J. Pelc

“ Compressed gases like air, oxygen, acetylene, alcohol and vinegar production from acetylene, wood, animal and mineral carbon industry, production of artificial gems, manufacturing of building materials like gypsum and cements, insecticides, utilization of starches are only a few of the important problems which are to be solved by Czech chemists for the good of Czech chemical industry.
The line of chemical industries in Czechoslovakia waiting for chemists and enterprising men is really inexhaustible. ”

“ With packing and oil industry there must be connected the production of fatty acids for soaps with glycerine as by-product, manufacturing of natural fertilizers, glue and gelatine.
Wood and peat industry in Czechoslovakia is waiting for more extensive industrial development which would be safe from the influence of capitalists from Vienna and Germany. Wood and peat are very important not only for fuel, but for the manufacturing of wood and industrial grain alcohol, pyroligneous oils, acids and cellulose. ”

“ What must be emphasized here is this: our Czech and Slovak countrymen here in United States should study the economic situation and consider well the opportunity for investments in Czechoslovak chemical industries. Such investments will serve a double purpose. First as profitable investments, second as protection against new German and Hungarian economic and industrial expansion in the new Middle European States. German military and political autocracy has been defeated, but German industrial autocracy is making preparations for a new economical offensive. ”

“ Since Czechoslovak lands are the habitat of many well known medicinal plants like Beladonna, Digitalis, Rhubarb, Sage, etc., and the climate is excellent for the cultivation of nearly all medicinal plants except tropical drugs, this industry can be developed so as to be a source of national wealth. ”

“ Iron and steel industry must be taken over and placed in the hands of Czech manufacturers. Access to the sea or seas will present the opportuninty not only to get cheap salt, but to start the production of the important hydrochloric acid, bromine and iodine and their acids and salts. ”

“ Dyes, synthetic drugs and all coal tar chemicals will be produced by Czech chemists and manufacturers not only for home industries, but also for export to neighboring Slavic states, because Czechoslovak patent and tariff laws will not favor the export of crude coal tar products to Germany, but rather the home production of coal tar, coke, benzol, toluol, aniline and subsequent production of dyes and drugs. ”

“ Big problems are being solved at the present moment in the chemical world, and Czechoslovak chemists must participate fully in their solution and prove to the world that the energy of the nation was not exhausted in the fight for political liberty.
Agricultural chemistry should above all command the immeliatc attention of Czech chemists. The new government ought to assist them to create a big organisation of analytical, research and manufacturing chemists so as to increase the productiveness of soil and to studv ways of utilising waste and by-products. ”

“ Peat cellulose can be worked up as a substitute for wool; wood cellulose is excellent for fireproof pyrocellulose and celluloid as well nitrocellulose for artificial leather and rubber. Celluloid industry will need artificial camphorr which will need pinene oils, epecially turpentine, for its production. ”

“ State analytical and research laboratories will of course have to work hand in hand with manufacturers. New schools, university courses for pure chemistry and technical institutes for applied chemistry must be established. ”