How to increase the supply of toluol, the basic raw material from which T. N. T. is made, was the greatest and most pressing of all the problems in regard to the existing raw materials. Before the war the sole source of this ingredient was from by-product coke ovens. The monthly capacity of these ovens in 1914 was, approximately, 700,000 pounds. By April, 1917, when we stepped into the conflict, this capacity had been increased to 6,000,000 pounds a month. By the time the armistice was signed our efforts for greater production had been carried on so successfully that the supply had been increased to 12,000,000 pounds a month, and the average cost of this was only 21 cents a pound. This tremendous increase of production not only took care of all demands for commercial purposes and permitted the shipment of about 11,000,000 pounds to the allied Governments, but was more than ample to take care of our own entire explosives program, leaving a stock on hand December 1, 1918, of 17,000,000 pounds. A few details of how this tremendous increase in production was brought about through the energies of the officials charged with this task and the most efficient and whole-hearted cooperation of patriotic business concerns are interesting. Three general sources existed from which toluol was obtained: first, from the by-product recovery coke ovens; second, by the stripping or absorbing of toluol from carbureted water and coal gas; and third, by the cracking or breaking down of oils. In augmenting the supply of toluol through the first process, construction of additional by-product coke ovens by the following big steel companies was arranged: -------------------------------------------------+---------------------- Company. | Toluol capacity | per year. -------------------------------------------------+---------------------- | _Pounds._ Jones & Laughlin Steel Co., Pittsburgh, Pa. | 5,770,160 The Sloss-Sheffield Co., Birmingham, Ala. | 2,019,556 United States Steel Corporation, Clairton, Pa. | 2,308,064 International Harvester Co., Chicago, Ill. | 1,585,794 United States Steel Corporation, Birmingham, Ala.| 2,019,556 Rainey-Wood Co., Swedeland, Pa. | 2,163,810 The Seaboard By-Product Co., Jersey City, N. J. | 1,081 905 Pittsburgh Crucible Steel Co., Midland, Pa. | 2,019,556 -------------------------------------------------+---------------------- The total cost of these additional ovens was about $30,000,000, which was met by private capital after contracts for the purchase of the product had been made, insuring a secure return on the investment. Production was to begin in 1919. In addition to this there was arranged construction for 320 additional ovens at the following places: