ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

DIRECTOR

BUREAU OF STANDARDS

TO THE

SECRETARY OF COMMERCE

FOR THE

FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1913

WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

1914

ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

DIRECTOR

BUREAU OF STANDARDS

TO THE

SECRETARY OF COMMERCE

FOR THE

FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1913

WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

1914

REPORT

OF THE

DIRECTOR, BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

Department of Commekce,

Bureau of Standards,

Washington^ July i, 1913.

Sir: There is submitted herewith a report of the work of the

Bureau of Standards for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1913.

The report of the activities of the Bureau during the year necessarily gives but the briefest summary of its work. In no year of its

history has there been as full cooperation of all divisions of the

Bureau in testing and research. This cooperation has minimized the

somewhat narrowing elfects of a rigid division system. Each problem when studied in a broad scientific spirit leads into every specialty,

so that the fullest cooperation of the entire Bureau is essential to

its success. The gratifying results of such cooperation are particularly notable in the development of standards for gas, in the re- searches upon metals, and the methods of testing the properties of

materials, in the study of electrolysis experimentally and in the

field, in the structural materials investigation, and in many other

cases where success depends upon many specialties.

In no case is such cooperation more striking than in the gradual

development of the public-service commission work of the Bureau.

This is an outgrowth of the Aveights and measures activity of the

Bureau, of the cooperation with the Interstate Commerce Commission, and with other regulative and inspection services, notably the

wireless service, the regulation of navigation, municipal gas regulation, standardization of specifications for materials, and centralstation power service. The regulation of public utilities is distinctly a measured regulation of their technical details and is efficient only

as it is based upon measures and standards. Public-utility regulation simply applies measurements and standards to new fields. Such

regulation is effected by the specification of measurable standards

for each element so selected as to assure efficient service ; these factors

may be, for example, the measure of value, quantity, size, composition, quality, speed, and the like. Safety even involves measures

where, for example, safety depends upon the strength of the properties of materials or upon safe speed limits.

Such work is an extension of the general purpose of the Bureau

as a whole, cooperation in all movements which have for their object

increase in efficiency in all fields through measurements and standards. The three hundred or more publications of the Bureau will

give a fuller account of the researches and methods by which its work

is accomplished.

3
4 BEPOET OF DIBECTOK OF BUEEAU OF STANDAEDS.

ELECTRICITY.

The completion of the new electrical building now makes it possible to develop several important new lines of work. As the testing

has increased it has been necessary to reduce the time spent in scientific research. In the study and testing of electrical measuring

instruments greater accuracy in commercial practice is called for

than formerly. As large electric power plants are being established

and electric energy sold in greater quantity, and as improvements

are made in instruments and methods employed in commercial practice, the necessity for the standardizing laboratory to carry on continual research work is emphasized. An important magnetic re- search has been under way, viz, the study of the relation betAveen the

magnetic and mechanical properties of iron and steel. An important

subject to be studied by the Bureau is illmninating engineering and

the problems connected with it. The photometric laboratory has been

engaged chiefly in testing of lamps and standards for photometric

work. A large increase in the work in illuminating engineering

would be of gTeat value both to the Government and the public.

In wireless telegraphy the Bureau ought to maintain a first-class

laboratory, devoted to the determination of the fundamental facts

needed by the various departments of the Government making use of wireless telegraphy. With the present limited equipment and

personnel engaged in this work the Bureau has been assisting the

Bureau of Navigation and, to some extent, other bureaus of the

Government making use of wireless telegi'aphy.

ELECTROLYSIS.

An investigation was completed on the damaging effects of earth

currents upon gas and water pipes, cable sheaths, reinforced concrete,

and other underground structures. The results of these investigations are being published, and the Bureau is now in a position to

make practical use of the results of these investigations. In such

cities as St. Louis, ChicagOj Philadelphia, and other large as well as many smaller places where the overhead trolley is used in the street

railway system, this problem of electrolysis is a very serious one,

and the Bureau is in a position to render valuable service in solving

local problems.

GAS INVESTIGATION.

The Bureau's investigation on the testing of gas and the regulation

of gas service has yielded very valuable i-esults. A thorough revision of the Bureau's publication on this subject is nearly completed.

This work is of very highest importance to cities that regulate the

gas service for themselves, and to State commissions, as well as to the

gas industry.

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION WORK.

In many branches of public-service commission work, including

electric light and power, street and intei-urban electric railway service,

and telephone service, the Bureau has been of great assistance. Its

facilities and personnel should be increased to enable it to study
KEPOET OF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS. 5

these problems adequately, in view of the great demand for such

advice.

The scientific work of recent years has placed the electrical work

of the Bureau on a firm basis, and it is now desirable to develop the

engineering side of the work on a scale commensurate with its importance, while at the same time the scientific investigations are con- tinued and developed.

EliECTKIC MEASURING INSTRUMENTS.

The demand for the testing of electric instruments grew steadily

during the year. A number of new types of instruments and meters

were submitted by the makers for special test. In connection with

the testing of electric fans for the Government much progress was

made in improving the methods of measuring air delivery. The

comparative test of American direct-current watthour meters was

completed and the results prepared for publication. New methods

of voltage control were worked out for use in the equipment of the

new electrical laboratory of the Bureau.

TESTING STANDARD EDECTRIC RESISTANCES.

The testing of standard electric resistances, standard cells, and

precision resistance apparatus has proceeded steadily. The investigation on the mercury ohm, the fundamental standard of electric

resistance, and an investigation of moving coil galvanometers were

nearly completed during the year.

The investigation on the silver voltameter for the standard determination of the unit of electric current has been continued. The

third paper of the series giving the results of this important investigation is now in press.

MAGNETISM.

The Bureau's work in magnetism included cooperative work with

various organizations along the lines of magnetic testing.

The usual tests have been determinations of total core losses of sheet

steel, normal induction of rods and sheet steel, and hystei'esis constants of permanent magnet steel. These assist the electrical industry

to use the most efficient materials in their manufacture of electrical

instruments and machinery. These tests require certain standard

sizes of test specimens and involved only standard data for which

apparatus had previously been developed at the Bureau and found

thoroughly reliable. Other tests have been made for which special

apparatus had to be developed or unusual conditions involved greater

difficulties. These special tests involved specimens of irregular form,

tests of the magnetic properties of the so-called nonmagnetic substances, measurements of temperature coefficients of permanent magnets, and the adjustment and calibration of commercial magnetic instruments not previously investigated.

Investigations have been in progress throughout the year to in- crease the accuracy of the standard magnetic tests and to broaden

their scope. This involved a careful study of existing instruments

and the development of new apparatus.
6 REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

The investigation of the relation between the magnetic, electric,

and mechanical properties of steel has been continued. In this the

Bureau had the cooj)eration of the Pennsylvania Railroad in supplying materials and technical assistance. This research gives promise

of a new magnetic test which Avill clearly indicate the mechanical

properties, and has already yielded results of practical importance.

Preliminary reports on the program of this work have been made

before the International and the American Society for Testing

Materials.

Cooperation in the development of specifications for standard magnetic tests of iron and steel has been continued with the American

Society for Testing Materials through its committee on magnetic

testing. A nimiber of industrial institutions have cooperated in

'

several investigations by furnishing material, apparatus, and data.

PHOTOMETRY.

During the past year a complete recalibration was made of all

working standards of light intensity. Special attention was given

to the carbon-lamp standards used in the pentane standard lamps,

since the values for pentane lamps as based upon them by the Bureau

differ slightly from the values assigned to the same lamps in England. The mean value for these carbon standards as determined by

different groups of observers at different times during the last three

years has been the same to within one-fourth of 1 per cent.

To clear up the slight difference from English values a number

of carbon lamps, standardized at a voltage which would give the

color of the pentane flame, are being prepared to be sent abroad for

comparison with the pentane standards in the English laboratory.

In the last annual report, reference was made to an agreement of

the Bureau with the National Physical Laboratory of England to

interchange a number of tungsten lamps standardized at an effi- ciency of about 1^ watts per candle in order to establish the international unit in terms of whiter light than it had been previous to

that time. Accordingly, the Bureau standardized a group of 30

lamps and the English laboratory sent over a group of 14 lamps.

Seven lamps of each group were then sent back to England for

measurement. From the results of this intercomparison thus far

obtained it appears that within the limit of errors of measurement

the units of the two countries, as interpreted through the medium of

high efficiency lamps, are in agreement.

During the year there wei'e standardized for the general public

and the Government departments and State institutions 71 carbon,

8 metallized carbon, and 314 tungsten lamps, or a total of 393 lamps.

Standardization of lamps was undertaken for use by the Baltimore

& Ohio Railroad and the Post Office Department, with Avhom the

Bureau cooperated in an investigation of postal-car lighting.

In commercial lamp testing 1,283,000 lamps were inspected for the

various Government departinents. Of these 651.000 were carbons

and metallized carbons, while G32,000 were tungstens. During the

previous year (1911-12) 1,221,000 lamps were inspected; of these

847,000 were carbons and metallized carbons and 374,000 were tungstens. The proportion of tungstens increased from about one-third

to one-half of the total. The total number of lamps life tested
EEPORT OF DIBECTOB OF BUEEAU OF STANDAEDS. 7

during the past year was 4,889, of which about one-half were tungstens. During the previous year (1911-12) 4,180 were life tested,

of which one- fourth were tungsten lamps.

The work on flame standards has been devoted almost entirely

upon pentane lamps. A large number of these continue to be wanted

for gas testing in various cities. The Bureau's work has been the

standardizing of lamps for this purpose, and experimental tests with

a view to prescribing the best methods of operating the lamps. The

observations made during the past two years confirm exactly the cor- rections previously determined at the Bureau for the effect of atmospheric moisture on these lamps. New apparatus has been designed

to facilitate routine tests, and to determine more exactly the effects

, of barometric pressure on the pentane lamp and on other flames.

A comparison of various types of standard gas burners to determine

which should be recommended for gas testing is desirable, and a beginning has been made in this work.

Besides ordinary tests of portable photometers the Bureau has

calibrated a special photometer for the Weather Bureau, making

necessary modifications to adapt the instrument for the measurement

of daylight of all intensities iip to direct sunlight.

A double-mirror selector for the measurement of the distribution

of light about lamps and reflectors has been designed and built.

A large number of such measurements were made in connection with

the investigation of postal-car lighting carried out by the Baltimo]"e & Ohio Railroad and the Post Office Department, referred to

above. A number of reflectors were tested also for the Navy

Department, which has used the results in its specifications and will

hereafter send samples of reflectors purchased by that department,

to be tested at this Bureau.

