io n w o r k w a s la rg e ly h a n d le d b y M c N e i l C o n s t ru c tio n Co.

o f L o s A n g e le s , a lth o u g h severa l o th e r firm s a ssiste d i n s e t tin g u p ho uses, p ip e lin es, a n d o th e r jobs.

P la n t d e s ig n w a s dire cted b y tw o M E L t e c h n ic ia n s : D r . S . J. F le tc h e r, c h ie f chem ist, a n d J . R . C h a rle s, c h ie f e n gin eer, o f the B r i t i s h c o m p a n y . A c c o m p a n ie d b y so m e 3 ,0 0 0 d r a w in g s a n d s p e c ific a tio n sheets, these tw o m en

le ft E n g l a n d in M a y , 1941, o n a s h ip w h ic h w as to rp e d o e d a n d s u n k in M i d - A t la n t ic . F le t c h e r a n d C h a r le s w ere p ic k e d u p b y o th e r s h ip s in the c o n ­ v o y , b u t the d r a w in g s w e re lost. U p o n a r r iv a l in C le v e la n d o n J u n e 3, they cable d to E n g l a n d f o r m ic ro film c o p ie s o f the e n tire set, the first o f w h ic h a r r iv e d b y sp e c ia l b o m b e r on J u n e 7.

A t first, C h a r le s a n d F le t c h e r w e re a sk e d to d e sig n a p la n t to p ro d u c e a b o u t 4 5 to n s d a ily o f m a g n e siu m , b u t n o s o o n e r h a d th e y co m p le te d th is de­

s ig n th a n th e y w ere a sk e d to m ore th a n t rip le th is o u tp u t. N a t u r a l l y th is in ­ v o lv e d m o re t h a n m u l t ip l y in g e v e ry ­ t h in g b y three a n d the r e su lt w a s a n e n o rm o u s a m o u n t o f w o r k h a n d le d b y these tw o m e n u n d e r the g re a te st p o s ­ sib le p re ssu re . I n thre e m o n t h s these m e n d id a jo b th a t m ig h t r e a s o n a b ly h a v e o c c u p ie d a y e a r in o r d in a r y tim es.

F o l l o w in g the first p r o d u c t io n o f m a g n e s iu m i n A u g u s t , 1942, ho w ever, the output, o f m e ta l d id n o t com e u p to e xp e cta tio n s. A lt h o u g h the s t o r y o f w h a t a c t u a lly w e n t o n d u r in g B M I ’s e a r ly o p e r a t io n s w o u ld u n d o u b t ­ e d ly he a m o st in t e r e s t in g one, it h a s n e v e r been c o m p le te ly to ld a n d w ill no t be told here. W h a t e v e r the cause, the effect w a s th a t o n O ct. 26, 1942, A n a c o n d a C o p p e r M i n i n g Co., at the in v it a t io n o f g o v e r n m e n t a l a g e n cie s a ssu m e d d ire c tio n o f B M I b y b u y in g

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M g ( M etal) R e f i n i n g

p l a n t I M g t o I s t o r a g e

.

OCTOBER 19¡3 •

C H E M IC A L & M E T A L L U R G IC A L E N G I N E E R I N G

- the c o n tro llin g ' in te re st h e ld b y B a s ie R e fra c to rie s , In c . F . 0 . C a s e i s n o w g e n e r a l m a n a g e r, H . G. S a tte rth w a ite is g e n e r a l s u p e rin te n d e n t, V . E . M a c - D o n e ll i s c h ie f e n gin eer, a ll o f them A n a c o n d a m en. T h e sta tu s o f M a g ­ n e s iu m E le k t r o n L td . w a s no t affected b y t h is c h a n g e a n d C h a rle s a n d F le t c h e r re m a in a t the p la n t in their f o r m e r ca pacities.

B M I h a s g r o w n so h u g e ly in the la s t y e a r a n d is even n o w c h a n g in g in so m a n y d e ta ils -that a d e s c r ip tio n o f it is a f o rm id a b le task. P r o b a b ly the best p la c e to s t a rt is at the m ine, som e 3 0 0 m ile s n o rt h o f the re d u c tio n p la n t, located f a r u p o n the sid e o f on e o f those v a s t N e v a d a v a lle y s.

