1914] War Notes 509 



our staff. Their return is uncertain. Everything was against the 

 meeting and only our desire to give you the band of good fellow- 

 ship and the advanced State of the preparations made us hesitate at 

 all about calling everything off. 



I hope you appreciate our Situation and that we have your 

 sympathy. 



I came up this morning feeling sure the meeting would go, but 

 have been convinced it could not be made more than an apology for 

 a Convention, which it would be a waste of time to attend. 



When things settle down again we will once more extend you an 

 invitation, and hope you will do us the honor of accepting it. 



I am, with kindest regards, 



Sincerely yours, 



[Signed] R. F. Ruttan. 



On receipt of this letter, Pres. Richards of course determined at 

 once to call off the meeting. Quick action being necessary a letter 

 was sent f rom this office simply to the Directors, to the Editors, and 

 to the Chairmen of Divisions asking their opinion as to the desira- 

 bility of attempting to hold another meeting at some resort in Sept. 

 or perhaps later in the fall. The majority of these have now replied 

 and the almost unanimous opinion appears to be that it will be impos- 

 sible to arrange for a successful meeting early in the fall and that 

 business conditions throughout the country render it improbable that 

 it would be advisable to have a meeting later in the year. This 

 latter point, however, will be definitely decided later and the mem- 

 bers should ivatch the Oct. and Nov. Journals for any notice that 

 may hecome necessary re gar ding this matter. The present outlook 

 is that the next meeting of the Amer. Chem. Soc. will be in New 

 Orleans, Apr. i to 3, 191 5. 



(Signed) Charles L. Parsons, Secretary, Aug. 15, 1914 



Dearth in the supply of potassium salts. Outside of Ger- 

 many there is no known commercial supply of potassium salts. If 

 the German supplies are cut off during the European war, the agri- 

 cultural World must either go without potassium salts after the 

 meager supply now on band is exhausted or bestir itself to find 

 another adequate source of supply. Already many inquiries regard- 