Some attention has been given to street lighting and railroad headlights and signals. During the year the Bureau made a number of

tests (both in the laboratory and on the street) of the gas lamps used

in Washington. Assistance was also furnished for tests in Philadelphia. The work of the year on headlights and signals has

included tests of the candlepower of electric arcs for headlights, and

of the transmission of a set of standard signal glasses, and the

preparation of a report on proposed headlight legislation, this report

being based largely on the experimental work of previous years.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

This year offered the first opportunity for a systematic study of

the gold-plated working standards in five years, and the results

indicate that the more important standards upon which the work

of the Bureau is based did not suffer any change greater than one

part in ten million. An investigation of the effect of use and the

corrosion of nickel steel and monel metal weights showed that weights

made of these materials are far superior in constancy and appearance to plated or lacquered brass weights; the use of these materials

is recommended for sealers and others where constancy under con- tinued handling is desired. The routine testing of length, mass, and

volume has been carried on in a satisfactory manner. Several investigations or improvements in the methods of testing do, hofwever,

merit notice. The cement sieve investigation, begun last year, was
8 EEPOKT OF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

completed, and yielded satisfactory results. During the year an

opportunity was offered to make a careful calibration of the mass

weight standards of the Bureau.

EXPANSION OF MATERIALS.

The equipment for the determination of the expansion of materials

from room temperature to 700° C. (1,260° F.) was completed during

the year, and the expansion of a number of specimens of steel and

nickel-steel alloys were determined. This equipment will be supplemented by apparatus for determining expansion from the temperature of liquid air up to about 300° C. The plans for this apparatus have been completed and considerable work has already been

done in the shop, so that there is every prospect that the Bureau will secure during the present year facilities for determining expansion

from the temperature of liquid air to 700° C. The apparatus for the

determination of expansion at high temperatures has been described,

and will shortly be published in the Bulletin.

CEMENT SIEVE TESTING.

The cement sieves are used in the testing of cement to determine

the fineness of grain. The necessity for accurate sieves is apparent

when it is considered that the most valuable part of Portland cement

is that which passes a 200-mesh sieve, and that all Portland cement

purchased for the construction work of the United States Government must meet the requirement that 92 per cent shall pass a 100-

mesh sieve, and 76 per cent shall pass a 200-mesh sieve. Entirely

new methods for testing sieves have been devised which greatly

facilitate the work, and also greatly reduce the probability of errors. The manufacturers of such sieves availed themselves of the results

of this work and in consequence they are now making a much better

grade of sieves.

ANEROID BAROMETERS.

Satisfactory progress was made in the investigation of aneroid

barometers, and a report embodying the results of the study of

instruments of practically every make and style on the market will

be published during the coming year. A knowledge of the action

of aneroid barometers which are oftentimes the only means available

for determining elevations is of great importance at this time on

account of the activity of the army and navy, as well as the public,

in the field of aviation. Correct instruments of this type are also

required by the various Government surveys, and by Army engineers.

COOPERATIVE WORK AVITH STATES AND INSPECTION OF COMMERCIAL

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

A number of States introduced weights and measures legislation

designed to create inspection systems of the weights and measures

in commercial use or to amplify and amend laws already on the

statute books. In a number of cases these bills were referred to this
KEPOBT OF DIBECTOK OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS. 9

Bureau for criticism and Becessary amendments. Among States as- sisted in this way are the following: California, Illinois, Indiana,

Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

All of these bills received careful attention, many of the sections

being revised and some being completely rewritten, with the idea

of securing the best legislation possible and of conserving uniformity

in the provisions of the statutes of the various States.

As the best means of securing these ends the model law formerly

framed by this Bureau and adopted by the Sixth Annual Conference

on the Weights and Measures of the United States was followed

insofar as local conditions would permit. A number of these suggestions were accepted and several of the rewritten bills were afterwards enacted into law. During the year the model law was care-

• fully revised and eight new sections were added thereto. It was

also presented in two new forms to meet the requirements of all

classes of States. These amended copies were presented to the

Eighth Annual Conference on the Weights and Measures of the

United States and were adopted by that body and recommended

for passage in those States not yet having a satisfactory code of laws.

PARCEL-POST SCAL^IS.

In October the Post Office Department let contracts for 30,200

scales for use in the Parcel-Post Service, then about to be established.

At the request of that department the Bureau assisted in the preparation of specifications, tolerances, etc., and examined and criticized

the various models submitted. Afterwards test of the individual

scales was made by representatives of the Bureau at the factories

of the various manufacturers. The results of these tests were conclusive proof of the necessity of the inspections and resulted in

greatly improving the character of the product and in preventing

the delivery of many thousand seriously faulty scales.

When it was decided to purchase 50,000 additional scales the

Bureau again assisted the Post Office Department in the same way.

The inspection of the first two orders, consisting of 25,500 scales, has

been nearly completed and once again our inspectors have rejected

many thousand incorrect scales and have thus greatly improved the

character and accuracy of the product. The study of the variations

of spring scales resultant on temperature changes was continued by

conducting tests on various types of compensating devices submitted

by manufacturers and by investigating the efficacy of various combinations of metals which might be used in these devices.

TOLERANCES AND SPECIFICATIONS FOE COMMERCIAL WEIGHTS AND

MEASURES.

The Bureau was represented upon a committee on specifications

and tolerances for weights and measures appointed by the conference on weights and measures, and the report of the committee which was

accepted by the eighth conference will be used as the basis for specifications and tolerances to be published by the Bureau. Copies of

the report of the committee have been sent to practically every

manufacturer of such apparatus with the request that they give the

Bureau the benefit of any criticisms they may desire to make. Un25678—14 2
10 EEPOET OF DIKECTOK OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

fortunately the demands from the States for such specifications and

tolerances has been so urgent that a number of the States have not

been able to wait for the criticisms, and the mature consideration of

the matter by the Bureau. It is. however, believed that the specifications and tolerances as accepted by the conference were a decided

advance, and that no serious mistake has been made by their premature adoption by the States. In fact, there is some advantage in

giving them a trial before their final adoption by the Bureau.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES CONFERENCE.

The Eighth Annual Conference on Weights and Measures was

held at the Bureau in May of the present year, and in point of at- tendance and the character of the program was superior to any

heretofore held. Twenty-five States and 29 cities were represented,

and also the attendance of a number of railroad-scales inspectors

and manufacturers of weighing and measuring apparatus contributed very materially to the success of the meeting. Papers on the

following subjects were presented: "Report on legislation during

the year;" " The operation of the New York City serialization ordinance; " " Testing of gas meters; " " Testing of water meters; " " Design of scales ; " " Experiments on scales and weighing, and technical

features of scale action and construction." A full report of the proceedings of the conference will be published during the coming year.

Plans and specifications for the railroad-track scale testing equipment provided for during the year by Congress were sufficiently

advanced to enable the Bureau to give the contract for the main part

of the equipment to A. H. Emer^^, Glenbrook, Conn., in March, and

at this time the construction of the equipment is well imder way.

This equipment is radically different from anything heretofore used

for testing railroad-track scales. It has been customary for the

railroads and others to use a practically solid iron car with a short

wheel base, weighing anywhere from 25,000 to 80.000 pounds, as a portable standard weight which could be attached to the i*ear of

trains when transported from one scale to another. The wheels,

brakes, etc., of such a car form part of the standard, and consequently

any wear and tear upon them affects the test weight.

Where master scales are maintained at intervals on any railroad

system on which the weight of the test car can be frequently verified,

this is not a serious defect, but where a car might have to be transported from one part of the country to another over several roads,

some of Avhich may not have proper facilities for checking the weight

of the car, in order to be independent of changes in the running gear

caused either by wear or by reason of the fact that a pair of wheels

or brakes might have to be replaced,, the testing equipment of the

Bureau is carried in a specially constructed box car which is provided with an electrically operated crane for handling the equipment.

The testing equipment consists of eight 10,000-pound weights, four

2,500-pound weights, and two hundred 50-pound weights, and a truck

upon which all or any part of the standard weights may be loaded.

The truck will be operated by a worm gear by electric current generated by a 10-kilowatt dynamo driven by a gas engine in the box

car.
KEPOKT OF DIRECTOE OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS. 11

Auxiliary apparatus will be carried to enable a scientific study of

track scales to be made, e. g., upon the flexure of the beams and

foundation of the scales under varying loads. In order to place the

Bureau in closer touch with the large scales and weighing problems

several such scales at important points were visited during the past

year. The grain elevators in Baltimore, Md., which are periodically

tested under the jurisdiction of the Chamber of Commerce, Avere

also inspected. The factories of several representative scale manufacturers were also visited and details of the construction of large

scales were studied. The study of the situation showed the limitations of the common methods of constructing, testing, and maintaining scales, and developed the fact that there was no practice

recognized as standard and that local conditions varied greatlj'

according to the character, training, and experience of the men

supervising such work. The general information obtained has been

used in planning the test Aveight car equipment to be provided for

the Bureau.

The subject matter of the investigation to be conducted with the

aid of the test car has been considered and the detailed test to be

applied to scales to clear up disputed points and to obtain data for

planning the design and construction of scales on a uniform engineering basis has been outlined. Several papers upon the theory and

design of scales were prepared for the Eighth Annual Conference

on Weights and Measures. In view of these demands, and the

inadequacy of the present force to meet them, it is recommended that

a special appropriation be asked for the testing of railroad-track

scales, elevator scales, and other scales used in Aveighing test shipments by the Government in its transactions with the public, such

as post offices, navy yards, customs scales, etc. The question of testing railroad-track scales and elevator scales is one that should be taken care of by the Federal Government rather

than by the States, for the reason that practically everything weighed

upon them is ship]5ed from one State to another, and thus becomes

subject to interstate commerce laws. Moreover, it is a matter that

has never been taken up except by a few States, and consequently

there is afforded a splendid opportunity for the Federal Government

to set a standard of inspection for the States to follow. It will

be necessary to provide some increase in the equipment and personnel

of the Aveights and measures division during the coming year. The

Bureau has been called upon to investigate the scales and methods

used in the weighing of various commodities, such as cotton shipments in Texas; corn oil shipments in Louisiana and Chicago; coal

and grain shipments in Pennsylvania ; grain shipments in New York

belt conveyor at Annapolis, Md.

The Bureau has for a number of years urged the States to establish

weights and measures inspection for the protection of the purchasing

public, and half of the States are now spending from $10,000 to

$35,000 each for this purpose. On the other hand, little or nothing

is being done by the Federal GoA'ernment to insure the accuracy of

its own scales, although there is ample evidence that some of them

at least are among the poorest in use. The Federal Government

should set an example in this respect by the establishment of an

inspection service Avhich Avill periodically inspect all Government
12 KEPOET OF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OP STANDARDS.

scales used in dealing with the public, and should cooperate with the

State weights and measures officials in bringing about uniform

methods of inspection. The Bureau has already done a vast amount

of good in this direction through the National Conference on Weights

and Measures, but its value to the States could be greatly increased

by keeping in closer touch with the conditions in the States.

