224 The Ohio Journal of Science [Vol. XVI, No. 6, 



matically step aside when normal conditions resume. It is 

 fundamental industrial chemical intelligence that a procedure 

 which is ridiculous under some conditions may be a God-send 

 under others. We do not expect every change installed to be 

 really normal progress for it will not be so in the ordinary 

 sense at least. On the other hand, it would be wrong also to 

 say that the mushroom plants producing munitions are not 

 signs of progress. They unquestionably are not such signs 

 in as far as they are temporary. They do not measure true 

 expansion in their respective fields. He would be a novice 

 or singularly blind, however, who did not see that the con- 

 struction of such plants on the undreamed scale I have already 

 mentioned, not to talk of the new materials and procedures 

 which have been incorporated into many of them, makes for 

 greatly enlarged experience in chemical engineering designing, 

 construction and operation. It is easy to see the pressure these 

 things are going to exert upon the future development of 

 American chemical industries. The American chemist's exper- 

 ience is becoming greatly expanded and the significance of this is 

 apparent when we consider that engineering progress is a func- 

 tion of demand, and skill or experience in solving problems. 

 The demand increment is ever expanding with the development 

 of the country. In addition the skill acquired in the pro- 

 duction of munitions is a valuable potential asset for defense 

 should such a necessity ever arise. Such preparedness is highly 

 to be desired. Then too at the close of the war when the output 

 of these plants is no longer needed for that purpose, their 

 equipment and intelligence will be directed into whatever 

 field promises most. Already some of these concerns are 

 assured that some of their products will find a continuous 

 demand after munitions' manufacturing ceases, which will 

 be some little time after actual hostilities are at an end. The 

 field of dye production is already attracting some of them. 

 Without doubt the industrial rearrangements to follow the war 

 will leave us much better situated in our ability to cope with the 

 problems of chemical production. At any rate powerful 

 financial interests will attack these problems as they never 

 have been attacked before. These interests will constitute 

 another great force, which will be particularly effective after 

 the war. When they seek new outlets for materials, such as 

 alcohol, benzol and acids, whose production they are greatly 



