Annual Report

of the

irector of the Bureau of Standards

to the

Secretary of Commerce and Labor

for the

Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1907

Washington

Government Printing Office

1908



Annual Report

of the

Director of the Bureau of Standards

to the

Secretary of Commerce and Labor

for the

Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1907

Washington

Government Printing Office

1908
Department of CoM^rERCE and Labor

Document No. 88

BUREAU OF STANDARDS
REPORT

OF THE

DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

Department of Commeece and Labor,

Bureau or Standards.

Washington^ July 7, 1907.

Sir : I have the honor to siil^mit the following report of the work

of the Bureau of Standards for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1907

DIVISION I.—ELECTRICITY.

ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE AND ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE.

The work of this section includes the construction and verification

of standards of resistance and electromotive force, the verification of

resistance boxes, Wheatstone bridges, potentiometers, and other resist- ance apparatus, and the determination of the electrical conductivity,

temperature coefficient, and thermoelectric properties of materials.

The investigation of standards of electromotive force, begun during

the fiscal year in conjunction with the chemical division, has been

continued. The necessary materials were subjected to various

methods of purification, and, in addition, a special study was made of

the metliods of preparation of the mercurous sulphate, to which most

of the irregularities previously observed are to be attributed. A

large number of Clark and Weston cells, set up from time to time,

have been under continuous observation, and the results obtained

establish the high accuracy with Avhich cells of both types can be

reproduced. This is further shown by the close agreement of cells

obtained by exchange from American in-v estigators, and also from the

English National Physical Laboratory and the Laboratoire Central

d'Electricite of France, thus establishing the suitability of the standard cell as a primary electrical standard. In connection with this

investigation a study has been made of the electrode equilibrium of

the Clark and Weston standard cells. These investigations will be

continued and extended and a redetermination of the temperature

coefficients Avill be made.
4 EEPORT DF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

A considerable amount of precision testing has been done by the

section. This is necessitated by the extensive application of electrical

methods to many classes of physical investigation.

INDUCTANCE AND CAPACITY AND ABSOLUTE MEASUREMENTS.

The extended investigation on the ratio of the electrical units,

which occupied more than two years, was completed during the past

year and the results have recently been published. This ratio is of

fundamental importance in electrical measurements, and this investigation has fixed its value much more exactly than before.

Investigations on the absolute measurement of current by means of

current balances and on the silver coulometer Avere begun during the

year and will be continued during the present fiscal year. These have

to do with fixing more accurately the fundamental unit for the meas- urement of current.

An investigation into the absolute measurement of resistance by

the inductance method has been undertaken, and a thorough study of

the theory of the calculation of inductance from the dimensions of

the coils has been made. The results of this study have been published in the Bulletin from time to time.

Further experimental investigations on the accurate measurement

of inductance and capacity have been made, and important improvements in the construction of condensers as standards of electrical

capacity have resulted from this Avoi'k.

A very thorough study of resistance standards and of precision re- sistance apparatus with respect to changes in resistance due to atmospheric humidity was made during the year and methods devised for

preventing these changes. This has resulted also in devising a new

form of resistance standard which has proven to be very superior to

the form now generally used. An extended study is now being made

of a number of these new standards.

Condensers and inductances have been tested during the year for

manufacturers, educational institutions, and the Government and

advice and assistance given to manufacturers and others relative to

the design of certain kinds of instruments and apparatus.

ELECTRICAL MEASURING INSTRUMENTS.

The testing of electrical measuring instruments during the year

shows an increase over last year. More Avatt-hour meters were tested

than any other class of instruments. Next in order were voltmeters

and ammeters. Most of the watt-hour meters were tested in position

in the District of Columbia, iisually in cases of disagreement between

supply company and consumer. Some were sent in by lighting companies to be tested for use as standard meters. A number of indicating Avatt-meters, single and i:)olyphase ; current shunts up to 5,000
EEPORT. OF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS. 5

amperes; current transformers, and potential transformers up to

11,000 volts were tested and certified. The determination of breakdown pressure for samples of rubber-covered and other insulated

wires and of insulating paper and varnish was made, and other miscellaneous work was done.

A new instrument has been designed for the rapid and accurate

calibration of voltmeters and has been put into serA'ice.

An investigation has been made with a view to the develoj)ment of

&Ji electric heating device for special duty in an important branch

of the Government service.

MAGNETISM.