In view of the conditions of railroad-track scales disclosed by the

investigations of the Interstate Commerce. Commission and the

Bureau of Standards, and the resulting activity on the part of the

railroads in the installation of heavy scales, the recommendations of

the Interstate Commerce Commission, which are reasonable enough,

provided that they should be performed by this Bureau, and are as follows : That Congress confer authority to fix points at which track

scales shall be installed ; to prescribe their standard ; to test or to su- pervise the testing, and to supervise the operation of scales. To provide for even the most superficial inspection of railroad and elevator

scales, such as is recommended by the Interstate Commerce Commission, several test car equipments will be necessary, and the Bureau

should lose no time in supplying the demand for correct railroad and

elevator weights.

THERMOMETRY, PYROMETRY, AND HEAT MEASUREMENTS.

THERMOMETRY.

During the past year 791 mercurial thermometers and 13,061

clinical thermometers were tested. These included a large variety

of thermometers, e. g., 269 calorimetric and Beckmann thermometers

used in determining the heating values of fuels as a basis for large

purchases of fuel on specification and in the researches of scientific

and technical laboratories; 447 laboratory thermometers ranging

from below 0° to 550° C., used for general laboratory and technical

purposes; 25 hydrometer thermometers; 41 thermometers designed

for special uses; 9 clinical standard thermometers used as standards

by manufacturers for the graduation of clinical thermometers; 41

electrical resistance thermometers used for various purposes, e. g., for inspection and investigational work in measuring the temperature of refrigerator cars by one of the Government bureaus, for

measuring small temperature changes in calorimetric work of the

highest precision, for use as standards in industrial laboratories, for

testing thermometers to be used in engineering tests, etc. ; and two

differential thermocouples for measuring temperature differences in

the interval 0° to 40° with an accuracy within a few thousandths of a degree.

Of the clinical thermometers submitted 7.5 per cent were rejected

for various causes. These thermometers were submitted by the manufacturers, the several medical bureaus of the Government, hospitals,

druggists, physicians, and individual users. Although the total number of clinical thermometers tested represents but a small percentage

of the total annual product, experience has shown that it is sufficient

to serve as an excellent check on the accuracy of the present day

product. This, taken with the practice the Bureau has adopted for

some years of sending some of its own standards periodically to

manufacturers, has notably improved the accuracy and reliability

of the product.
KEPOET OF DIEECTOB OF BUBEAU OE STANDABDS. 13

Some progress was made on the investigation of primary standard

mercurial thermometers intended for use as standards in the interval

200° to 500° C, including the calibration of their scales and the

determination of the effect of temperature on their pressure coefficients. This extension beyond the standard interval from ice to

steam point is of special value industrially.

A special electrically heated thermometer comparator was built in

the instrument shops for the testing of thermometers in the interval

300° to 600° and has been used with much success when very uniform

temperatures are required through a region of considerable volume.

A paper on thermometric lag, with special reference to its effect

on precise differential temperature measurements in calorimetry, was

published during the year.

As stated in previous reports, a considerable part of the apparatus

required for the " porous-plug experiments " has been designed and

assembled. This investigation is of fundamental importance in the

establishment of the standard scale of temperature and its completion

would constitute a notable contribution to the field of thermometric

measurements. This investigation has been carried about as far as

is possible by a single experimenter.

Progress has been made in the negotiations with the national

standardizing laboratories of England, Germany, and France, with

a view to international agreement on the standard temperature scales

to be used by the several institutions. There is every prospect of a

satisfactory agreement.

In some industries having to do Avith chemical distillations, the

character of the various distillates depends on the rate and temperature limits of the distillation. At the request of the chemists of

these industries and of members of standardizing committees of

chemical societies interested in this work, some experiments were

inaugurated with a view to reducing the uncertainty in the temperature measurements as they are ordinarily made in standard forms

of distillation flasks and with different types of thermometers.

CALORIMETRY.

During the year 152 standard combustion samples of sugar, naphthalene, and benzoic acid were furnished to chemists and engineers

for the standardization of combustion calorimeters used for

the determination of the heating values of fuels. The general

use of these samples has relieved the Bureau of the necessity of test- ing great numbers of calorimeters Avhich it would undoubtedly have

been called on to test if these samples were not generally available.

By the use of these samples the chemist is enabled to check in a few

minutes the constants of his entire calorimetric eqiiipment, and the

accuracy of his experiirental methods, a check which can, therefore,

be frequently made and which has done much to reduce all calorimetric or fuel value testing to a uniform basis throughout the

country. When this work was begun the Bureau's attention was

frequently directed to the settlement of disputes between the buyer

and the seller of fuels, arising from the different results of tests made

in different laboratories. For example, in one instance involving a

large fuel contract, based on tlie heating value of the coal furnished,

the difference in the results of the two tests made in different labo-
14 REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

ratories amounted to $25,000 per year in the settlement as made on

the basis of one or the other of the tests. This difference was traced to an error of a few hundredths of 1

degree in the thermometer used in one of the tests. If these standard combustion samples had been available at that time, the party

in error would have been able to detect the error by simply buming

a weighed amount of the standard sample in his calorimeter and

observing whether the resulting heating value differed appreciably

from the value given in the Bureau certificate accompanying the

standard sample.

The water equivalent of one calorimeter of the bomb type was

determined in this section and several gas calorimeters that had been

used in important investigations were compared with the Bureau's

standardized calorimeters.

Several years ago the Bureau developed a type of electrical resist- ance thermometer especially adapted to the measurement of the temperature changes met with in calorimetry to an accuracy considerably

greater than is attainable with any mercurial thei"mometer. The

results of some improvements in the construction of the above type

of thermometer have been described in a paper which is now in press.

A considerable demand has arisen for these thermometers, which are now being regularly made by a well-known American instrument

maker, in accordance with specifications published by the Bureau.

Thermometers of this type, together with the accessory apparatus

required in their use, have been installed in numerous industrial

laboratories, in scientific laboratories requiring the highest accuracy

of measurement, and in some bureaus of the Government. Five of

these thei'mometers Avere standardized during the year and as many

more are now under test. Considerable progTess was made during the year on the investigation of industrial gas calorimeters. It is hoped that the first installment of this investigation can be completed and published in

the next few months. The results of this investigation, undertaken

at the request of the leading gas engineers, will, it is believed, be of

immediate practical importance to gas engineers, inspectors, and

public-service commissions, in view of the rajiid adoption of heatingvalue standards in place of lihotometric standards for specifications

of quality of gas delivered under contracts and public franchises.

Experimental work has been done on the determination of the

capacity for heat of water at different temperatures, and on the

temperature coefficient of the specific heat of copper. These investigations are fundamental to the science of measurement of quantities

of heat.

Preliminary determinations of the specific heats of milk and of

samples of cream for one of the Government bureaus were made in

this section.

A special comparator switch was designed and built for the intercomparison of calorimetric platinum resistance thermometers where

an accuracy of a few ten-thousandths of a degree is demanded.

PYROMETKY.

The i^yrometric testing included 25 rare metal and 8 base metal

thermocouples; fi pyrometer galvanom-eters ; 11 optical and radiation

pyrometers; 2 platinum resistance thermometers; 28 melting points
EEPORT OF DIBECTOE OF BUEEAU OF STAXDAEDS. 15

of fire bricks, furnace slags, and miscellaneous materials; 3 fireproofing liquids; 3 miscellaneous high-temperatnre tests; and 191

metallurgical tests, including 5 heating and cooling curves, 63 microphotographs, and 123 heat treatment tests (hardening, annealing, and

tempering).

The high-temperature instruments tested were submitted by many

different industries in which the control of temperature is an important factor in the quality of product, such as in foundry operations,

in the hardening and annealing of steels, in ceramic processes, etc.,

by technical testing laboratories, and by scientific-research laboratories. Manufacturers of all types of pyrometers are now regularly

submitting their standards to the Bureau for test, with the result

that one standard scale of temperature is now coming into very

general use in the industries, contributing materially to the accuracy

of specifications, the reproducibility of product, and the advantageous interchange of experience.

A technologic paper on the melting points of 62 samples of fire

brick and of materials of importance in the manufacture of fire brick

was published by the Bureau during the year. The experimental

work on the melting points of a number of refractory oxides was

completed during the year and the results will be published in the near future. This work has shown that some of the hitherto generally

accepted melting points of those refractory materials are in error by

some hundreds of degrees. Most of the apparatus required for the

determination of the thermal conductivity of refractory materials at very high temperatures has been designed, constructed in the Bureau

instrument shops, and assembled in the laboratory.

Papers were prepared on " Some characteristics of total radiation

pyrometers," " The calibration of optical pyrometers," and " The

cold-junction correction for thermocouples."

Mucli exiDerimental work was done on the monochromatic and total

emissivity of iron and nickel and their oxides to furnish data to users of radiation pj^rometers, enabling them to reduce observations with

these instruments to true temperatures.

A micropyrometer for measuring high temperature melting points

(above about 700° C.) was developed during the year and applied to

the determination of the melting jDoints of a number of the refractory

elements of atomic weight from 48° to 59°. The results will be

published in the Bidletin.

Several new furnaces have been designed and installed during the

year for special tests and investigations. One of these furnaces has

been used in determining the loss in weight of platinum ware when

exposed to various high temperatures for various lengths of time, a question of great importance in precise analytical operations car- ried out in platinum vessels.

OIL TESTING.

Viscosity, flash-point, and fire-point tests were made on 184 samples

of oils submitted by various bureaus of the Government. Some work

was done on the intercomparison of several makes of viscosimeters

widely used in oil testing.
16 BEPORT OF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

REFRIGERATION CONSTANTS.

In view of the late date of authorization of this investigation and

the considerable time required to fill the new positions, experimental

work could not be taken up until the year was well advanced. Nevertheless, important progress can be reported at this date. A systematic

program of work was planned after consultation with an advisory

committee appointed by the American Society of Refrigeration to

cooperate with the Bureau. In accordance with this program the

first important constant, the determination of which was undertaken,

was the latent heat of fusion of ice. This work required a very

large amount of special apparatus, which, however, was fortunately

at hand, having been developed to meet the requirements of previous

calorimetric investigations, so that experimental work could be immediately instituted. At the time of writing the experimental work

on this constant has been nearly all completed and it is hoped that

the results will be communicated to the forthcoming International

Congress on Eefrigeration to be held in Chicago in September,

1913. Two quite independent methods of determining the constant

were used and the results by the two methods are in most satisfactory

agreement.

Other constants of fundamental importance in the field of refrigeration engineering are the physical constants of the liquids and

vapors mainly used in refrigeration machinery, viz, anhydrous and

aqua ammonia, carbon dioxide, methyl chloride, etc. These constants are the latent heats, specific heats, specific volumes, vapor

pressures, densities, etc. A very large part of the special apparatus

required for the determination of the latent and specific heats of these

liquids has been designed and constructed in the instrument shops

and is now being assembled in the laboratories. A special comparator is being constructed to determine the coefficient of expansion

of ice. Different methods of preparation of the above liquids are under investigation. A carbon dioxide compressor has been installed

to provide means of attaining the low temperatures required in these

investigations. All the work has been planned with a view to the

determination of each important constant by at least two quite independent methods to insure the highest reliability to the results of

the work. Great experimental difficulties are sure to arise in an

investigation of this kind, so that it is difficult to fix any date for

the completion of such work, but it is expected that important

progress will be made during the present year.

