564 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XIX. Xo. < 



trained, as far as possible, before leaving 

 college in a thoroughly practical manner 

 in the application of chemistry as well as 

 in examples of engineering problems. 



The greater the application of chemistry, 

 the more important becomes the combining 

 of mechanical training with chemical train- 

 ing. Our colleges should consider this 

 matter more seriously than ever, and do 

 their best to make the course in chemical 

 engineering as complete and perfect in 

 every way as possible. This is a duty they 

 owe to our young men who desire to make 

 a success in the great field of chemical en- 

 gineering; it is a duty they owe to the 

 manufacturers of this country who are 

 doing their best to rival successfully the 

 highest European competition and obtain 

 our full share of the markets of the world 

 for our manufactured products. Many of 

 our manufacturers would receive the highly 

 educated chemical engineer with open 

 arms, and as a proof of their earnest be- 

 lief in the importance of this matter they 

 would gladly make necessary endowments 

 to assist the colleges in carrying out this 

 important work. The colleges should 

 court their assistance by receiving all the 

 practical suggestions that would enable 

 them to readily turn out men so well edu- 

 cated and trained that they would very 

 easily become valuable chemical engineers. 



Chemical engineering necessitates a 

 greater variety of engineering than all the 

 other branches of engineering combined. 

 In designing the apparatus that is em- 

 ployed in conducting the endless variety 

 of chemical and metallurgical processes, 

 every known metal and alloy is used in 

 every conceivable variety or form. All 

 kinds of brick are used, acid, basic, neutral 

 and vitreous, glass, all sorts of pottery- 

 ware, porcelain, stone, ritbber, coke, as- 

 phalt, wood, cements, etc., and these in 

 every combination and form which the 

 best chemical engineering skill can devise 



to improve old methods and properly con- 

 duct new processes. In order to select the 

 best material with Avhich to carry on diffi- 

 cult problems, the chemical engineer must 

 have a wide knowledge of the action of 

 acids, alkalies and chemicals under all con- 

 ditions of solution and heat, upon all known 

 substances which could be employed to 

 carry on the processes. Generally in new 

 problems, carefully conducted investiga- 

 tions have to be made on a small scale, to 

 show conclusively the best substances to be 

 used. 



In the designing and construction of 

 plants and apparatus the chemical engi- 

 neer has not only to select the most siiit- 

 able material, but he must so carefully 

 study the function of every detail of the 

 apparatus to be used, that each part will 

 successfully meet the full requirements. 

 Each and every part must be pioportioned 

 to what it has to do; everything must be 

 proportionately strong and large enough 

 for the purpose, always avoiding unneces- 

 sary extremes in order to curtail the first 

 cost of the plant. The desired end must 

 be met in the simplest possible manner and 

 the devices so arranged that while opera- 

 ting they will be so nearly automatic that 

 good results will be achieved with the least 

 possible labor. The plants must be so 

 designed that the greatest yields will be 

 obtained and the finest products turned 

 out. 



But after all this is done the chemical 

 engineer will not be thoroughly skilful and 

 up to date unless he designs every part of 

 the apparatus so that it will last the longest 

 possible time. Everything must be ar- 

 ranged so that when repairs are required 

 they can be conducted with the least ex- 

 pense. 



For the successful operating, maintain- 

 ing and improving the condition of plants 

 where chemical skill is employed, the man- 

 ager or superintendent and his assistants 



