574 



NATURE 



JUNfc: 21, lyil 



cation, considering that it heads the list in net output per 



head. 



There are many problems that are awaiting solution, 

 but these will only be solved by scientific methods applied 

 by the technologist trained in research. 



Although in 1907 we were employing, as compared with 

 other English industries, a relatively high percentage of 

 salaried persons in the chemical industries, a large pro- 

 portion of whom would be technical chemists, it is when 

 we inquire into the type of chemist employed that we 

 find a remarkable difference from the practice adopted in 

 Germany. In England, the work of our chemists is 

 almost entirely of a more or less routine character, whereas 

 the astounding number of research chemists employed 

 forms a distinguishing feature of the German chemical 

 industry. The suggestion recently made that we are in- 

 capable in this country of producing technological organic 

 chemists, trained in research methods, is an absurd one ; 

 the fact is that the manufacturer, requiring an immediate 

 turnover for his capital, does not, as a general rule, 

 encourage the training of such men by demanding their 

 assistance in the works. His policy, however, is a short- 

 sighted one, as the following contrast of the chemical 

 trades of England and Germany will show the valuable 

 results accruing from the German method. 



In 1907 the gross value of the output of the chemical 

 trade in the United Kingdom was 23^ millions sterling, 

 and of this amount a little more than one-third of a 

 million represents the total value of the coal-tar dyestuffs. 

 Germany in 1909 produced aniline colours alone equal to 

 15 millions sterling in value, approximately two-thirds of 

 the whole of our chemical trade. The imports of coal- 

 tar dyes into England in 1909 increased by 16 per cent., 

 and in 1910 by 10 per cent. The irony of the whole situa- 

 tion is that we celebrated, a few years ago, the jubilee of 

 Perkins's epoch-making discovery of the first aniline dye- 

 stuff. 



Ten years ago, practically all the indigo put on the 

 market^ was of natural origin and supplied by British 

 possessions, but certain German firms set out to capture 

 the indigo market by the production of artificial, indigo. 

 In spite of the statement that the natural product possesses 

 certain intrinsic valuable properties not possessed by the 

 artificial variety, and despite the attempts of the English 

 Government to bolster up the Indian indigo trade, in ten 

 years the annual value of indigo imported into this country 

 from India has fallen from a million sterling to less than 

 50,oooZ. Germany in 1909 exported to Asia alone, the 

 home of the natural indigo, indigotin to the value of 

 i,90o,oooZ. This again is now being followed up by the 

 production of vat dyes, many of them products derived 

 from artificial indigo. These colours being extremely fast, 

 in many cases even to bleaching agents, may yet revolu- 

 tionise our cotton-dyeing industry. We have not only lost 

 our indigo trade, but in these developments our colour 

 manufacturers are again allowing the German firms to 

 forge ahead. 



This forward movement is not confined to the colout 

 trade alone, for the adoption of new processes of manu 

 facture often reacts advantageously on older processes, 

 creating an increasing demand for other products, notably 

 in the heavy chemical trade. At one time Lancashire 

 produced practically all the sulphuric acid of the world; 

 some ten years ago about one million tons were said to 

 be manufactured annually principally in this part of the 

 country, whereas, according to the recent census, the 

 total amount manufactured in the United Kingdom in 

 1907 was 473,000 tons. This is largely due to the com- 

 nriercial development in Germany and other countries of 

 the ' contact process" for the manufacture of sulphuric 

 acid, the initiation of which is principally due to the 

 demands created by the dyestufl" industries. It is again 

 mteresting to note that the first patent for this process 

 was taken out by Dr. Squires, an English chemist, though 

 the process has been converted into a commercial success 

 m other countries. 



This is typical of the advancement and development 

 which has been such a marked feature of the chemical 

 trade of other countries. Examples might be multiplied 

 to prove that in England we are engaged^ to a large extent 

 in tinkering up the old processes of manufacture, whilst 

 other countries avail themselves of new lines of thought 

 NO. 2173, VOL. 861 



and experiment. The great German industrial cone 

 knowing the value of the scientific expert, will often . • 

 for years for the final results of researches which ; 

 realise may ultimately revolutionise an industry, or i y 

 provide entirely new industries. 



Germany has developed a scheme of practical educ;i ,:, 

 of the masses which will provide her industries witli :i 

 army of well-trained workers, and at the same time ■• 

 has developed to the highest pitch the scientific training, nf 

 original technologists. It may be that we require in.:'.- 

 Dreadnoughts, but no number of battleships will prev' nt 

 our being left far behind in the race of industrial progr- ss 

 if we continue to rest self-satisfied on the laurels of the 

 past. 



The more one inquires into the various suggestions that 

 have been made for England's failure to take the lead in 

 industrial developments, the more one is driven to the 

 conclusion that lack of the spirit of organisation and 

 system in both industrial and educational matters is the 

 root of the evil. 



In discussing reforms that are necessary in the work 

 of our technical schools and universities, we have to 

 recognise clearly that provision must be made for two 

 distinct types of students, namely, (i) the rank and file 

 of the industrial army ; (2) the officers, who will have to 

 organise and direct the work of the rank and file. The 

 ideal principle which should govern the whole system is 

 that the second type should be evolved from the first by 

 means of natural selection. In the earlier years, the train- 

 ing of the two types may therefore be identical, and can 

 be efficiently carried out by part-time instruction in 

 technical schools, as far as possible in the daytime. With 

 regard to higher technical work, this cannot be adequately 

 dealt with in evening classes. We have a unique system 

 of evening classes in this country, doing undoubtedly far 

 better technical work than most people realise, but this 

 system will have to be developed even further if we are 

 to keep pace with the improvements which are bound to 

 follow the increasing application of science to industry. 



Higher technological instruction is at the present time 

 given in some six or seven universities, a few university 

 colleges, and many technical colleges and schools. 



With respect to our day technical institutions, the 

 following points may be urged in connection with the 

 higher instruction given by them at present : — 



(i) The students are too young at entry, and coming 

 mostly direct from secondary schools at the age of fifteen 

 or sixteen, during the first two years they are not old 

 enough to appreciate the necessity for serious study, and 

 have little sense of responsibility. 



(2) The student when he has completed his three or four 

 years' training is still without any practical experience 

 such as is gained as an employee in a works. Through 

 lack of this practical experience, he has often an inflated 

 opinion of his own ability and immediate industrial value. 



(3) It is only the occasional man who displays the 

 ability requisite for the highest technological positions. 

 Only a comparatively small percentage of those entering 

 the day technical institutions finally display that initiative 

 which is required in the trained technologist. The greater 

 number are only suitable as routine men for second-rate 

 positions, and would receive a more suitable training by 

 entering works and attending evening classes. The ex- 

 planation for this is that the day students are at present 

 not being chosen by the process of natural selection. 



(4) There are too many institutions at the present time 

 all attempting the highest form of technical training in 

 numerous branches, resulting under the existing conditions 

 of selection and supply in small classes and in the un- 

 necessary duplication of expensive equipment for the most 

 advanced work. 



(5) The small number of students in each institution 

 does not justify the engagement of the numerous staff of 

 specialists really necessary for the highest form of techno^ 

 logical training. 



All these defects will be remedied by drafting the most 

 promising of evening students systematically into day 

 courses, and by concentrating them for the highest class of 

 work in specialised institutions, each of which could then 

 afford the necessary elaborate equipment and specialist 

 staff. 



