Publications Volume 8-10 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908 Excerpt: ...controlled ninety-six per cent of the world's supply. A hundred years ago, indigo cost $4.00 per pound and in 1914 it cost 15 cents per pound. Besides its cheapness, artificial indigo is preferable to the natural product on account of its uniform quality and greater purity. Alizarin, the most important red dye for cotton cloth, is another dye which was formerly obtained from plants. The composition of alizarin was worked out by two Germans, but again it was Perkin who made the first alizarin on a commercial scale. Formerly thousands of acres in southern France were given over to the cultivation of the madder plant, the roots of which yield alizarin. The synthetic production of alizarin has not only given Germany a lucrative industry but has released this great territory in France for the production of food stuffs. The British Government gave the discoverer of "Mauve" a title, but it did not support his endeavors to develop the dye industry, although England led the world in the manufacture of textiles. Ferkin in 1871 gave up the attempt because, as he said, the English Universities refused to train chemists to carry on research. It is noteworthy that a move has recently been initiated in England to promote the study of science in the English schools and Universities. A committee appointed to look into the question, proposes that an examination in science be henceforth required for all appointments to the British Civil Service. This will serve to increase the interest in science, and as the committee pointed out, a knowledge of science, on the part of British public officials, will help to prevent some of the grosser mistakes, such as occurred in the early days of the war. Only after Great Britain had lost a large number of her foremost men of scie...