The magnetic work of the j^ear has included a thorough investigation of various methods of measuring the magnetic induction and

permeability of iron and steel in its many forms, with reference both

to the accuracy and reproducibility^ of the measurements and the

rapidity and convenience of the testing. This work led to an ex- tended study of the methods of demagnetizing the specimens under

test so as to bring them to a standard neutral condition magnetically,

as it was found that comparatively small variations in the process of

demagnetizatio:! made a considerable difference in the results obtained for the permeability. The results of this work will shortly

be published.

A thorough study is also being made of the measurement of the

hysteresis of iron and steel, particularly in the form of sheets as used

in dynamos and transformers, and the development of accurate and

conveniert methods of testing siDecimens submitted by manufacturers.

Two papers on this work will shortly be published.

PHOTOMETRY.

During the past year the cooperation of the Bureau was sought in

an informal conference between Government engineers and manufacturers of electric incandescent lamps for the purjDose of deciding

upon suitable uniform specifications for the purchase of incandescent

lamps by the Government. The specifications used previously hj the

various Departments were not uniform. As a result of the con- ference specifications were draAvn up which have been adopted by

most of the Departments, and a large number of copies, published in

the form of a Bureau circular, have been distributed, upon request, to

municipal officers and private companies.

The services of the Bureau were also extended to the committee on

standardization of the American Gas Institute in conducting experiments on the suitability of the pentane lamp as a standard in the

photometry of gas. In this connection a movement has been started

by the Bureau looking toward the establishment of a single unit of
6 BEPOBT OF DIEECTOK OF BUKEAU OF STANDAEDS.

candlepower throughout the United States in the photometry of all

kinds of illuminants. Heretofore the candlepowers of gas and electric lamps have been expressed in terms of different " candles."

A great many tests have been conducted during the past year, inckiding a large number of lamps for the Government Departments.

An investigation of the relative properties of plain and frosted bulb

lamps yield the explanations of the comparatively short life of frosted

lamps—a fact which has been recognized for many years. A study

of the possible errors incident to the various methods used in measuring incandescent lamps commercially suggested an improved method

Avhich has been found satisfactory.

Improvements and additions to the photometric equipment have

been made during the year, including several new instruments which

have been designed at the Bureau.

DIVISION II.—Vx^EIGHTS AND MEASURES.

The third conference on weights and measures, held April last at

the Bureau, was the most successful one thus far, both in point of

attendance and in the amount and importance of the business transacted. Seventeen States were represented, and the delegates without

exception manifested the greatest interest in the movement to bring

about improvements in the methods of inspecting weights and measures. The qviestion of honest weights and measures in all business

transactions is of practically the same importance as money and can

only be guai*anteed by proper governmental inspection. At present

large sections of the countr}^ are without any inspection service whatever, and consequently the purchasing public, as well as honest merchants, are at the mercy of those unscrupulous enough to take

advantage of the existing conditions. The conference outlined and

recommended a model law for adoption by the States and also recom- mended that additional poAvers be given to the Bureau of Standards

in order to make the State laws effective.

A platinum-iridium meter bar was purchased from the French

Government and sent to Geneva, Switzerland, for graduation into

millimeters. When this Avork is completed the bar will be sent to

the International Bureau of Weights and Measures for. investigation.

This bar will complete the equipment of the Bureau for lengih standards of precision and render it possible to refer all length measure- ments to the national prototype meter Avithout loss of accuracy on

account of inferior secondaiy standards.

Considerable progress has been made in the construction of a comparator for standards of length with thermostatic regulation of temperature. Nickel-steel (Invar) for the microscope supiDorts was obtained from France after many disappointing delays, due to the difii-
/ REPOBT OF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS. 7

culty encountered by the manufacturers in rolling bars of the desired

size. It is expected that the comparator will be completed during the

coming year and that recomparison of the primary standards will be

made, as well as a redetermination of their coefficients of expansion.

The calibration of the primary hydrometer standards was begun,

and on account of the importance of the surface tension of the liquids

in which such instruments are ordinarily used an investigation of a number of these liquids was undertaken. A method was developed for

measuring the surface tension of the liquid at the moment a hydrometer is used. In this connection a special spring balance was devised

and constructed at the Bureau for rapidly and accurately determining the density of the liquid in which the standard hj^drometers are immersed. With this balance the variation of the surface tension

with temperature of mineral oils of ditferent densities was studied;

also the surface tension of different mixtures of sulphuric acid and

alcohol and of varying concentrations of sulphuric acid and water.