The third stage of this investigation relates to the thermal conductivities of insulating and building materials and of types of

construction used in refrigeration structures. It was deemed best to

defer the inauguration of this work until the work outlined above

was further advanced and until an opportunity had been afforded to

test the apparatus that has been constructed and methods that have

been adopted.

METAX.LURGY.

The work in metallurg;\% which will hereafter be organized as a separate division, has been particularly effective during the past

year. All divisions of the Bureau have cooperated in this important
BEPOET OF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS, 17

field. The following is a statement of progress at the Bureau in

metallurgical and allied investigations and testing during the past

year, with a list of recent publications, and an account of work in

progress

A thermal and microscopic study has been made of a series of

commercial steels. During this work new and improved apparatus

was developed for taking heating and cooling curves of steel in vacuo. The two series of ex]Deriments gave results in agreement and

have added considerably to our knowledge of the iron-carbon system

containing impurities.

A simple method of calibrating optical pyrometers, suitable for

works practice, has been devised and a study made of the cold junction correction to thermocouples, which is of importance for works

practice.

^¥liat is probably the purest iron in existence has been made at the

Bureau. A study of the methods of producing this pure iron on a large scale is being undertaken by improved electrolytic methods.

This substance will be of inestimable value in making up pure alloys

of iron. It has been possible also to make crucibles here for melting

this iron without introducing impurities into the metal.

Using samples of nearly pure iron from several sources, a study

of the critical ranges (A2 and A3) is being made by the method of

heating and cooling curve. This investigation is of great scientific

interest, as the question of the allotropy of iron has long puzzled

metallographists. It is believed that our sensitive and accurate ex- periments will go a long way toward settling this elusive problem.

The elucidation of the nature, variations, and location of the critical

ranges in iron is also of practical metallurgical importance, as the

rationale of the heat treatment of iron and steel is dependent on

these phenomena. This work for pure iron is practically completed.

Whether pure iron, and also steel, possesses critical ranges below

700° C. is again a moot question. A study of this has been begun,

using several methods. Several hundred steels are being studied for

melting points, emissivities, etc., and may be later examined for

other physical properties. These steels are of peculiar interest, in

that a great many measurements of electrical, magnetic, and mechanical properties have already been made on some of them by others.

Work is also being continued on the melting points of the refractory

elements, and it is hoped to determine this constant with exactness

for all the refractory chemical elements available.

The Bureau has been greatly aided in this work by the willingness

of chemists, from all over the world, to contribute samples of the

pure elements they have prepared. Preliminary results have been

obtained with Os, Ku, Eh, Ir, Mo,_ Be, B, Nb, Er, Th, Y, and Zr.

Some preliminary work on iron-silicon alloys has been begnin with

the idea of ascertaining the possibility of reducing silicon from pure

silica and alloying the silicon and iron. Also work has been started on an investigation of the variations in apparent carbon content of

steels with temperature, size of grain, rate of combustion, purity of

oxygen, heat treatment, etc. The preparation of pure carbon-iron

alloys has been begun, as well as a study of the wearing qualities of

2567S—14 3
18 REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

monel metal and the behavior of enameled apparatus and of a sherardizing plant. There is a wide field here for important work.

A stud}^ of the loss in Aveight of platinum ware when heated is under wav for a committee of the American Chemical Society. This

has required the construction of a special furnace and satisfactory

preliminary results have already been obtained.

An investigation of considerable experimental difficulty and of

importance to metallurgical practice is nearing completion on the

radiation from metals and oxides. The data obtained will permit

giving exact correction to the various optical and radiation pyrometers when sighted on these materials.

Another problem of practical metallurgical importance is the question of rolling temperatures of steel rails. Measurements have been

obtained of the practice in four large rail mills, and the results will soon be ]Dublished with accessor}' data on the properties of the rails.

This work is but preliminary to taking up. if facilities are provided,

the vitall_y important question of the qualit}' of rails.

3MISCELI/ANE0US. ,

As in past years an important feature of the work of this division

has consisted in furnishing to representatives of many different

industries information relating to thermal constants, methods of temperature measurement adapted to the requirements of specific problems, the design of special apparatus to enable large industrial

laboratories to do their own routine testing, the Bureau being thus

relieved of doing much of this testing, it being only necessary to test the standards of these laboratories. Information was also furnished

to a number of laboratories, both industrial and in the Government

departments, on specifications for high-grade mercurial thermometers

adapted to specific requirements and on complete temperature equipments for scientific Avork requiring high accuracy. At the request of

the Navy Department a member of this division delivered a course of lectures on " Technical thermodynamics " before the post graduate

department of the United States Naval Academ}^ The stenographic

notes of these lectures have been printed by the Navy Department

for the use of the officers of the fleet. A member of this division has made a careful study of the " Principle of similarity," a particular view of the theory of dimensions.

The study was undertaken, in view of the fact that there appears to

be no publications where this principle has been at all completely

and clearly set forth and illustrated. This principle is of the utmost

importance and utility, especiall}' in experimental hydro and aero dynamics. The advisory committee of the Langle^^ Aerod^mamical

Laboratory has requested that the part of the paper relating to aero- dynamics be submitted for publication by that committee. The complete paper on its completion will be published. A special chapter

of the study referred to above relates to an analysis of existing ex- perimental data on the windage of steam tui-bines, and a paper on

this subject will soon be submitted for j^ublication.
EEPOBT OF DIKECTOK OF BUKEAU OF STANDARDS. 19

OPTICS.

APPLIED OPTICS AND SPECTROSCOPY.

Image-forming insiruments.—Image-forming instruments, including telescopes, microscopes, photolens. etc., were tested during the

past year in increasing numbers for individuals and corporations

throughout the countrj^ as well as for the various Government departments. The systems tested range throughout the field of optics

from complete examination of the large submarine periscope, which

limits the value of the boat as an instrument of war, to the simple

measurement of an aperture ratio for the purchaser of photographic

lens.

An investigation of discrepancies between the true aperture ratio

of photographic lenses and the marked ratio shows that the purchaser does not ahvays get the marked ratio. The cost and selling

price of a photographic lens increase rapidly with a slight increase

of this ratio.

Improved methods of measuring the residual aberrations have been

devised. The measurement of distortion is extremely urgent when

the lens is used for photographic surveying, and has to be capable

of high precision.

Considerable has been done upon the aberration tolerance of lenses

suited to various purposes. Lenses have been constructed for this

purpose and other designs are under way. This is a very complex

problem but of considerable importance to both manufacturer and

purchaser of optical instruments.

This section has been consulted continuously by the Government

departments and by all divisions of the Bureau regarding the proper

lens systems for specific work.

An investigation of the errors of a set of microscope objectives

belonging to this section has been carried out Avith the idea of

having a standard set for rapid comparison with other objectives.

Numerous microscope test objects have been collected together but

considerable difficulty is experienced in obtaining those suitable for

certain objectives. One series of microscope objectives has been

found which give greatly increased resolving power by the use of

the 436 line of the mercury arc. This is nearly a 20 per cent increase over that attained with ordinary illumination. A new form of eyepiece has been devised which gives promise of increasing the working

field of the ordinary well-corrected objective. A circular on photographic lenses is in preparation.

Photographic optics.—In the many uses of photographic equipment there is a demand for increased resolving power and definition.

The resolving ])ower depends upon the plate grain and diffusion in

the film. An investigation has been made of the plate grain of many

plates of the leading American makers. Photomicrographs to a uniform magnification, both of the developed and undeveloped plates,

have been made. The effect of developers upon the growth of the

image has been studied and an effort made to determine the best

methods of working.
20 EEPOKT OF DIEECTOK OF BUREAU OF STANDAEDS.

Eefractvtnetry.—Xiimerous refractive index determinations have

been made for manufacturers and others with the precision spectrometer and also crclinarv refractometer determinations.

An investigation is under way to determine suitable refractive

index standards for use as a check upon the various refractometers

in use by manufacturing concerns and the departments of the Government. The i^hysical characteristic of man}' hundred compounds

have been examined with a view to securing permanent liquid standards of the proper refractive indices. It is too early to predict that

liquids will be found which are permanent and suitable, but it is

hoped that such will be the case. As stated, hundreds of refractive

indices have been measured in this search. This is of great urgency

because of the continually growing commercial use of the refractometer as a means of rapidly and accurately detecting impurities

in liquids.

Spectrophotometry.—The spectrophotometric tests have been

limited during the past year to the necessary routine tests of photographic ray filters, etc., because of the very limited force throiighout the greater part of this fiscal 3'ear. It is hoped that this work

may be continued, especially the investigation upon glass absorption

of the invisible ultra-violet radiation and of visible radiation.

The work in spectroscopy has been somewhat delaj^ed through the

resignation of the specialist in this subject. The position has now

been filled and the work is being reorganized.

The study and planning for an absolute determination of the wave

length of neon light was given some attention and deferred so that

work in calorimetry could be taken up.

The work which will be done in this section during the coming

year is part of a three-year program. This program consists in the

measurement, by interference methods, of secondary standards of

wave length throughout the entire range of spectrum which can be

photographed at i^resent. A few standards will be determined with

great accux*acy in the ultra-violet, and these will be used in measuring

ordinary secondary standards and for other purposes. It is hoped

that the inert gases of the atmosphere mav furnish excellent standards for this purpose. The greater part of the secondarj' standards

will be measured in the iron spectrum and according to the recom- mendations of the wave length committee of the International Union

for Solar Eesearch.

During the coming year it is hoped that the necessary apparatus

for this work will be installed and tests and a beginning made on

the measurements. The apparatus under construction, or planned,

consists of several etalons and a complete outfit of auxiliary apparatus, a measuring instrmnent of unique design, a spectrograph of

great dispersive power for the ultra-violet, and the mounting for a concave grating. Installations for making plates sensitive to the

ultra-violet and infra-red are under way.

The demand for the work of this section is very great and is fundamental to all accurate measurements of light waves, and the physicist,

the chemist, the astronomer, and the meteorologist alike require such

standards. Furthermore, the wave lengths once standardized may

be used in making standards of length.
EEPOKT OF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS. * 21

INTEKFEROMETRY.

The chief activity in interferometry has been in the determination

of coefficients of expansion of materials. A new method of observation was devised and lias been partially tested in practice. A simple

formula for change in order of interference due to temperature and

pressure changes has been derived and published. New apparatus

for temperature control was designed.

In the construction of crj^stalline quartz apparatus for use in interferometry it became necessary to grind quartz accurately perpendicular to the axis and to test for this adjustment. The methods of

construction and testing Avere studied and the work satisfactorily

accomplished. An instrument for testing such quartz plates has been

obtained and the Bureau is now prepared to test quartz plates with

respect to the orientation of the optical axis.

