Annual Report

I'5:?<i' of the" . v ' v i/'H-'':''''^''^ S.'/' V'

'

.

Director of the Bureau of Standards

Annual Report

of the

Director of the Bureau of Standards

to the

Secretary of Commerce and Labor

for the

Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1905

Washington

Government Printing Office

1905
Department of Commerce and Labor

Document No. 43

BUREAU OF STANDARDS

\
REPORT

OF THE

« DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

Department of Commerce and Labor,

Bureau of Standards,

Washington, D. C, July 1, 1905.

Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report of the work

of the Bureau of Standards for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1905

:

BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.

While the mechanical laboratory was practically completed during

the preceding year, a large part of the work carried on in this building has been organized during the past year. The completion of

the physical laboratory made it possible to transfer entirely the

work of the Bureau from the temporary quarters to the new laboratories during November and December. There remained to be done

considerable piping, wiring, plumbing, and special work incident to

the occupation of the physical laboratory, which has since been

partly accomplished, and the different sections of the Bureau are

established in the quarters set aside for them in this building. The

original plans and specifications of the buildings included a cement

floor on the ground floor of the physical laboratory, and did not provide for the painting or decoration of the walls. During the year

a substantial wood floor has been laid on the concrete and the walls

have been painted. The buildings as completed are plain and dignified in character, yet substantial and well adapted to the purposes

for which the}' were designed.

Designs, have been completed for the low-temperature laboratory'

provided for by Congress, and its construction is well under way.

In this additional space will be placed the apparatus for the liquefaction of gases, including a liquid-hydrogen plant. These facilities

will enable the Bureau to undertake investigations involving the lowest temperatures that have been produced and will enable it to test low-temperature measuring apparatus.

3
4 REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

The appropriations for the improvement of the grounds have onty

been sufficient to construct temporarily the most necessary roads and

walks and to do a small amount of grading. The site of the Bureau

of Standards is one of the most beautiful in the District of Columbia.

Its location is such that it will not require any considerable amount

of grading, and it is the desire of the Bureau to retain the grounds

in a 'comparatively natural condition.

However, the ground in the immediate neighborhood of the buildings should be graded and covered with good soil and grass and the

entire site cleaned from rubbish and undergrowth. It will be neces- sary to lay out and construct a permanent road from the street to the

buildings and on the grounds where needed. The block in which the

Bureau is situated is bounded on the north by Shepherd street, on

the west by Idaho avenue, on the south by Quincy street, and on the

east by Connecticut avenue extended. This block forms a natural

hill, sloping to each of these streets. The Bureau site is located on the crest of the hill, but does not extend to the streets named.

It is very desirable that the remaining portions of this block should

be secured in the immediate future before any buildings have been

placed on the property. The streets surrounding the site should be

opened as soon as possible, especially Shepherd street, on the north.

The Bureau is at present using Pierce Mill road as an entrance,

which, owing to its steep grade and poor condition, does not serve as a proper entrance to the grounds.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

WEIGHTS.

During the year the installation of the new balances was completed. Solid masonry piers independent of the floor were built for

the precision balances, thus insuring a foundation which would be

free from vibrations due to the movements of the observer. On one

of these piers is mounted the new 25-kilogram balance, which is about

50 times as sensitive as the old balance used formerly by the office

of weights and measures. The new kilogram vacuum balance has

not been permanently installed, but is temporarily used in the bal- ance room. The very important work of reestablishing secondary standards of

mass throughout the entire range from 50 pounds to fractions of a milligram was begun. The new balances have been found very sat- isfactory indeed for this work and will enable the working standards of the Bureau to be determined with considerably more accu- racy than has heretofore been possible. This work will include the

comparison of the secondary standard kilogram with the prototype

by means of the vacuum balance.
REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS. 5

Preliminary work has been done looking toward the establishment

of more complete regulations in regard to weights submitted for

test, involving more rigid specifications than have been deemed advisable heretofore, requirements which it is hoped will lead to a decided

improvement in the quality of weights submitted by manufacturers.

With the, cooperation of the Customs Service, a classification of

weights will probably be made and tolerance errors adopted for

different classes of weights. Considerable work has been done during the year for the various departments of the Government, for

universities, and for manufacturers of precision balances and weights.

Many representatives of such firms have visited the Bureau and have

taken great interest in its equipment and work.

MEASURES OF LENGTH.

During the year a small vertical Zeiss end comparator having a range of 1 decimeter was acquired. A comparator having a range

of -t decimeters was constructed in the instrument shop according

to plans prepared by the Bureau. This comparator has but recently

been completed. Preliminary results obtained, however, are ex- tremely satisfactory, and it is believed that the comparator will

permit the determination of the length of the end gages and standards

with greater accuracy than has heretofore been obtained. \ The 50-meter comparators in the tunnel connecting the mechanical

and physical laboratories have not been completed but satisfactory

progress has been made on them. One of these comparators is to be

similar to the bench standard heretofore used, and will consist of

a continuous steel bar 50 mm by 13 mm in cross-section. This bar

will be mounted on rollers 1 meter apart, the rollers being in turn

mounted on cast-iron brackets fastened to the wall of the tunnel. The

graduations on the 50-meter bar will be made on small platinumiridium disks, which will be inserted in the surfaces of the bar. The

50-meter comparator for geodetic base bars and for tapes used in geodetic work is partly completed. The stone piers, 5 meters apart, on

which are the microscopes used in observing the lines on the 5-meter

standard, have been placed in position, and between one pair of piers

four other piers have been placed 1 meter apart for the purpose of

building up the 5-meter bar from the national prototype meter.