Preliminary investigations of the surface tension of varying con- centrations of sugar and water were also begun. In connection with

the work an overflow cylinder was devised for readily securing fresh or noncontaminated surfaces on the liquids used. As contamination

of the liquid surfaces is a fruitful source of error in the graduation

and testing of hydrometers,- it is proposed to recommend to manufacturers and users of hydrometers the use of such overflow cylinders.

An investigation of the effect of varying humiditj' in air on the

aj)parent mass of standard Aveights is now being carried on, but the

work has not j)rogressed sufficiently to draw any reliable deductions

from the results obtained to date.

In connection with the design of a standard mercury barometer

experimental determinations of high precision were made of the

capillary depression of mercury in tubes of from 11 to 40 millimeters

diameter for a certain definite surface tension, the result of the investigation showing that above 40 millimeters diameter the depression is so small as to be incapable of detection except by optical means. Preliminary measurements of the surface tension of soiled mercury sur- faces were also made, with a view to determining the effect upon the

capillary depression of such surfaces as are usually found in barometers. It apjDears from these investigations that the corrections usually

employed for tubes of 20 millimeters and less are appreciably in error, because the maximum surface tension of mercury has been employed

in calculating them. It is proposed to continue the investigation of

the surface tension of mercury imder conditions similar to those

usually found in the mercury barometers and calculate from the

results obtained the depression corresponding to a wide range of

surface tensions and of tube diameters.
8 BEPORT OF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

The routine Avork of the division has steadily increased, rendering

it extremel}^ difficult to give the necessary attention to a number of

new problems of importance. A resume of the tests made during

the year is^'as follows : Length measures tested, 185 ; weights, 782

;

capacity measures, 2,177; barometers, hydrometers, and miscellaneous, 737; in all, 3,881.

The quality of the weights, measures, and measuring apparatus

submitted for inspection and test shows a marked improvement over

that of previous years.

DIVISION III.—THERMOMETRY, PYROMETRY, AND HEAT

MEASUREMENTS.

The work carried out in this division during the year consisted in

the. testing of some 9,021 thermometers of various kinds, such as calorimetric and Beckman thermometers used in the determination of

the calorific value of fuels, laboratory thermometers used for the precise measurement of temperatures up to 500° C. (930° F.), clinical

thermometers used by the medical profession, maxima and minima

thermometers, industrial thermometers for controlling the temperatures of technical processes, clinical standard thermometers used by

manufacturers to control their product; 8 optical pyrometers, 35 thermocouples, 7 pyrometer galvanometers, and 5 platinum resistance

thermometers, used for the measurement and control of high temperatures in metallurgical and other industrial operations and for special

investigations in engineering laboratories. Other tests that have been

made include the determination of the specific heat of amorphous

silica,, the freezing points of solutions, the fire-resisting properties of

concrete, the calorific value of coal, the physical properties of oils,

including the determination of flash points, viscosities, and setting

points, and the calibration of a number of thermocouples for measure- ment of very low temperatures ( — 300° F.).

The 8,444 clinical thermometers tested were submitted by manufacturers, dealers, hosjoitals, physicians, and the several medical departments of the Government. About 5 per cent of the clinical

thermometers tested failed to pass the test requirements, in comparison with 7.5 per cent for the year preceding. The Bureau has loaned

to the manufacturers for brief periods certified working standards,

which has resulted in a continued improvement in the quality of the

product submitted for test. The results of the investigation carried out on the proper methods

of annealing high temperature mercurial thermometers used in industrial operations are evident in the continued improvement in the

product submitted for test. The plans and specifications for the electric annealing furnace designed and constructed at the Bureau for the

annealing of thermometers has been furnished to a number of manu-
BEPOBT OF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS. 9

facturers, several of whom have already installed a number of these

furnaces, so that it is confidently expected that the average of the

American product will at an early date be in every respect equal to

the product that has hitherto been imported to meet the requirements

of industrial work.

The investigations carried out on the measurement of high temperatures by means of the radiation emitted by incandescent bodies has

directed attention to the availability of these methods in many industrial operations and has already led to the extensive use of optical and

radiation pyrometers. A very considerable number of consultingengineers, representatives of industrial plants and of engineering

laboratories, have visited the Bureau during the year for the purpose

of studying methods of high temperature measurement and observing

the operation of the various types of pyrometers in use in its laboratories. The information the Bureau has been able to place at the

disposal of American manufacturers and engineers is an important

feature of the work of this section.