H e re , 31 m ile s f r o m the r a ilr o a d a n d 1 ,1 0 0 m ile s b y r a i l f r o m the re d u c tio n p la n t ,— is a c o n c e n tra tio n o f a lm o st p u r e m a g n e site (m a g n e s iu m c a rb o n ­ ate).

O r e se n t to the m ill m u s t meet cer­

t a in re q u ire m e n ts o f c o m p o sitio n . I t m u st c o n ta in n o t m o re th a n 4 p ercen t in s o lu b le m a te ria l, 4.5 p e rc e n t C a O , o r 2 p e rc e n t F e O a n d A1,0„. M g O c o n te n t s h o u ld be a b o u t 4 0 percent.

T h e ca lcin e d m a g n e site is c a rr ie d to the r a ilr o a d in t r u c k s w ith s e m i-tra il­

ers. T h e se h a v e s p e c ia lly -d e s ig n e d b o d ie s m a d e in the f o r m o f bottom d is c h a r g e h o p p e rs, the g a te s o f w h ich a re m a d e to fit the u n lo a d in g b in s at b o th the r a ilr o a d a n d the re d u c tio n p la n t. A t p re se n t the ca lcin e s tra v e l 3 1 m ile s b y tru c k , then 1,10 0 m ile s b y r a il to re ach (lie p la n t ; b u t a s s o o n a s sufficien t t ru c k s a re a va ilab le , the lo n g ra il h a u l w ill be elim ina te d, a n d c a l­

c in e s w ill be tru c k e d the 3 0 0 m ile s d ire c t ly to the p la n t.

T h e re is so m u c h g o in g o n in the m ile -lo n g beehive o f B M I ’s m a in re ­ d u c tio n p la n t, a n d it a ll s p r a n g ou t o f the desert so fast, tha t one c a n ’t a v o id a f e e lin g o f u n r e a lit y a s he is s h o w n t h ro u g h the h u g e b u ild in g s . I n fact, the s tr u c t u r e s them se lve s h e ig h te n th is effect, f o r th e y w ere d e sig n e d on m o d e rn istic lin e s t o ta lly u n lik e a n y ­ t h in g ever b e fo re seen in a n o r d in a r y m in in g ca m p . T h e c o m p a r is o n h a s been o v e rw o rk e d b y t h is time, b u t the im p r e s s io n is in e sc a p a b le th a t these b lo c ky, b ro a d sh o u ld e re d b u ild in g s m u st h a v e been erected o v e r n ig h t b y a cre w o f g e n ie s o f the s o r t w h o u se d to h a n d le A l a d d i n ’s c o n s tr u c t io n jo b s.

H e g o t re s u lt s b y r u b b in g a l a m p ; we g o t B M I b y w r it in g a ch e ck f o r a h u n d r e d m illio n d o lla rs. P e r s o n a lly , I d o n ’t believe in eith e r on e o f these o p e ra tio n s, b u t the r e a lit y o f B M I is n e ve rth e le ss in c o n tro v e rtib le .

S e q u e n c e o f o p e r a t io n s in B M I ’s m a in re d u c tio n p la n t is a s f o llo w s :

( 1 ) c a lc in e d m a gn e site , m ix e d w ith c o a l a n d p e a t a n d s u it a b ly p re p a r e d ,

C H E M I C A L & M E T A L L U R G I C A L

is heated in f u r n a c e s (c alle d c h lo r in a l- o r s ) in a n a tm o sp h e re o f c h lo r in e ; (2 ) the a n h y d r o u s M g C L fo rm e d in the e h lo r in a to r s is t r a n s fe r r e d to elec­

t ro ly t ic cells w h e re in m olten m a g n e ­ s iu m collects in a p o o l o n the electro­

ly t e ’s 's u r f a c e ; ( 3 ) d ip p e d o u t o f the cell b y h a n d , the m o lte n m a g n e s iu m is then re fin ed a n d ca st in to bars. I n a d d it io n to these m a in u n its, the p r e p a ­ r a tio n p la n t, the e h lo rin a to rs, the cell houses, a n d the r e f in in g p la n t , the co m ­ p a n y a ls o o p e ra te s a c h lo rin e p la n t, a flu x p r e p a r a t io n p la n t, a c a u stic so d a p la n t , a b rin e p la n t, a n d a M g C l s liq u o r p r e p a r a t io n p la n t, m ost o f w h ic h a re a s la r g e a s a n y s im ila r u n it s o p e r a t in g elsewhere.