COLORISIETRY.

Work upon color specification was actively resumed and tentative

plans for a spectrum three-color colorimeter were made. An improvised working model was set up and an instrument evolved from this

model will be constructed. Attention has also been given to the

specification of the color of oleomargarine, and what is hoped to be

a practicable method has been outlined and is now being tested.

The introduction of bills in Congress and State legislatures aiming

to specify a legal limit for the color of oleomargarine has resulted

in frequent demands on the Bureau for information and advice on.

this subject.

The larger part of the recent work has been upon the specification

of the color of cottonseed oil. This oil is commercially graded by

color, that is, its color fixes the price. Hitherto the methods of test- ing have been unsatisfactory on account of disputes and contentions

between buyer and seller, involving thousands of dollars. The

Bureau's work in this field was undertaken in response to an appeal

from the chairman of the uniform methods committee of the Society

of Cotton Products Analysts. The Bureau has also cooperated in

this matter with the chemist's bureau of the New York Stock Exchange. Eleven tests have been applied for and completed. Several

hundred Lovibond glasses have been intercompared. Improvements

in methods of color testing have been suggested to the cottonseed oil

trade and will be adopted. The detailed results of the Bureau's

investigation of Lovibond glasses were reported to the annual meeting of the Society of Cotton Products Analysts at Chicago in June.

1913. The improving of these methods Avill be undertaken hy the

Bureau in cooperation with that society.

The more urgent needs in colorimetry are a thorough-going ex- perimental study of the trichromatic, monochromatic, and rotary dispersion methods of specifying color; a comparative color study of

direct sunlight, diffuse daylight, and some reproducible artificial source (the weather conditions make Washington a quite unsuitable

location for studying sunlight and it is desirable that arrangements

be made for a period of work at some station of high altitude in a, dry climate) ; a room especially designed for color Avork and for per-
22 • REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

manent installation of colorimetric apparatus. Its design should

provide for light from any direction and any part of the sky as desired, and for a permanently mounted heliostat. It Avill probably

be necessary to provide additional assistance to carry on routine

testing in color specification. The repeated demands on the Bureau

for advice in specifying standard colors emphasize the urgent necessity of perfecting our equipment and methods as soon as jDossible.

POLARIMETOY.

To meet the demands made upon the Bureau the work in polarimetiy has been more largely heretofore directed upon those problems

Avhich closely unite the Bureau and the public. The polariscope and its accessories are the indispensable adjuncts of the refined sugar manufacturer, the beet and the cane sugar planter, the public sugar chemists, and the customs sugar laboratories. In addition, they are part

of the regular physical and chemical equipment used in other industries as well as institutions of learning. This polarimetric apparatus

is the product of European manufacturers and is not standardized.

The AAorking methods used in the laboratories also vary greatly.

The necessit}^ for a Bureau publication dealing with these subjects

in a comprehensive maimer is evident. A unification of methods as well as a common basis of standardization is necessary in order to

bring the results obtained into agreement. With the object of accomplishing this the Bureau has prej)ared a comprehensive circular dealing with these subjects in a thorough manner and touching upon other

lines of the Bureau's activities of importance to the sugar industr}'.

At the New York meeting of the International Committee for

Uniform Methods of Sugar Anal3'sis a representative of the Bureau

presented a preliminary paper on the basis of standardization of the

sugar testing polariscope. A long and careful investigation by the

Bureau has shown that the 100° or 100 per cent pure point for

sugar has universally been placed at least one-tenth per cent too

high. This relatively large error has caused a loss to the revenue from duties collected on imported sugars of over $500,000 in tlie last

10 years, the buyer of raw sugar has paid less than he should in the

same ratio, and the loss tO' sugar growers from this source is vei"y

large. As a result of the Bureau's work, the International Sugar

Commission has appointed a special commission to investigate and

inake recommendations regarding the matter. The institutions represented on this committee are the Bureau of Standards, the Austrian

Sugar Institute, the German Sugar Institute, and the PhysikalischTechnische Reichsanstalt.

An investigation has been made of the values of quartz control

plates used by the Bureau as primary standards for saccharimeters.

The light source used was the yellow green line ( =546.1) of incandescent mercury vapor. The results indicate that previous values were

slightly low. The work on the j^roduction of monochromatic light

of considerable intensity has progi'essed well.

A large polariscope, designed and built in the Bureau shops, Avith

polarizing and analyzing systems mounted on separate bases, is intended for magneto-optical research in connection Avith the large electromagnet. A further study of the designs of the perfected sensitive
KEPOKT OF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS. 23

tripolaiizing system, the most sensitive of all polarizing systems,

has also been made.

Several researches, of importance from the scientific point of view,

and also because of their bearing on the sugar industry, are now

nearing completion. Among these are the purification of dextrose,

the influence of atmospheric conditions on sugar tests, and a study

of the basic acetates of lead. Many samples of dextrose were prepared with a high degree of puritj^ from commercial glucose and

from cane sugar. It has been found that atmospheric conditions

exert a marked influence upon sugar polarization, and precautions

are now available for avoiding this error. The research on the basic acetates of lead is still in progress. This

investigation is intended to apply to the methods of clarifying raw

sugar for polariscopic analysis. The research will throw light on

the possible compounds which are all grouped under the title of basic

lead acetate.

The supervising of the sugar Avork of the Treasury Department

customs laboratories has been continued, and a number of important

changes made, including the introduction of the bichromate light

filter and improved polariscope tube. The results have been gratifying. The systematic differences existing for years between the tests of the various ports of entry, as shown by the exchange samples,

have been gradualh' reduced. The Treasury Department, in consequence, has had few contests on sugar importations and has won

those in which it has engaged.

JMany standard samjoles of sucrose of high purity Avere prepared

and sent out during the A'ear. The research on dextrose has resulted

in the preparation of a standard dextrose of high purity. It is ex- pected that the availability of this substance as a standard reducing

sugar will have the efi'ect of increasing the analytical accuracy upon

which a number of industries depend. The analysis which determines the reducing power of a reducing sugar is somewhat difficult

and unreliable if not carefully controlled, but may be made uniformly

reliable if the analyst has at hand a standard substance by which he

can A^erifj^ his work. The Bureau is now prepared to issue standard

dextrose samples for this purpose.

The amount of testing was considerably' larger than in any preceding year. In all about 1,400 tests were made, many of them in duplicate. This does not include the testing of polariscope tubes cover

glasses, over 3,100 of which were examined.

The Bureau desires in every way possible to assist in the development of American made scientific instruments. During the year an

encouraging beginning was made with polariscopic apparatus.

Standard glassware, polariscope tubes, and a bichromate cell, all of

improved types, were designed and are being produced by Ajnerican

manufacturers with gratifying results.

RADIOMETKi:.

The choice of the problems to be investigated in radiometx-y is not

always determined by their apparent immediate usefulness. For

example, the bismuth-silver thermopile, with opaque receiver. Avhich

Avas designed and made by this Bureau, Avhen first proposed, was

considered impracticable. It was constructed and seA'eral instru-
24 EEPORT OF DIEECTOE OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

ments made for the public. Now that its practical utility has been

demonstrated instrument makers are adopting its principles. One

important instrument maker visited the laboratory and Avas given

practical instruction in the construction of this instrument. From

present indications it will displace other forms of radiometers for

precision work.

The relations of the radiometric work of this Bureau with the

public are useful in other ways than the investigation of radiometers

and radiation constants. For example, the Bureau has undertaken

to maintain a standard of radiation and to issue simple radiation

standards in the form of electric incandescent lamps, calibrated so as to give, in absolute units, the energy radiated from the lamp.

The need of measuring photostimuli radiometrically is growing

rapidly among i^hysiologists and psychologists, and considerable

time is spent in advising them as to equipment for psycopathic hospitals and physiological purposes in general. The high intensity

spectroscope ("illuminator"), designed in this laboratory and mentioned in previous reports, with the radiometric attachment has met

with success with these investigators, and is serving as a model for

instrument makers. Other advisory work has been done in connection with meteorologists and astronomers engaged in solar radiation

work; also beginners in radiation work in various colleges find it convenient to appty for advice and assistance. These are illustrations of the ways in which the Bureau, through its radiation work,

keeps in close touch with the public, as affecting particular groups

of investigators.

In a broader sense radiometry is useful to the public through the

investigation of the constants of radiation of the so-called " black

body" (a uniformly heated inclosure). During the past year data

on the first part of this investigation were computed and are now in

press. These data pertain to the constants of spectral radiation for

temperatures to 1,400° C. The results are of the greatest importance

in p3^rometry and spectroscopy.

A vacuum furnace has been constructed for attaining higher temperatures. Progress has also been made in the construction of apparatus for measuring, in absolute value, the total radiation of a black

body, and considerable preliminary work has been done on this subject. Thick quartz plates, ground plane parallel, have been obtained

for investigating the capacity of quartz in the infra-red. This is

necessary before work can be done on the radiation constants at high

temperatureSj which requires quartz prisms.

The investigations on " Selective emission of various substances " and " The diffuse reflecting power of various substances," mentioned

in previous reports, are now in print. A " Summary of recent investigations of the constants of radiation " (this is a critical analysis

of the methods, data, etc.), also minor papers on " Radioilluminator

attachments," " Tests of thermopiles," etc., have been published.

The short focus, high intensity quartz lens spectrometer (illuminator) has been remodeled and is now being used in obtaining standard spectral energy curves of incandescent lamps, which have been

submitted for test. This apparatus is being used also for determining standard spectral energy curves in the visible spectrum. As

a standard source of radiation which is easily procured by the public
KEPORT OF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS. 25

the acetylene flame is used. Vacuum tubes filled with helium gas

under a standard pressure are also to be investigated.

At the present time the calibration of incandescent lamps, as

" radiation standards," is being completed. It is hoped to make

some preliminary measurements on the constants of total radiation

in absolute value, before there is a change in the temperature conditions within and without the optical pyrometer, and making other

preliminary tests, the work on spectral radiation constants, at high

temperatures with the A'acuum furnace, can not be resumed before

fall or winter.

CHEMISTRY.

The routine work in chemistry has shown little change in amount

from that of the previous year in spite of a reduction in the number

of samples submitted by the general supply committee, and of irons

and steels by the Isthmian Canal Commission. These losses have

been made up in other materials from the Canal Commission and by

an increase of testing for other branches of the Government service.

As compared with the previous year the routine work has been

handled with somewhat more dispatch, so that complaints on account

of delay have been fewer. This improvement has been brought

about in part by increasing the efficiency of appliances and the

rapidity of a few methods of testing.