The investigation on which is based the standard scale of temperature in the interval 0° to 100° C. has been completed during the year.

As a result of this work the Biireau is now in possession of a number

of carefully studied standards which will serve to reproduce the international hydrogen scale of temperature with the highest attainable

precision. These standards were then applied to the calibration of

several specially designed platinum resistance thermometers which

were used to determine the transition temjDerature of sodium sulphate

(32°.3840). As this point is now one of the most accurately known

fixed points in thermometry, it will be of great service as a control

point and for the standardization of resistance and calorimetric thermometers.

The great demands made on this division in testing has retarded

progress on the important work incident to the establishment of the

standard scale of temperature in the interval 100° to 500° C. Most of

the apparatus has been designed and constructed, and considerable

work has been done on the calibration of the standard thermometers

to be used in this work.

The necessary apparatus for the determination of the specific heat

of calcium chloride solutions (brine) has been constructed and

assembled and some preliminary measurements have been made. The

determination of this constant was undertaken at the request of the

refrigeration industries, and as a result of the numerous inquiries

addressed to the Bureau for information relating to this constant.

A low temperature thermometer comparator has been designed and

constructed for the intercomparison of thermometers at temperatui-es

down to —100° C.

24297—08 2
10 BEPORT OF DIEECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

A theoretical investigation on the establishment of the thermodynamic scale of temperature by means of the gas thermometer has been

made. The facilities now available in the way of liquid air, liquid

hydrogen, compressed gases, electrical energy, and apparatus especially designed for the measurement of small temperature differences

with the highest attainable accuracy impose upon the Bureau the

imperative duty of repeating and extending the classical experiments

of Thomson and Joule on the free expansion of gases—work which

is fundamental to the whole conception of temperature.

The first portion of the Avork on the melting points of palladium

and platinum was completed during the year. These constants are of great importance, since they serve as standard points of reference

for the high temperature scale. Recent work here and abroad has

called into question the entire high temperature scale, and it is of

the utmost importance that further work be done on its establishment. It is also necessary to redetermine the fixed points of the lower

range of the high temperature scale by means of a standard gas

thermometer and to extend this scale to the highest attainable temperatures by the several radiation laws.

The introduction of metal filament lamps having a very greatly

increased efficiency over the carbon filament lamps now in use has led

to numerous investigations as to the cause of the great gain in efficiency, i. e., whether it is to be attributed to selective radiation or a higher working temperature of the metal filaments. An investigation on the temperature and selective radiation of carbon, tantalum,

tungsten, and osmium lamps has shown that to a great extent the

marked gain in efficiency over the carbon filament lamps is due to a higher working temperature at which the metal filaments can be

used.

A new radiation method of measuring the melting points' of the

elements, especially applicable Avhere only minute quantities are

available, has been applied to the metals of the iron group and the

results will be published in a forthcoming Bulletin.

The demands on the limited working force of this division in the

matter of routine testing has grown to such an extent as to seriously

interfere with important lines of work relating to the establishment

of our standards with that precision which is rightfully demanded

of us by the scientific and technical world.

DIVISION IV.—OPTICS.

SPECTROSCOPY.

The preliminary investigation of pure light sources has been concluded, and sources suitable for use in polarimetry, interferometry,

reference standards of wave length, and for absolute length standards

have been selected and recommended. In this work nearly all of the
BEPOET OF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS. 11

available spectrum lines, numbering several hundred, were examined.

The theory of spectral homogeneity was developed mathematically

and the requirements of light sources for different purposes briefly

outlined.

The luminous equivalent of radiation, or the specific relation of

light to radiant energy, has been carefully examined theoretically

in the light of the best data on visual sensibility of physical instruments, with a view to applications to commercial photometry, pyrometry, polarimetry, spectroscopy, and other similar work.

The luminous properties of conducting helium gas have been investigated experimentally with a view to the determination of its

value as a primary standard of light intensity. The light from con- ducting helium was found to be very constant and free from external

influences, but of a color not the most desirable for photometric precision.

Such tests of materials and measuring instruments as depend upon

spectroscopic measurements have been made by this section.

RADIOMETRY.

Radiometry interests itself mainly with various problems in emission, absorption, and reflection spectra, particularly in the infra-red.