U p o n a r r iv a l a t the re d u c tio n w o rk s, co n ce n tra te s a re d u m p e d f r o m either t r u c k o r b o x c a r in t o h o p p e r s f r o m w h ic h e le v a to rs c a r r y the m a te ria l in to one o f five 60-ft. silo s, each o f w h ich h o ld s a b o u t 5,000 tons. F o r u se in the B M I p ro c e s s these con ce ntra tes m u s t c o n ta in le ss t h a n . 1 .5 p ercen t C a O , 1 p e rc e n t in so lu b le m atter, a n d 0.5 p e rc e n t each o f F e O a n d A l„ O a.

N o t a ll the c o n ce n tra te need be ca l­

c in e d m a gn e site , ho w ever. U p to 75 p e rc e n t o f th e c o n ce n tra te u se d can be th e ca rb o n a te , b u t o r d in a r ily no t th is m u c h c a rb o n a te is used, a n d m a g ­ n e siu m o x id e m a k e s u p the g re a te r p a r t o f the r a w m a te ria l.

T h e o th e r p r i m a r y c o n stitu e n ts o f

the feed to the re d u c tio n p la n t a re p e a t m o s s f r o m C a n a d a , c o a l f r o m U ta h , a n d c e rta in s a lt s o f u n sp e c ifie d com ­ p o s it io n w h ic h a s s is t in the su b se ­ q u e n t re a c tio n s. C o a l acts a s re d u c ­ i n g a g e n t a n d p e a t m a k e s the m ix t u r e p o r o u s . In c id e n t a lly B M I h a s a b so r b e d a s u b s t a n t ia l p a r t o f C a n ­ a d a ’s o u t p u t o f p e a t a n d w ill c o n ­ t in u e to do so u n t il c u r r e n t e x p e r i­

m e n ts lo o k in g t o w a rd the e lim in a tio n o f p e a t a s a n e c e s s a r y c o n stitu e n t a re s u c c e ssfu l. F o r u se in the p ro ce ss, the p e a t is sh re d d e d in a h a m m e rm ill to m in u s 8 m esh. T h e co a l a n d the sa lts a re g r o u n d in R a y m o n d p u l v e r ­ iz e rs to m in u s 2 0 0 m esh, a n d a ll't h r e e in g re d ie n t s a re then sto re d in s m a ll con crete silos.

P R O P O R T IO N IN G P L A N T T h e se five m a t e r ia ls : m a g n e sia , m a g ­ nesite, peat, coal, a n d salts, a re r e ­ m o v e d a s needed b y belt c o n v e y o rs to the p r o p o r t io n in g p la n t . H e r e each is w e ig h e d ou t o f its re sp e c tiv e b in b y a J e ffre y fe e d e r a n d se n t b y sc re w c o n ­ v e y o r to on e o f se v e ra l r o t a r y m ix e rs.

F r o m these m ix e r s the c h a r g e i s fe d c o n t in u o u s ly to s e v e ra l p u g m ills in w h ic h c o n ce n tra te d m a g n e s iu m c h lo rid e s o lu tio n is m ix e d w ith the d r y m a ss u n t il a th ic k d o u g h h a s been p ro d u c e d . T h i s m a g n e s iu m c h lo r id e s o lu t io n is ob ta in e d b y m i x i n g c a lc in e d m a g n e s ite w ith H C 1 o b ta in e d f r o m the c h lo ri-

M a gn esium ingots, the finished product, are stacked and stored aw aiting shipment