Listed by sources, the distribution of routine tests was approximately as follows: Treasury Department, 2,815; War Department,

2,400 ; Navy Department, 65 ; Department of Commerce, 482 ; Post

Office Department, 34 ; United States congressional committees, commissions, and miscellaneous institutions, 373 ; Government Printing

Office, 2,057; State and municipal institutions, 53; private parties,

132; in all, including other departments and parties, 8,446 chemical

analyses and tests. Classified by character of material, the tests were as follows:

Irons and steels, 1,170; coated metals, 318; metals and alloys other

than iron and steel, 490; cements, 915; asphalt and coal tars, 244;

asphalt felts, etc., 109; linseed oil, 270; oil driers, 180; paints and

paint materials, 803 ; varnishes, 367 ; lubricating oils, 102 ; rubber,

651; vulcanized fiber, 21; paper, 2,237; inks, printing, 66; sealing

wax, 38; flax packing, 34; asbestos, 95; miscellaneous, 61.

ANALYZED SAMPLES.

Early in the year a new material was added to the Bureau's list

of analyzed standard samples, namely, sodium oxalate for use in

standardizing oxidimetric solutions. Two new acid open-hearth

steels with 0.8 and 1.0 per cent carbon were added late in the year.

A few renewals were prepared for several exhausted samples. That

the demand for these samples is growing is shown by 1,467 samples

of irons and steels furnished during the past year, as against 955

furnished during the year jDreceding, 190 samples of ores as against

136 during the previous year, and 200 of the new sodium oxalate

samples. None of the latter were furnished during the previous

fiscal year. The net increase amounted to about 50 per cent.
26 REPOKT OF DIEECTOK OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

The Bureau is about ready to issue a rolled brass standard sample.

The delay is attributable to inability to secure satisfactory agreement among the cooperating analysts. The Bureau will on this

account probably restrict cooperation greatly or dispense with such

outside analyses altogether in future for materials with which our

chemists have acquired sufficient analytical skill, or where experi- ence shows that great delay is to be expected. This course we shall

adopt with regret, for experience has shown that cooperation is of

great value, both to ourselves and to the participants outside the

Bui'eau.

A date for issuing the cast brass can not be given until a way is

found for securing a sample of satisfactory homogeneity. Efforts

will be made to solve the problem at the Bureau's Pittsburgh laboratory by experimenting with different conditions of casting, in the

hope of receiving a material that will resist oxidation in the operation of mixing.

RESEARCHES COMPLETED.

The results of several researches have been published during the

year, certain of these being the results of cooperative work with

other divisions of the Bureau, as follows: Atomic Weight of Bromine; The Chemistry of the Filter Paper Voltameter and the Explanation of Striations ; Density and Thermal Expansion of Ethyl

Alcohol and its Mixtures with "Water; Legal Specifications for Illuminating Gas; The Determinaticm of Sulphur in Illuminating Gas;

Evaporation Test for Mineral Lubricating and Transformer Oils;

The Sampling of Rubber Goods ; Preliminary Note on a New Method

for Dii-ect Determination of Rubber; Determination of Phosphorus

in Steels Containing Vanadium; Note on the Use of Benzoic Acid

as a Standard Material ; The Constitution of Aluminates.

New editions have been prispared of the circulars relating to the

standard samples, which have engaged the attention of several chemists. Tentative methods for the determination of moisture in coal,

suggested by the head of the division, were published in a technical

journal.

RESEARCHES IN PROGRESS.

Research is in progress u]Don the aluminium, with special reference

to application in the analysis of phosphate rock. The work on lubricating oils now in progress is much hampered by the amount of

routine work. It is hoped to secure valuable information in the course of testing deliveries of oil to the Government departments

and other offices. Much work has been done on methods of rubber

analysis.

The determination of certain physical constants of alcohol has

continued and assistance given to the research on refrigeration constants. Cooperative work with the American Society for Testing

Materials has included the analysis of a series of pure raw linseed

oils of known origin obtained from domestic, South American, and

East Indian sources. As a result a specification has been presented

to the society for adoption. The Bureau has also conducted similar

analyses on 5 types of boiled linseed oil, 11 soya bean oils, and 8
BEPOBT OF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS. 27

Chinese wood oils to detennine their constants so that limits can be

specified. It will be necessary to develop special tests to identify

these oils, either alone or in mixtures. Analyses will be undertaken

on a series of turpentines of known origin to develop standard methods of test and specifications.

An investigation has also been started to develop standard methods of analysis of pigments. A number of commercial Avhite pigments and extenders have been carefully analyzed by several methods,

both in this laboratory and in that of the Bureau of Chemistiy.

The method used in both laboratories show concordant results. The

investigation will be continued to include most of the commercial

pigments. It is intended to conduct a series of exposure tests on

paints for metal protection, since it is only necessary to confirm by

several series of exposures the data obtained in previous tests. In an endeavor to devise a more satisfactory method than we now have of

determining the quantity of oil and gum present in a varnish some

work has been done in determining the noraial glycerine content of

raw linseed oil and the eff^ect of heating on this quantity.

The investigation to ascertain the changes produced in cement

mortars and concrete exposed to. sea and alkali Avaters is being continued. This will include the analysis of a large number of samples

of set mortars and concretes which have been exposed to these agencies. An effort will also be made to determine the hydration which

occurs in the setting of cement, since it is believed that this determination will afi^ord a measure of the cementing value of the material.

The investigation of waterproofing and damp-proofing materials

used in building construction will be continued in the endeavor to

develop tests to show the value of these materials and aid in formulating specifications.

There are a number of other minor investigations aiming at an

increase in the efficiency of the methods of testing now in use which

are constantly under consideration.

ENGINEERING INSTRUMENTS.

During the year some 200 water-current meters of various types

were calibrated for the United States Geological Survey, the Reclamation Service and other Government departments, and State water

supply commissions. An increasing number of private Avater and

power companies and engineering firms are sending their current

meters to the Bureau for rating. The construction of a iOO-foot

testing tank for the rating of current meters has been brought Avell

toAvard completion and Avill provide the facilities for much needed

investigative "Avork of the characteristics of these important instruments. Sixty-eight steam, vacuum, and air gauges, and special

gauges for paper-testing machines were calibrated. Numerous other

instruments Avere tested, including anemometers, tachometers, fii'e extinguishei^s, and gas meters. At the request of the Supervising

Architect of the Treasury an investigation of the comparative merits

of various makes of steam radiator valves has been initiated.

There is an important and increasing demand for more accurate

information concerning the fundamental data needed in machine

designs and for methods of determining the efficiency of mechanical

I
28 EEPOKT OF DIBECTOE. OF BUREAU OF STANDABDS.

devices. This work has been carried on in an exceedingly limited

way largely in connection with requests for information on the part

of other Government bureaus, but the time has come when it should

constitute one of the principal sections of the Bureau^s activities.

ENGINEERING, STRUCTURAL, AND MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS.

The two testing machines of the Emery type, one having a capacity

of 2,300,000 pounds and the other 230,000 pounds, are now installed

and in operation. The large machine is engaged upon a series of

column tests which the Bureau is making in cooperation with the

column committee of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and

the column committee of the American Railway Engineering Association. This series of tests on columns will take up fundamentally

the question of the relation of length in terms of radius of gyration,

in which different forms of cross section of component parts of

members are used. At the Pittsburgh laboratory, the 10,000,000-

pound Olsen machine has been engaged upon work of magnitude

which has embraced column tests representing the compression members of the new Municipal Bridge across the Mississippi River at

St. Louis.

At Pittsburgh there has also been established a bronze foundry, the

work of which is being done in cooperation with a committee of the

American Institute of Metals, the work first undertaken being that

which pertains to the method of preparation and form of test pieces

which shall represent castings under current engineering specifications.

The field work of the Bureau in structural materials has embraced

work on the lock gates, lock walls, and emergency dams at the

Panama Canal, the physical properties and behavior in place of

street pavements, measurement of strains in hulls of ships at sea, continuation of the work on dead load stresses in bridges of large

span ; and in conjunction with the Interstate Commerce Commission,

the continuance of tests on steel rails which are fractured in service

and investigative tests on the behavior of the material in locomotive

fire box construction.

Several hundred tests were made for various departments of the

Government, covering large ropes and cables, concrete specimens

from various dams, bronzes and babbitts, cast iron, iron and steel

specimens, coke, electric tape, brick, tile, etc., generally to determine

their efficiency and suitability for structural service. This work

has been done mainly for the Isthmian Canal Commission, Navy and

War Departments, United States Bureau of Mines, and the Reclamation Service. A large number of tests have been made for en- gineering society committees, various firms, and engineers, covering

large steel columns, car couplers, concrete columns and floor slabs,

street car rails, brick and concrete specimens, pipe, terra cotta, tile,

copper plugs, iron and steel samples, turnbuckles. cables, etc., mainly

to determine their suitability for service conditions, and also in

several cases for a study of physical properties. The laboratory has

been placed at the service of the Mine Cave Commission of the State

of Pennsylvania and the United States Bureau of Mines to carry on an extensive series of tests covering the efficiency of various aggre-
KEPOKT OF DIRECTOE OF BUEEAU OF STANDAEDS. 29

gates of earth, rock ashes, mine culms, etc., against settlement under

great pressures, together with a number of tests of various timber

cribs, grillages, props, etc., as to their availability for mine roof

supports, earth retainers, etc., which tests have been conducted for

several months and are still under way. An elaborate system of

strain measurements were made on various sections and lengths of

columns to stud}^ the effect of initial strains from riveting members,

effect of length on crij)pling load, etc. Two studies were made on

large brick piers to determine general deportment under loading to

failure.

The function of the structural materials work is twofold—first, in

respect to the development of accurate data upon physical properties

of materials of construction, and second, upon the practical application of such data in respect to current engineering structures. The

laboratorv rests pertain to definition of the physical properties of

materials in the abstract as the basis and foundation on which en- gineering constants rest. The varied conditions of service are such

that it is not infrequently a matter of judgment, on the part of the

engineer, what percentage of the ultimate strength can safely be

made use of in structures, and the magnitude of those structures, and

the relations which they bear to public safet}^ are factors wliich have

to be considered. The definition and investigation of those properties

which are made use of is one branch of the work of the Bureau and

supplementary tests having direct reference to the use of structural

matei'ials form a part of the laboratory work; that is, there is a coordination between the laboratory and the users of materials in

engineering structures which bring about a special class of testing in

the laboratory in addition to the primary ones on the physical properties of material taken in the abstract. The Bureau in this way is

brought into direct relationship with the structural engineers and

manufacturing engineers of the country and the application of data

on properties of material is made direct hj the cooperation of the

Bureau with the structural engineers of the country.

CEMENTS.

A total of 15.810 samples of cement were tested during the past

fiscal year at the Washington, Pittsburgh, and Northampton laboratories, representing in Government purchases about 1,600,000 barrels.

The work showed an increase of 15 per cent at Washington, 40 per

cent at Pittsburgh, and a decrease of 25 per cent at Northampton, due

to a decrease in shipments to the Canal Zone.

Samples of cement to be used in construction of Federal buildings

throughout the country and miscellaneous samples received from

Government departments and the public were tested at the Washington laboratory; also cements to be used in the construction of

docks and inland river improvements.