The most recent completed work in this line is (1) a study of the

radiation from a thermopile at room temperature to a complete

radiator which is at the temperature of liquid air, (2) an examination

of the infra-red reflection spectra of two groups of minerals (oxides

and sulphides) not heretofore studied, and (3) a search for bands of

selective reflection, " residual rays," in the extreme infra-red. The

discovery of substances having such bands of selective reflection is

of importance in extending the researches of Rubens and Kurlbaum

on the radiation laws of a complete radiator at various temperatures.

While these subsidiary investigations have been in progress

appai^atus has been assembled for studying the radiation laws of a complete radiator (so-called " black body ") , which must be done

with improved apparatus and with more attention given to the

measurement of the temperature of the radiator and to the adjustments of the apparatus than has been done in the past. Preliminary

measurements of the uniformity of the temperature distribution of

the radiator are now in progress, and it is a matter of but a short

time when regular observations will be made on the " constants " in

the radiation laws established by Wien and by Planck.

A study of the efficiencies of several radiation meters, including

the bolometer, the radiometer, the radiomicrometer, and the thermopile, has been completed. The subject is treated historically as well as experimentally, and an attempt is made to rate each instru-
12 REPOET OF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

ment as to its reliability and. adaptability for particular kinds

of work.

POLARIMETRY.

At the request of the Secretary of the Treasury the Bureau has

made many recommendations relative to changes in the scientific

methods employed in the customs laboratories, and a large amount of

work preliminary to the introduction of these changes has been done.

An accurate determination of the effect of basic lead acetate, the

clarifying reagent, on sucrose has been completed. The results show

an unexpected lowering of the test of the sugar when there is a slight excess of the reagent and an increase when a considerable excess of

the reagent is present. An effort is being made to discover a reagent

free from this defect.

It is of the utmost importance that the methods of testing raw sugar

at the different ports of entry be uniform. In vicAV of this fact it was found necessary to make a careful investigation of the effects

of the widely varying atmospheric conditions on such tests. This

investigation is now being carried on and has resulted in correcting

several obscure sources of error. The determination of the 100° (sugar) point on the saccharimeter

scale involves the preparation of chemically pure sugar, and it has

accordingly been found necessary to defer that determination until an

exhaustive study can be made of sucrose prepared by different

methods. This investigation is well under way and promises to

develop a method whereby chemically pure sugar may be prepared at

the Bureau in quantities sufficient for purposes of testing and investigation.

Ordinary polariscopes for sugar testing do not permit of variable

sensibility, i. e., they can not be adjusted to give the best results on

widely varying sugars. A polariscope has been devised which over- comes this and other defects, and is now being constructed by the

makers of such apparatus.

During the year certificates were issued for eleven quartz plates,

submitted by the general public, and 1,202 samples of sugar were

tested.

DIVISION v.—CHEMISTRY.

During the year determinations of the combining ratios of hydrogen and oxygen and of hydrogen and chlorine have been practically

completed. In conjunction with the latter a new method of preparing chloroplatinic acid was devised.

In the preceding year the Bureau undertook, in cooperation with

the American Chemical Society, to investigate and revise the methods

of testing for and determining small amounts of impurities in the

more important analytical chemicals and to work out appropriate
BEPORT OF DIRECTOR OF BITREAU OF STANDARDS. 13

i specifications. During the year an accurate method for determining

minute traces of iron in chemicals was worked out, and work on a

colorimetric method of "determining traces of bromine, iodine, and

sulphuric acid was begun, but had to be interrupted when well under

way, owing to the increasing demands on the force of the division in

other directions. The importance of work of this nature is very considerable, for not only does the accuracy of chemical analysis depend

largely on the purity of the reagents employed, but determinations

of the physical constants of matter, as electrical conductivity, melting points, atomic weights, etc., require material of exceptional

purity, a condition which can in general be secured or determined

only by chemical means. This work has therefore an important bearing on other problems of the Bureau and should be resumed as soon

as possible.

An investigation of the methods of anah^sis of aclhesi"\'e gums has

been begun in connection with the testing of Government supplies.

