ACKER, CHARLES ERNEST (1868-192o), American in ventor and manufacturer, was born in Bourbon, Ind., on March 19, 1868. Following his graduation at Cornell university in 1888 he practised electrical engineering in Chicago, Ill., until 1893. He originated a process for making caustic soda from molten salt by electrolysis, and established works in Niagara Falls, N.Y., for the manufacture of soda and other chemical products. He devised various other chemical and electro-chemical processes, and ob tained numerous patents for his inventions pertaining to electro chemical manufacture. In recognition of his services to chemical technology he was awarded in 1902 the Elliott Cresson medal of the Franklin institute. He died in Ossining, N.Y., on Oct. 18, 1920.