There were purchased on Government contracts 226,725 barrels of

cement at 14 different mills located in Virginia, West Virginia,

Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Indiana, which

were inspected at the place of manufacture. The inspection included

the taking of samples, testing, and subsequent inspection of packing

and shipping. This method of inspection is convenient to the pur-
30 REPOKT OF DIKECTOK OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

chasing office in that only standard cement is received, and it may be

used immediately upon delivery; it is also economical, since fewer

samples can be taken, fewer tests made, and shipments can be made

immediately on any Government contract from tested stock.

At the Pittsburgh laboratory most of the routine testing was done

for the War Department, complete inspection being made at the

place of manufacture. The cement for the Isthmian Canal was

tested at Northampton. The decrease in shipments to the Canal

Zone was caused by the completion of certain phases of the work.

Cement specification..—In an endeavor to obtain a United States

standard specification for Portland cement the GoA-ernment confer- ence of engineers from the various departments, which was successful

in formulating a Government standard specification during the preceding year, was reconvened and a joint conference organized composed of representatives from the Government conference, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the American Society for Testing Materials. While no final agi'eement has been reached by the

joint conference it is anticipated that a uniform specification may be

agreed to during the ensuing year.

Investigations upon cement and concrete.—The experimental

cement plant of the Bureau has been particularly active during the

past year. In all 20 burns were made in the rotary kiln, part of

these being of particular interest as bearing upon the effect of magnesia in Portland cement, which has been a much disputed question.

The effect of difference of temperature of burns on the same raw

material was also studied in the small " stack kiln ", and very interesting results obtained. Before they can be considered conclusive

they must be duplicated on a larger scale.

There has been conducted in the chemical and microscopical laboratory a gi-eat deal of work on the process of hydration of cements,

particularly with the use of pure materials. A report of this work

is now being prepared. The experimental cement plant has also

devoted several weeks to work on clay, marl, and magnesite submitted

by commercial interests.

Other investigations were continued or inaugurated during the

year, such as a study of sand or silica cements, which is of considerable value to the Reclamation Service, which is now using this instead

of Portland cement on some projects. The value of the soundness

test and a proposed high-pressure steam test for determining the

quality of the cement were investigated. Tests were also continued

to determine the effects of heat, moisture, and pressure, separately

and combined.

A granulometric analyzer and separator were developed in order

to study the value of fine grinding of cements. An investigation

was made to determine the sieving value of standard cement sieves.

Work was continued on the investigation of volumetric changes

which take place in concrete structures, owing to temperature variations and chemical reaction during the hardening of the concrete;

this information is necessary in order to properly place expansion

and contraction joints to prevent cracking of concrete structures.

This work has been done almost entirely in the field, experiments

being made on roadways in Michigan, Connecticut, New Jersey,

Pennsylvania, and Canada.
REPOKT OF DIKECTOE OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS. 31

In order to determine the eifect of alkali waters on cement as actually used in service an advisory comniittee was organized, comi)osed

of representatives from the Reclamation Service, the drainage division of the Department of Aginculture, the Cement Manufacturers

Association, and the Bureau. This committee held several meetings

and organized a program of tests which included the making of some

8,000 cement drain tile which are to be installed in eight badly alkaline

districts in Colorado, Montana. Wyoming, Arizona, Washington,

Xew Mexico, and Utah ; also in Missouri and Minnesota for comparative purposes. These drainage tile are to be installed during the

late summer of 1913.

An investigation was made to determine the failure of concrete

in Bergen Hill Eailway tunnel between Hoboken and Jersey Cit)^,

N. J. This involves both laboratory and field tests which have not

been completed.

Some work was done on the investigation of the permeabilit}' to

water of structural materials, but it had to be temporarily discontinued.

A number of miscellaneous samples of stones, bricks, concrete,

and building material were tested for various Government departments.

Steps were taken toward the organization of an advisory committee to outline a comprehensive cooperative program for a field

survey and laboratory investigation of the stone resources of the

United States. The committee is composed of representatives from

the United States Geological Survey, the Bureau of Mines, the Office

of Public Roads, and the Bureau of Standards. The work is to be

done cooperatiA'ely by the various Government offices.

A publication was issued during the year (Technologic Paper

No. 12) on the action of salts in alkali waters and sea water on

cements.

LIME.

The lime work for the year may be grouped under three general

heads: (1) A study of the properties of lime mortar, such as time of

set, contraction, crushing, tensile, transverse, and shearing strengths,

' etc.. and also of the properties of cement mortar to which different

proportions of lime have been added; (2) attempted solutions of

problems in which both makers and users are vitally interested, such as What happens when lime " burns " during the slaldng? What is the

cause of the popping or pitting of lime plaster? How can the amount

of free oxide in hydrated line be estimated? (3) work in connection

with committee C—7 of the American Society for Testing Materials

in drawing up specifications for lime. This included the devising of

tests to be applied, the testing of different limes, and the comparison

of the results with those obtained by other laboratories.

A study of sand-lime brick was completed and a large number

of specimens tested and the change in their properties due to weathering was determined.

CLAY PRODUCTS.

The activities of the clay products section during the past year

were devoted to cooperative and testing work for various Govern-
32 EEPORT OF DIREQTOE OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

ment and State departments, to commercial tests of clays and clay

products for the general public, and to investigative work on fundamental problem? of a ceramic nature.

Cooperating with the United States Geological Survey 28 samples

of clay from the State of Louisiana were thoroughly tested with a view of determining their value in the manufacture of clay products.

Cooperating with the ^linnesota State Geological Survey 33 samples

of clay from Minnesota were tested as to their value in the manufacture of ceramic ware. About 75 tests of clays and clay products

were made for the general public. Tests to the number of 35 were

made on fire clay, fire brick, paving brick, and molding sands for

the Isthmian Canal Commission.

An investigation to establish the limits of the losses of paving

brick in the pi-esent standard rattler test was undertaken and completed. In this connection samples aggregating 5,000 bricks in number were taken from the streets of 12 cities and tested at this laboratory. The first part of an investigation to determine the value of

paving brick and other products made by fusing mixtures of clay

and limestone and pouring into molds of the desired shape was completed with promising results.

During the past year the work has been extended into the field of

porcelain and white-ware china manufacture, with a view of en- couraging in this country the manufacture of porcelain and other

pottery products which are now almost exclusively imported into

the United States from foreign countries. An investigation of the

manufacture of high fire or true porcelain from American materials

is now well under way. The manufacture of such high temj^erature

porcelain as thermocouple tubes was studied and the first part of

the work completed. The use of leadless or nonpoisonous glazes in

the manufacture of American white-ware china is now being investigated. Also an investigation of the electrolytic purification of white

burning American clays, with a view of promoting a wider use of domestic clays in American potteries, was undertaken and finished.

An investigation as to the effect of time on the vitrification of clays

was completed and will be published shortly.

RUBBER AXD MlSCELLAiSJ^EOUS MATERIALS.

During the past year the work of the miscellaneous laboratory has

been about equally divided between routine tests of miscellaneous

materials for Government departments and investigations of the

physical properties of rubber. Considerable progress has been made

in "improving methods of testing and in the development of special

apparatus and testing machines.

The miscellaneous materials tested during the year included 816

samples of mechanical rubber goods, such as hose, packing, valves,

belting, etc., 31 samples of leather, and 179 samples of rope, wire,

metals, etc. ; investigations of the life and efficiency of elastic rubber

bands, of the aging properties of commercial rubber compounds,

and of the properties of leather belting and methods of testing

have been continued.

The following investigations have been undertaken during the past

year and are now well under waj^

:
EEPOBT OF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS. 33

1. To determine the relative efficiency of different makes of hacksaw blades.

2. To determine means of identifying " squirted " or machinemade tubes, as distinguished from calendered or sheeted tubes in the

case of rubber hose.

The Bureau has continued to receive assistance from manufacturers

in the way of rubber compounds for testing purposes, but there is

now being installed a complete rubber-mixing and vulcanizing outfit, with the aid of which it will be possible to study the behavior of

rubber from the crude to the vulcanized state, and under conditions

that may be controlled. This outfit will be of great value in preparing samples of definite composition and different degrees of

vulcanization.

As a result of the publication of Circular No. 38, which illustrates

and describes the methods used in testing rubber together with the

testing machines and apparatus developed at this Bureau, numerous

requests for information and assistance are being received. A number of rubber manufacturers and railroad companies are among

those who have been furnished with working drawings of the testing

machines.

This Bureau is in cooperation with the Navy Department, manufacturers, and technical societies in developing specifications and in

perfecting testing machines and methods of testing.

Investigation of the properties of miscellaneous materials should

be extended as far as possible with a view to the development of

standard specifications for all Government purchasers.

PAPER.

The work in the paper laboraton,- for the past year includes test- ing 2,730 samples for the Government service and 80 samples for

public and private interests. Much work has also been done on the

paper-making equipment, for the purpose of making such additions

and improvements as will best serve the purpose desired. A cooperative investigation relative to manufacture and use of casein for the

purpose of improving present methods and finished product has been

undertaken with the dairy division of the Bureau of Animal Industry, Department of Agriculture. This investigation will have for its

special purpose the study of, and improvements in, the utilization of

casein for coating and sizing paper.

Cooperation work has been started between this laboratory and all

other commercial and Government laboratories now doing paper

testing, for the purpose of standardizing methods and to bring about

a better understanding for the good of all concerned.

Aside from a general study of improvements in methods of testing

paper for Government service, this laboratory has also undertaken

work which has for its primary object the securing of information

of direct value tq the paper industiy. The conference between paper

manufacturers, commercial testing laboratories, and Government

testing laboratory held at this Bureau was of noteworthy interest

and did much to establish a better understanding between the manufacturing and Government service. It is proposed to have such a conference each year.
34 REPORT OF DIRECTOB. OF BUREAU OF STANDAEDS.

A special investigation has been undertaken, the results of which

will be immediately beneficial to lithographers, process printers, and

Government map printing. Studies are being made as to cause of

and remedies for paper deterioration. A circular relating to paper is

being prepared to assist users of paper to more correctly judge a paper for a particular use; this applies more particularly to the

smaller users of paper.

Cooperative work has been begun between this laboratory and

other laboratories in Government service now doing work relative

to the paper industry. This work will save duplication and enable

each laboratory to carry on work best suited to its equipment and

experience. Cooperative work has also been taken up with the

Treasury Department, relative to a more distinctive paper for United

States currency.

TEXTILES.

The analysis of imported bagging for cotton for the customs service

was an important test. During the year in all 150 individual samples were analyzed. Government departments were advised as to

the quality of the goods being delivered upon contract specifications,

and as many of the deliveries did not meet the specified requirements

a number were rejected upon the results of tests. The textile laboratory rendered valuable assistance to the general supply committee

in the drafting of specifications for fabric, carpets, thread, twine,

and rope, and the testing of these materials when making awards

for the coming fiscal year.