The Bureau is constantly called on to furnish samples of materials

of accurately known conijDOsition, among them irons and steels of

various grades, alloys, iron ores, copper slags, etc. These atford to

the chemist a ^'aluable means of checking results and eliminating

errors in his work. In response to this demand the division undertook the preparation of a series of seventeen accurately anah^zed

standard steel samples, from material furnished by the Association

of American Steel Manufacturers, and of these three were completed

and their distribution begun during the j^ear. The demand for

these, as well as the standard cast irons, has shown a gratifying

increase. Inquiries have also begun looking toward supphdng similar standard alloy steels, the industrial importance of which is rapidly increasing. The preparation of further standard analyzed

materials is \erj desirable.

In cooperation with the committee on technical analysis of the

American Chemical Society a sample of phosphate rock Avas care- fully analyzed, with the object of throwing light on the accuracy of

the analytical methods employed and of supplying a standard ana- lyzed material.

Further work has been done in the way of experimenting with

different methods of preparing materials used in the construction of

standards of electromotive force, with the result that a much higher

degree of uniformity has been reached:

Beginning with March, there has been an unusual increase in the

testing work of the division, due largely to the demand for testingpaper in connection with Governmeiit contracts and purchases.

Several hundred samples of paper have been analyzed chemically, in

conjunction with physical and mici-oscopic tests, and this Avorlv has

absorbed much of the time of the force. It has been the ert'ort of
14 REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

the division to report tests with the greatest possible promptness, in

oi'der not to delay jiending contracts or the nse of the material in

question. With the limited force of the division this could only be

done by interrupting or even indefinitely postponing other important

work.

Samples of paints, oils, ink, mucilage, and silk have also been

analyzed for this and other Government Departments, in connection

with the purchase of materials. The A'alue of this work is shown by

the fact that the materials examined frequently deviate widely from

the specifications, or are of inferior quality, a fact which could only

have been determined by testing.

AVhile the increasing recognition of the importance of carefully

examining supplies purchased by the Government is very gratifying

and will lead to the use of better materials and the saving of money,

other investigations which have an immediate bearing on practical

questions connected with the manufacture and use of materials should

be continued. Specifications are frequently very imperfect, and the

methods of testing are often far from satisfactory. These can not be

improved except through chemical and other scientific and practical

investigations. The time and cost required to make these is usually

trivial when compared Avith the continuous saving which would result

to the Government and others, yet to carry them out is possible only

with the aid of increased facilities sufficient to handle the required

testing with promptness.

ENGINEERING INSTRUMENTS.

The tests and investigations in connection with engineering instruments have included water meters, gas meters and gas-meter provers,

pressure and vacuum gauges, and anemometers. An open mercury

manometer has been installed for the careful study of gauges of low

range, especially those used on paper-testing apparatus. The range

will be extended within a short time to include gauges up to 500

pounds per square inch.

An improvement has been made in the apparatus for testing ane- mometers and the range increased to 2,300 feet per minute. A careful

study has also been made of the effects of air drag and the adjacent

Avails of the room upon the accuracy of the method of testing ane- mometers.

Work upon the comparison and development of standard methods

and instruments for the calibration of gas meters, Avater meters, and

other engineering instruments and a comparative study of the various

types noAv on the market has been delayed on account of the great

amount of testing to be done.

The rapidly increasing demands for the careful stud}' and calibration of engineering instruments Avarrants a considerable extension of
REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS. 15

this Avork. The requests for accurate data and tests have far exceeded

the facilities and assistance available, and it has been necessary to

limit the work to what has appeared i-o be the most urgent and important cases.

During the year the Bureau has met with an unprecedented demand

for information concerning and the testing of the properties of materials, which includes engineering, construction, and other materials

ordinarily purchased according to specifications. These requests have

been made principally by the various bureaus of the Government

service and are due to the rapidly increasing desire on the part of the

purchasing agents and other officials to purchase all such materials

according to proper specifications and to inspire conformity with such

specifications by suitable tests of the articles delivered. For many

materials no satisfactory methods of testing or measuring instruments

are avail aljle, and these must be developed by the Bureau before the

required information can be furnished. Furthermore, the development of instruments and methods for the testing of all such materials

and the experience that is gained in testing them in connection with

the Government purchases are sources of valuable information for

the manufacturer and user of these materials. The materials tested

thus far include the usual tests of steel, iron, concrete, cement, cement

mortar, brick, paper, and textile fabrics.

