Abstract
AT the annual meeting of the Bradford Dyers' Association held on February 28 the chairman of the directors, Mr. Milton S. Sharp, made a highly Interesting' statement on the national position with regard to the supply of dyes. He described with great force and clearness the close connection between the manufacture of dyes and high explosives, and pointed out how Germany by reason of her huge, highly organised, and ably administered colour works, producing all the raw materials for the making of high explosives, was able immediately to divert much of their plant to war purposes. He paid a high tribute to Lord Moulton and the High Explosives Department for their services, the value of which, he said, the country will probably never know, in improvising the manufacture of high explosives. He urged that whatever it involves, we must establish the aniline dye industry in this country, so that in case of war we may have the ability to produce quickly any amount of high explosives the Army or Navy may need. The extensions of plant that have been made for the temporary purpose of manufacturing-high explosives will, he says, make a long and essential step towards the colour industry, and to-break them up after the war would be little short of criminal folly. Mr. Sharp quoted some effective examples of German activity in relation to the chemical service of the war. He alluded to one colour works with 14,000 men, and another with 9000, now engaged wholly in the manufacture of high explosives; to the fact that 75 per cent, of the German collieries have coke ovens installed; to the synthetic production of 200,000 tons per annum of ammonia, and the conversion of ammonia into nitric acid.
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The National Importance of the Dye Industry . Nature 97, 34–35 (1916). https://doi.org/10.1038/097034d0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/097034d0