On December 16, i912, a conference of textile representatives of

the various Government departments met at this Bureau. The

topics of discussion were the drafting of textile specifications, test- ing of deliveries, uniformity in methods of testing, and closer cooperation between departments and the Bureau. Five different departments were represented, seven of the delegates being purchasing

agents. This conference accomplished much good and was effective

in bringing about closer cooperation with the Bureau.

At the request of the National Association of Cotton Manufacturers a paper was prepared, " Humidity effects upon textile

material," for their annual convention. During the year Circular

No. 41, " Testing and properties of textile material," and Technologic Paper No. 19, " Physical testing of cotton yarns," were prepared. In addition to these there were five technical articles vi^ritten

upon textile topics.

The following investigations were undertaken, and most of them

were completed during the year : The number, tensile strength, yards

per pound and per spool of the more common brands of spool thread

used by garment manufacturers and in the household ; methods of

ascertaining the wool content of a wool and cotton fabric; the ex- traction of sizing and loading material in cotton goods; stripping

of the dye or color in fabrics, etc. ; the " regain '•' of moisture of

cotton yarn and fabric of various common commercial makes ; short

correct methods for determining the yarn number of yarns, upon

cops, bobbins, spools, etc., and the rapid determination of the finest

^arns present in a fabric ; the " shrinkage " in scouring some excep-
KEPOKT OF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS. 35

tionally heavy foreign wool fleeces and the percentage moisture arid " regain " of raw wool, also the clean (scoured) wool under standard

atmospheric conditions; the difference in number, strength, and

weight of commercially identical worsted yarns manufactured by

different concerns and sold on the market at the same price; the

moisture present and the " regain " of moisture of worsted tops,

under standard atmospheric conditions; the influence of humidity

upon worsted yarns.

It has been only a short time since definite specifications have been

employed and these are used to a limited extent by the more progressive concerns. Close cooperation exists between the textile sec- tion of this Bureau and the Bureau of Plant Industry, Department

of Agriculture, and at the present time the Bureau is helping them

in their studies of methods of improving the grades of cotton and

the marketing of same. The Government departments have requested the Bureau to assist

in drafting specifications for textiles and to test goods delivered upon

contracts.

THE OFFICE.

LIBRARY.

The number of accessioned volumes in the Bureau library is now

10,414; 326 periodicals, 215 of which are by exchange and 111 by

subscription, are currently received here and at Pittsburgh. The

extra copies of copyrighted books relating to the Bureau's work have

been transferred from the Library of Congress to the Bureau, as in

previous years.

PUBLICATIONS.

The following new Circulars were issued during the year : " Electric wire and cable terminology^," " The physical testing of mechanical rubber goods," " Specifications for and measurement of standard

sieves," " Sodium oxalate as a standard in volumetric analysis," and

" Testing and properties of textile materials."

The following Scientific Papers were issued: "A new precision

calorimeter," " Instruments and methods used in radiometry," "Antenna resistance," " Energy losses in some condensers used in highfrequency circuits," " Selective radiation from various substances,"

" On a modified form of stability test for smokeless powder and similar materials," " Atomic weight of bromine," " The silver voltameter-

Part I, first series of quantitative experiments," " The silver voltameter—Part II, the chemistry of the filter-paper voltameter and the

explanation of striations," " The diffuse reflecting power of various

substances," " Density and thermal expansion of ethyl alcohol and

of its mixtures with water," "A micropyrometer," and "A simplified

formula for the. change in order of interference due to changes in

temperature and pressure of air." Five numbers of the Bulletin were

issued.

The following Technologic Papers Avere issued : " Comparison of

five methods used to measure hardness," "Action of the salts in alkali
36 REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

water and sea water on cements," " The evaporation test for mineral

lubricating and transformer oils," "Legal specifications for illuminating gas," " The manufacture of lime," " The function of time in

the vitrification of clays," " Physical testing of cotton yarns," " Determination of sulphur in illuminating gas," " The dehydration of

clays," " The technical control of the colloidal matter of clays," " The

determination of phosphorus in steels containing vanadium," and

" The effect of overfiring upon the structure of clays."

PERSONNEL.

During the fiscal year 1913 the personnel consisted of 193 persons

employed in statutory positions and about 88 upon special research

and investigation specially authorized by Congress. The statutory

positions were classified as follows:

Scientific.—One chief physicist, 1 chief chemist, 2 associate chemists, 3 physicists, 12 associate physicists, 32 assistant physicists, 7

assistant chemists, 38 laboratory assistants, 15 aids, 12 laboratory

apprentices, and 3 laboratory helpers; total, 126.

Office.—Secretary, 1 storekeeper, 1 librarian, 14 clerks, 1 packer

and shipper, 5 messenger boys; total, 23.

Operation of plant.—Superintendent of mechanical plant, 4 assistant engineers, 2 electricians, 3 firemen, 3 watchmen, 1 messenger,

5 skilled laborers, 4 laborers. 3 janitors, 2 female laborers, 1 telephone

operator, 1 elevator boy; total, 30.

Construction.—One chief mechanician, 8 mechanicians, 2 skilled

woodworkers, 1 draftsman. 1 glass blower ; total, 13.

SUMMARY OF TESTS.

The work of the Bureau involves, among other things, a large

amount of testing of standards, measuring instruments, and materials. A certain amount of this work is already organized on an accurate routine basis and is handled with dispatch, through increased

efficiency of appliances and methods of testing. Much of it, however, involves investigation of the scientific principles underlying the

test, a study of existing methods, and the development of new standard tests of known accuracy. In such cases the research which must

precede the actual testing is a most important function of the Bureau.

For the test a reasonable fee is charged, except when made for the

National or State Governments. The corresponding amounts for

Government testing are of interest, however, and are added to the

statement of tests which follows:
BEPORT OF DIRECTOE OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS. 37

NtTMBER AND YaTjUE OF TESTS COMPLETED, FISCAL YeAE EnDED JuNE 30, 1913.

Nature of test.

For Government. For public. Total.

JNumoer. V alue. JNumoer. V aiu( JNumoer. V alue.

219 $1,051.25 481 $691 76 700 SI, 743. 00

1,719 1,365.00 729 382 80 2,448 1, 747. 80

4,404 1,650.00 1,322 784 45 5,726 2, 434. 45 TOTTITA or O +nT" 2, 594 1,209.16 10, 952 3, 373 23 13,546 4, 582. 39

1,976 2, 019. 25 152 238 60 2, 128 2, 257. 85 Miscellaneous OO. uu 57 00 110 Optical 1,538 1,382. 00 393 214 75 1,931 1, 596. 75 Electrical 378 798. 75 396 1,740 90 774 2,539.65 Photometry a 4,950 15, 127. 00 310 1, 105 50 5,260 16,232.50

8,353 55,077. 15 1,667 3,251 00 10,020 58, 328. 15 Physical and mechanical tests: Engineering (miscellaneous) 819 2, 152. 00 6 10 00 825 2, 162. 00 Engineering (instruments) 206 1,081.00 31 150 50 237 1, 231. 50

15,936 25, 208. 20 255 1,296 00 16, 191 26, 504. 20 Paper and textiles 3,444 7, 096. 33 120 181 00 3,564 7, 277. 33

Total 46,547 115, 282. 09 16,818 13, 477. 48 63,365 128,759.57

1 In addition, the Bureau inspected 1,283,289 incandescent lamps at various factories for other depart' ments of the Government, the lees for which would amount to $11,682.69.

b 3,834 of these tests, amounting to $33,913.75, were chemical tests made on structural materials. The receipts for tests were as follows

:

Total receipts, 1913 $13,439.48

Eeceived prior to July 1, 1912. for tests completed in fiscal year 1913 $643. 75

Outstanding fees 55. 65

Refunds 20. IX

719. 57

14, 159. 05

Received for tests completed, fiscal year 1912 28. 00

Received for tests in progress at close of fiscal year 1913 653. 57

681. 57

Fees for tests completed, fiscal year 1913- 13, 477. 48

FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

The following statement shows the amount and object of each

appropriation provided for the Bureau for the fiscal year 1913, the

disbursement during the year, the amount of unfilled and unpaid

orders at the close of the year, and the unexpended balance remaining

at the close of business June 30, 1913

:

Appropriation. Total appropriation. Disburse- ment. Liability. Balance.

$241,312.66

52,000.00

25,000. 00

3,000. 00

77, 342. 50 30,000.00

10,000.00

15,000. 00 5.000.00

25,000.00

85,000. 00

180,000. 00

23,350. 00

25, 000. 00

200,000. 00

$216,974.96

29,011.21

19, 435. 86

2, 585. 72

70,277. 27

25, 700. 82

9, 095. 18

9, 580. 23

1,270. 00

2, 160. 73 68,034.00

179, 866. 23

23,350.00

24,974.95 171,444.76

$9, 724. 66

22, 859. 30

5,413. 86

409. 91

6, 962. 71

4, 277. 78

813. 65

5,415. 13 3,005.80

20,552. 97

$14,613.04

129.49

1.50. 28

4. 37

102. 52 21.40

91.17

4.64 724.20

2, 286. 30

16,966.00

133.77

General expenses Grounds

Testing structural materials Testing machines

Refrigeration constants Water current meter testing tank Equipment, electrical laboratory Additional land

Testing machine (Emery)

Testing structural materials of the United

States Testing machine at Pittsburgh 25.05 Laboratory 24, 195. 02 4, 360. 22

Total rrrrr. 997,005.16 853,761.92 103, 630. 79 39,612. 45
38 KEPOKT OF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

The following statement shows the condition of the appropriations

for the two preceding fiscal years at the close of business June 30,

1913:

Appropriation.

1911 1912

propriation.

Disburse- ment.Liability. Balance. propria^

tion.

Disburse- ment.Liability. Balance.

Salaries S201, 440. 00

46, 000. 00

20, 042. 37

3, 000. 00

55, 109. 10

15, 000. 00

10, 000. 00

S189.552.27

45, 910. 60

19, 960. 61

2, 785. 57

54. 917. 81

14,859.58

9,081. 89

111,887.73

64. 06 81.56

214. 43

191.29

101. 60

918. 11

$236, 340. 00

52,027. 50

25, 702. 77 3,000.00

78, 533. 50

15, 000. 00

$224, 050. 96

50, 570. 33 25,248. 74

2, 892. 93

77,987.37

14, 807. 11

$12,289.04

258. 67 238.99

107. 07

230. 61

123. 24

Equipment

General expenses Grounds

.«25. 34 .20

SI. 198. 50

215. 04

Testing structural materials 315. 52

69.65 Investigating effectsof electric currents

.

Weights and measures

38.92

Testing machines. . 30,666. 66 29, 793. 92 206. 08

Total 350, 591. 47 337, 068. 33 64. 46 13, 458. 68 440, 603. 77 425,351.36 1, 798. 71 13, 453. 70

Respectfully,

S. W. Stratton, Director.

To Hon. William C. Redfield,

Secretary of Gommerce.

o