Eepeated requests have been received from a number of the Government Departments for assistance in the analysis of and specifications for their paper suj^ply. These requests became so urgent that 1 the subject was taken up, and the Bureau is now rendering them

| assistance daily, especially in connection with the purchase of paper I by the Government Printing Office and the Post-Office Department. 4^

For several years the textile industries have urged the Bureau to

take up important questions pertaining to the textile industry. It has

been impossible to respond to these requests on account of the lack of

facilities. However, the testing of textiles in connection with Government purchases will necessitate the solution of many of these problems, the results of which may be placed at the disposal of the

manufacturer as well. The equipment for determining the physical

properties of textile materials is being developed. Tests have been

made on silk, cotton, and linen fabrics, and twine.

The relation of the physical and chemical properties of lubricating

oils to their value as lubricants is a problem which must be solved

before suitable specifications and tests can be made. The Bureau has

made considerable progress in this direction and contemplates an investigation of the physical and chemical methods that are now in use

for the purpose of testing lubricating oils.

PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS.
16 EEPORT OF DIRECTOB OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

A large number of miscellaneous materials have been examined,

principal^ in connection Avith Government purchases, to ascertain

their composition and whethei' or not they were in accordance with

specifications. In many of these cases methods of testing must be

perfected, and information regarding these materials is acquired

which will prove of great value to the producer and the consumer,

thus bringing about better conditions under which such materials are bought and sold.

PERSONNEL.

The personnel of the Bureau may be classed in three groups. The

first has to do with the scientific work of the Bureau, the second with

the office and clerical work, and the third with the operation of the

mechanical plant, the construction of apparatus, and the care of the

buildings and grounds. The plan of organization in each of these

groups involves a regular gradation of salaries, in order that faithful

and efficient service may be rewarded by promotion when vacancies

occur. The staff of the Bureau, including the Director, consists of 110 persons, distributed as follows:

Scienti-fiG force.—One physicist, 1 chemist, 6 associate physicists,

1 associate chemist, 16 assistant physicists, 3 assistant chemists, 19

laboratory assistants, 5 aids, and 7 laboratory apprentices; total, 59.

Ofp.ce and cleHcal force.—One secretary, 1 lil^rarian, 9 clerks, 1

storekeeper, 1 draftsman, 2 assistant messengers, 4 messenger boys;

total, 19.

Engineer and mechanical force.—One engineer, 4 assistant engineers, 1 electrician, 7 mechanicians, 1 woodworker, 3 skilled laborers,

3 firemen, 1 elevator boy, 4 laborers, 2 watchmen, 2 janitors, 2 charwomen ; total, 31.

LIBRARY.

The library contains 3,474 bound volumes, in good condition, care- fully classified, and catalogued. The increase during the past year

was 1,041, nearh^ all of which were acquired b}^ purchase. The

library has also a considerable number of re^Drints, pamphlets, and

unbound reports, the total number of which is probably 1,500. These

pamphlets contain some ver}'^ valuable material; the work of classifjdng and cataloguing them is now in progress.

The circulation of tlie library during the year Avas about 4,500, and

in addition about 900 books Avere draAvn from other Government

libraries. Through the courtesy of the Coast and Geodetic Survey

the Bureau has had the use of sets of Wiedmann's Annalen and the

Philosophical Magazine. The privileges of the other scientific

libraries of Washington have greatly added to the resources of the

technical literature at the disposal of the Bureau.
BEPORT OF DIRECTOB OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS. 17

PUBLICATIONS.

The following publications were issued by the Bureau during the

year

Circular No. 12, concerning the verification of polariscopic apparatus and auxiliary instruments.

Circular No. 13, in regard to the adoption of standard specifications for the purchase of carbon-filament incandescent lamps. The

specifications adopted were also separately printed as a blank form

for the use of Government Departments and the general public.

A report of the proceedings of the second annual conference on the

weights and measures of the United States.

The results of the scientific -s^ork of the Bureau were published in

31 technical papers.

SUMMARY OF TESTS.

In connection with the work of the Bureau a certain amount of

testing of standards and standard measuring instruments is done.

The tests completed during the fiscal year are shown in the following

table. In case the testing is done for parties other than the Government, fees are charged as provided for by law. For comparison, the

corresponding amounts are also indicated for Government tests.

Number and Value of Tests Completed During Fiscal Year Ended June 30,

1907.

Nature of test. For Government. Por public. Total.

Number.] Value. Number. Value. Number. Value.

