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as illustrations of its permanency。 These
statements were so widely different that I pursued
the inquiry further； and found it was conceded that；
if a process could be discovered by which carbon
could be dissolved and made to retain its color； no
known substance would make so permanent an ink；
but that there was no such process； and in the inks
now made the carbon was simply held in suspension
in the ink without any chemical union； but I
found also that improvement has been made； and
that it is possible to combine the carbon with chemicals
which will cause the carbon to embody itself。
More than ordinary care should； however； be
exercised in the purchase of carbon inks； for the
lack of chemical union would cause a tendency to
precipitate the carbon if the ink were improperly made。
〃The replies to the inquiry； 'Do you advise
generally against the inks known as writing fluids；
when permanency is the first requisition？' were in
a way the most unsatisfactory； and savored somewhat
of advertising。 One manufacturer made no
fluid； and had no opinion to express。 Most of the
others made fluids。 Nine advised generally against
their use； four recommended them in preference
to ink； and the others either advised generally
against them； but recommended their own； or
qualified the answer in such a way as to throw
doubt on them。
〃The argument in their favor seems to be that
their fluidity makes them permeate the paper； and；
in the change of color which usually takes place
after using； a dyeing of the paper results。 The
objections are； that to obtain the fluidity body
must be sacrificed； and there is not enough substance
deposited upon the paper。 The objections made
by two manufacturers of fluids I give in their own
words。
〃 'We advise generally against the inks known
simply as writing fluidsthose not intended to
yield a letter…press copybecause they are universally
made； first； with as little solid matter as
possible；i。 e。 weak； second； with an excess of
iron beyond that required to combine with the tannin；
so as to develop all the color possible and
flow with the greatest freedom。 The combined
writing and copying fluids； and the copying fluids
on the other hand if properly made； may be justly
recommended where permanency is the first requisition；
particularly the older ones； which should be
the most durable of all nut…gall and iron inks； because
in them particularly concentration is aimed
at； and the iron need not necessarily； and should
not； be in excess of that required to combine with
the tannin present。 A steel pen during use injures；
and often greatly； the durability of a writing ink
by giving up iron to it。
〃 'For your purpose； where extreme permanency
is the first requisition； I should not advise the use of
an ordinary writing fluid。 Many manufacturers
cannot obtain sufficient fluidity in their writing
fluids without making their inks very dilute； and
observing a particular method of manufacture
which； although providing more attained color for
a time； sacrifices the permanent quality of their
color in a great measure。 I should advise the use
of an ink decidedly stronger。'
〃The addition of water was almost universally
condemned； for reasons stated later。 As proof
that this was not for the mercenary purpose of indirectly
advising the use of more ink； some of the
manufacturers said the ink should be kept in small…
mouthed ink…stands； and when not in use should
be as tightly sealed as possible； to prevent evaporation。
〃In reply to the inquiry as to whether chemicals
left in the paper ever obliterated the ink； several
of the manufacturers said they knew of such cases；
and all were agreed that； if the chlorides used for
bleaching the paper were not washed out； they
would dangerously affect any ink。 The practice
of mixing inks was universally condemned。
〃Permanency against the action of time is the
quality sought for in this investigation； and it is
claimed that better evidence as to that quality is
furnished by the test of time than by any other；
and manufacturers have shown or referred to
specimens of writing made with their ink many
years ago； as proof of its merit in this particular。
If there was any surety that the standard of quality
was always kept up in all of the oldest inks on the
market； it would be safe to accept that test； but
this may not be a fact； and； as has been stated；
some of the recording officers believe that it is not。
Moreover； if only the old inks were to be accepted；
it would be against the spirit of the age；
which is to adopt the improvements which science
makes possible； and manufacturers who at great
cost of time and money have made improvements；
would be deprived of the compensation which they
deserve。 The old inks were as a rule heavy； and
had a tendency to settle； and the endeavor on the
part of some manufacturers has been to preserve
the permanency； and at the same time produce
thinner inks which would be more agreeable to use。
〃Improvements have been made in the direction
of free…flowing inks； and these are fast becoming
popular； and； while for correspondence and commercial
uses they are undoubtedly sufficiently permanent；
for records many of them are not； and it
was with a view of preventing the use of these
upon records that this investigation was made。
No attention has been given to the permanency
of the inks； as against their removal by acids。
〃The use of proper ink is considered so important
by the British government that the inks
used in the public departments are obtained by
public tender； in accordance with the conditions
drawn up by the controller of H。 M。 stationery
office； with the assistance of the chief chemist of
the inland revenue department； to whom the inks
supplied by the contractor are from time to time
submitted for analysis。 Suitable inks for the various
uses are thus obtained； and their standard
maintained。 The last form of 'invitation to tender；'
or 'proposal；' as we term it； is appended；
as being instructive。
I cannot learn that the United States government
uses any such care as the British government
in the matter of ink； although the question has
been a troublesome one in the departments。
〃The State department issues no special rules
for determining suitable inks； or requiring that particular
inks shall be used。 Proposals are asked for
the lowest bids for the articles of stationery required；
the last form of proposal asking for bids
upon seven black inks； one crimson； and one writing
fluid； which are named。
〃With the market full of inks worthless for records；
the only safety for our records seems to be in
the establishment of a system similar to the English；
which shall fix upon proper inks for various
uses； which all recording officers shall be required
to use。
〃I believe that the recording officers will be
glad to have the question of permanent inks decided
for them； and to know whether inks which
were in use many years ago； and have stood the
test thus far； are maintained at their old standard。
In the face of sharp competition among manufacturers；
they fear they are not。〃
Mr。 Swan； proceeding still further； secured the
services of two of the most distinguished professors
of chemistry in this country； Messrs。 Markoe and
Baird； and submitted to them in camera sixty…seven
samples of different inks； known only by numbers； for
chemical analysis； in a long and exhaustive report on
the work they had set out to accomplish； and also with
a dissertation on the chemistry of inks in general； they
complete their report as follows：
〃As a conclusion； since the great mass of inks
on the market are not suitable for records； because
of their lack of body and because of the quantity
of unstable color which they contain； and because
the few whose coloring matters are not objectionable
are deficient in galls and iron； or both； we
would strongly recommend that the State set its
own standard for the composition of inks to be
used in its offices and for its records； have the
inks manufactured according to specifications sent
out； and receive the manufactured products subject
to chemical assay。 In this way only can there
be a uniformity in the inks used for the records
throughout the State； and in no other way can a
proper standard be maintained。〃
Mr。 Swan comments on the report of his chemists；
and calls attention to other tests made by himself：
〃The conclusions at which I arrived were drawn；
as stated； from manufacturers or recording officers；
wholly independently of the chemists； but they will
be found to coincide in many particulars with theirs。
I did consult them in regard to the practicability of
maintaining a State standard for record ink； which
they have approved。
〃The commendation by the chemists