Document MGZZGDvgm7M8y55RgmpReB9Oy

.'h * ' - ^ r T co:a DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR The Director Lear Dr, Bain: BUREAU OF MINES EXPEm M ENT'STATlON. PITTSBURGH, PA. o September 24, 1923. 1` \jl-J SUBJECT:- '\r;V' * -i ,-*'r Toxicity of Automobile M i a u s t Gases from Anti-Knock Material. Attached herewith is a tentative form of agreement for coopera ( tive investigation with the General Motors Research Corporation which was drawn up with Mr. T. A* Boyd representing Mr, Kettering and Mr. Midgley of his company. This cooperation lias been under discussion for nearly a year. Lr. Sayers and I have had several conferences with Mr. Midgley on the possible increased toxicity of exhaust gases in the Hudson Biver vehicular tunnel due to the general use of anti-knock materials. I have had some definite requests from Mr. Holland, of the Tunnel Commis sion, to keep in touch with this situation and if, in my judgment, it was likely to develop to the point that such additional materials would be used generally, that he hoped the Bureau would make a thorough investiga tion to determine whether the amount of ventilation that v/e have recom mended under present conditions v/ould be sufficient under these future conditions. I have had similar requests from Hr. TTeeld, Chief Engineer of the Liberty Tunnels at Pittsburgh. Lr. Sayers and I have had in mind taking up this investigation as soon as it seemed desirable, and before he left on his trip v/e dis cussed the matter. VTe agreed to leave it in abeyance for the present but if anything developed that made it seem desirable to do so, v/e should go ahead with the work. Lr. Sayers gave me this authority as far as he was concerned. Becently v/e have added to the Pittsburgh staff a pathologist, Mr. Thomas, and it happens that Lr. McConnell, v/ho is at this station on physiological work, has had some four years1 experience in research on the toxicity of lead compounds and is peculiarly well fitted to cooperate in this investigation. We can take it up at this time without involving much extra work from our staff. The General Motors Hesearch Corporation ; I is particularly anxious to have us undertake this work and is willing to , j finance the problem so that the Bureau will be put to no extra expense, * ? The relation of other problems enables us to take it up at this time. This problem does not in any v/ay conflict v/ith the Bureau of j Standards work as it is primarily a tonicity problem, although it does have an important bearing on the conservation of gasoline because of the possibility of using higher compression engines which use less gasoline for the same amount of v/ork. The General Motors Research Corporation is introducing, in a small v/ay, the use of ethyl gas at the present time so that as far as tho public is concerned v/e should take up the invest igat ion* Thero is only one important consideration that is wanted by Hr. Kettering-- namely, that the Burea*i rofrain from giving out the usual press and progress reports during the course of the work, as he feels that the newspapers are apt to give scare headlines and false impressions before v;e definitely know what the influence of the material will be. There is, of course, no restriction on final publication when the work is completed and our staff is absolutely satisfied as to the meaning of the results. In view of the way newspapers take up this subject I think Mr. Kettering is justified in his stand and I have written up the clause on publication with these restrictions stated. They are anxious to start the work immediately and we are in shape to do it, I will therefore ap preciate your early consideration, comments, and approval of the1 tentative form, if satisfactory. It need not go to the Secretary in its present form for final signature as Mr. Boyd has taken a copy back to Dayton to secure Mr. Kettering's approval and he may suggest some changes. This is a tentative draft to get your ideas and those of Division Chiefs interested and to serve as a guide for the final form of agreement. luci. C. Ficlduer Hovember 7,1923*CL-BH Superintendent, 175Bureau of Mines, Pittsburg, Pa C SCBJBCTi Physiological Effects of Ethyl <3as Pear Ur# fte In the Minute* of your Problem Confereno# of the cnealoal Division, October 27, X note under Bil69, the above title, and I believe that 1 recall that Midgifcy toll m his Company had decided to adopt the trade name "othyl gas*" Of course, their object in doing eo are fairly clear, and among other thlnge j they are not particularly desirous of having the name "lead" appear in this oae* That is alright from the standpoint of the general Hotors Company, but it la quite a question in my mlhd as to wither the Bureau Of Mines would be justified in adopting this name 0 early in the game before it has haa the support of popular usage The reason for wy objection are as followsi (1) it will lead to confusion, especially if the name ever beoomes^w^d^f^used, as there are many other ettyl gases b e s i d e ^ t e t m e ^ V l leadi () since tbs real ob ject of our investigation is to determine whether or ; not lead 1 deleterious in the combustion products, it * seems to me that we would be wise in our investigations \ to refer to its chemical name "tetraethyl lead, or one of tbs other ones possible This is merely ay personal feeling, and X am open to conviction. If you do not share it, I would like to hoar from you further* Vary truly yours, oo to Or Lyon kCLind Chief Chemist ..^OfEO DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF MINES .. e x p r i m e n t STATION. PITTSBURGH. PA. x.'x'b JTovember 5, 1923. 0, - ' SUBJECT: Physiological KffBots of Sthyl Gas, Dear Dr. liindf: 1/ Baplying to your letter of November 3; I puiposely avoided the use of "lead" in the inter bureau correspondence on this subject because of the fact that even in confidential investigations the Washington Office some times slips out information to the newspapers. It was in our cooperative agreement that there should be no publicity on this investigation until it was couple ted and the final report pub lished. If it should happen to get some publicity accident ally* it would not be so bad if the word "lead" were omitted as this term is apt to prejudice somewhat against its use. In our re port for publication we will, of course, use the correct term. In interbureau correspondence the trade name is an 1 easy term to use and I do not see where it will cause any trouble. Very truly yours. *TS; --u cc I*. Lyon Pile A. C. Fieldner. 0i NOV G t923 J J>, C. U g g X __________^ ( N O V 6 ,1923 j