Length Mass - - Capacity _ Temperature

82 275 1,630 740

1,107

425

131 2,016

362 728

$243.40

140.50

661.45

382.9-2 1,203.00

1,596.40

38S.70

1,019.20

1,247.83 583.75

103

507

547 8,459

17

47

17572

4479

$224.25

294.05 288.65

1,523.52 35.50

95.00

541.85

37.80 748.29 6.50

185

782

2.177 9,199 1,214

472 306

2,088

809

737

$467.65 434.55

950.10

1,906.44 1,238.50

1,691.40 928.55

1,057.00

1,996.15

590.25

Optical- - - Engineering

Electrical- . Pliotometry — .- - Chemical

Miscellaneous -

Total 7,586 7,465.18 10,383 3,795.41 17,969 11,260.59

The receipts for tests were as follows

Total receipts, 1906-7 $3, 609. 11

Returned for canceled lest, submitted and paid in previous year $5. 00

Received prior to July 1, 1906, for tests completed in fiscal year 1906-7 276. 18

Due for outstanding tests 5. 65

286. 83

ifS, 895. 94

Received for tests completed in fiscal year 1905-6 38. 23 . Received for tests in progress at close of fiscal year 1906-7 62. 30

100. 53

Fees for tests completed, 1906-7 3, 795. 41
18 EEPORT OF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

The following statement shows the amount and object of each appropriation provided for the Bureau for the fiscal year 1907, 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, 1907

Fiscal Yeae ended June 30, 1907.

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

Salaries _ - $111,440.00

41,000.00 15,000.00 3,000.00

1,000.00

$108,399.59

35,225.80

13,895.74 3,000.00

.509.87

$3,040.41 225.05

217.84 Equipment $5, .549.15 General expenses- _ - - - 883.42 Grounds - - - —

.

Tto."- 335.30 154.83

Total 171,440.00 161,031.00 6,770.87 3,638.13

"Made immediately available. The following statement shows the condition of the appropriations

for the two preceding fiscal years at the close of business June 30,

1907

Fiscal Year ended .June 30, 1905.-

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

Salaries - _ - $85,780.00 78,500.00

13,250.00 1,000.00 15.90

$83,932.44 78,500.00

13,176.29

1,000.00 15.90

$1,847.56 Equipment

General expenses - -— 73.71 Grounds—- - Outbuildings— - _

Total 1 178,545.90 176,624.63 1,921.27

Fiscal Year ended June 30, 1906.

Salaries-- - — $99,660.00

41,000.00' 12,500.00

1,.500. 00

12,481.10

$95,727.45

40,678.01 11,889.61 1,499.37 12,472.09

$3,932.55

251.91 610.39

.63 12.01

Equipment —- -- $70.08 General expenses Grounds

Outbuildings

Total 167,144.10 162,266.53 70.08 4,807.49

BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.

The improvement of the grounds and the construction of roads

has progressed slowly, but satisfactorily. No attempt has been made

to do more than put the grounds in a condition satisfactory to the

needs of the Bureau.

The site of the Bureau should be extended to the streets on the

north and south and tAvo or three hundred feet farther east, before

building is begun in the neighborhood. Furthermore, the lowering

of the grade on Connecticut avenue at its junction Avith Pierce Mill

I'oad has made the grade of the latter street so steep that it will be
REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS. 19

necessary to provide another entrance to the Bureau's grounds as soon as possible. This will be accomplished by the extension of the

site to the street on the north.

Additional laboratory space is urgently needed for the testing of

materials. The extraordinary growth of this work has seriously

interfered with that in connection with standards and measuring

instruments. Nevertheless, its importance has been such as to warrant

considerable sacrifice on the part of the Bureau in order to comply

with some of the more important demands for assistance. Should

Congress make provision for this additional space during the coming

session, it will then be at least two yeai's before it would be available.

T^Tiat to do with this work in the meantime is one of the most serious

problems the Bureau has met with.

INSTRUMENT SHOP.

The character and quantity of the work done at the Bureau is influenced largely by the facilities possessed for the construction of

the special apparatus involved in all investigations. In every

branch of testing new and improved apparatus must be designed and

constructed in order to increase the accuracy or reduce the cost. The

instrument shop, while well equipped Avith machines and provided

with several excellent workmen, can not meet the demands of the

Bureau for its service. It is hoped that additional space and equipment may be provided for it in the near future.

Respectfully,

S. W. Stratton,

Director.

To Hon. Oscar S. Straus,

Secretary of Commerce and Labor.

O




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