46 Transactions Tennessee Academy of Science 



That the chemists and manufacturers are improving the present 

 opportunities is evidenced by the recent chemical exposition in New 

 York. There were more than two hundred exhibitors and some 

 three hundred and thirty exhibits. These covered so nearly every 

 field of chemical endeavor that one is convinced that, should we 

 be indefinitely blockaded by an enemy, we should suffer but little in- 

 convenience. 



The industrial chemist should be honest. Chemists as a class are 

 among the most honest of men. Their testimony is usually given 

 full credit. A false report from a chemist disgraces him with the 

 profession. Falsehood is contrary to the spirit and genius of the 

 subject. Accuracy and fidelity to fact is the first principle of the 

 chemist. It is true that some manufacturers instruct their chemists 

 to adulterate the goods and hide the adulterations, but this is the 

 exception rather than the rule. Any first-class chemist under such 

 requirements will seek another employer. 



A word now about chemical secrets. There are really no chemical 

 secrets. Whenever a new compound is discovered its description 

 and the method of its preparation are published in the journals. It 

 is one thing, however, to make a small quantity of a substance in 

 the laboratory, and quite another to make it by the ton in the factory. 

 Nearly all chemical secrets are secrets of the factory, secrets of 

 manipulation. These are legitimate secrets and the chemist should 

 keep them faithfully for his employer. The best factory methods 

 are learned only by prolonged and costly experimentation. It is 

 said that one German dye factory spent three million dollars before 

 it sold any of its output. 



It is thus seen why the dye business has progressed slowly in this 

 country. The large corporation has many advantages. In the first 

 place, it can afford to incur the expense of the necessary experi- 

 mentation. In the second place, it employs the best chemical ex- 

 perts and carries out elaborate researches. The General Chemical 

 Company, the General Electric Company, the Edison Company, and 

 other such corporations are spending much money in researches and 

 are making marked discoveries from time to time. 



All things considered, I think that the chemists are rising to the 

 occasion and acquitting themselves well. Indeed, in many respects 

 they are leading the world. The American Chemical Society has 

 8,200 members. It publishes three of the best chemical journals 

 in the worhl. The Clieiiiical Abslrarls is the most complete abstract 