It is intended to investigate a number of nickel-steel tapes for the

Coast Survey during the coming winter to determine whether nickelsteel tapes are suitable for the measurement of geodetic base lines.

The 1-meter precision comparator remains to be constructed. The

stone piers have been secured and will be installed in one of the

basement rooms. This comparator will be of the optical beam compass type; that is to say, the microscopes will be clamped on a
6 REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

beam which will rest on piers at each end instead of being mounted

on piers directly. The advantages of this type are that the microscopes may be varied and the comparator used to compare either yards

or meters or other lengths down to 1 decimeter. If the beam is

made of nonexpanding nickel steel the microscopes of the comparator

should be at least as stable as those mounted on independent piers.

During the year a meeting of State sealers of weights and measures was held at the Bureau. A collection of balances, weights, and measures, etc., suitable for their use was shown, some of which were

designed at the Bureau of Standards. The results of the meeting

were eminently satisfactory. Many of the delegates whose duties

were merely nominal learned for the first time the importance of

the work of testing the commercial' weights and measures. In addition, the Bureau secured very much valuable information as to the

condition of affairs throughout the country. A report of this meeting containing the statements of the various delegates as to the testing

of commercial weights and measures has been prepared, and it is

expected that it will be issued during the coming year. A compilation of the laws relating to weights and measures in the United States

and Territories was published principally for the information of the

State and city sealers of weights and measures. Considerable demand

for this publication has come from manufacturers throughout the

country.

On account of the increase in the amount of routine testing in this

section, it is impossible with the present force to properly keep up

with the work, much less to undertake investigations which suggest

themselves and for which there is urgent need. It will be necessary

to provide additional assistance in this work at the earliest possible

moment. Assistance is also needed in the preparation of circulars of

information, tables of equivalents and constants, a dictionarjr of

weights and measures, values of foreign weights and measures, etc. At the present time many inquiries can be only imperfectly answered

because of the great amount of time required to look up references.

MEASURES OF VOLUME.

The work in connection with the testing of volumetric glassware

has been further developed during the past year. Kegulations

regarding the construction, marking, use, limits of error and fees for

testing have been determined upon and published in Circular No. 9. Purchasers of volumetric apparatus are now specifying that it shall

conform to the regulations of the Bureau of Standards, and frequently they submit it for test. The methods of testing this apparatus have been further perfected, and it may now be tested with great

rapidity in large quantities. The methods of using and testing
REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS. 7

burettes have been investigated with reference to the correction of

the errors met and to improvement in their manufacture. Considerable testing has been done for the Government and for private

individuals, including several manufacturers who wish to construct apparatus in accord with the regulations of the Bureau.

A large amount of work has been done for the Hygienic Laboratory

of the Public Health and Marine-Hospital Service. This laboratory

has recently acquired an equipment for work in connection with

diptheria antitoxins and the testing of the potency and puritjr of

antitoxins supplied to the public. A large part of this equipment

consists of volumetric apparatus which has been submitted to the

Bureaii for the most careful investigation. Much of this apparatus

requiring the highest degree of precision in measuring small quantities of liquid has been adjusted by the Bureau. To do this there has

been added to the equipment a balance embodying special features

which make it possible to work with great rapidity and precision.

The performance of this balance has been so satisfactory that it is

proposed to obtain another of the same type, but larger, in order to

extend the range of this class of work to apparatus of two liters

capacity.

MEASUREMENT OE TIME.

Preparations for the work of testing time-measuring apparatus

have been carried forward during the year, but it is not sufficiently

far advanced to permit the investigation of time pieces for the public.

The standard clock made by Biefler at Munich is at present temporarily mounted on the wall of a second-floor laboratory, but plans are being prepared for a permanent clock room in the basement, which

will be much better adapted for this purpose. Through the courtesy of the Bureau of Equipment of the Navj*- Department the noon

signals are received from the Washington Navy-Yard by wireless

telegraph}'', the connection between the navy-yard and the Naval

Observatory being by telegraph. The correction to the noon signal

as sent out by the Naval Observatory is furnished to the Bureau, so that the only errors are those due to the transmission of the signals

from the navy-yard to the Bureau.

Notwithstanding the unfavorable position of the clock, the rate

has been very satisfactory, the daily variations not usually exceeding

one-tenth of a second—an accuracj^ more than sufficient for all ordinary purposes. In addition to the double-pen chronograph ordered

last year, a cabinet for the position test of watches was designed and

purchased! This cabinet is constructed to maintain the watches at a nearly uniform temperature, and it will be fitted with adjustable

holders making it possible to vary the position of the watches. With

the transfer of the clock to the vault mentioned and the building of a small room where the temperature can be raised and lowered for the
8 EEPORT OF DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

temperature tests of watches, for which plans are being drafted, the

preparations for watch testing will be practically completed and the

work may be inaugurated.

THERMOMETRY, PyROMETRY, AND HEAT MEASUREMENTS.

The work carried on by this section during the year includes the

testing of thermometers of all kinds and of the various forms of

pyrometers for the measurement of high temperatures, the determination of calorific values of fuels, and investigations bearing on the

establishment and control of the temperature standards of the

Bureau. Information has been furnished, upon request, to several

departments of the Government, and to cities, manufacturing interests, technical schools, and individuals, as to methods of measurement,

thermal constants, specifications for thermometers, etc. The intercomparison of the primary standard mercurial thermometers of the Bureau in the interval 0°-100° C, in a specially designed

comparator, has been carried on from time to time during the year,

and is now nearing completion. A number of platinum resistance

thermometers, together with the necessary apparatus for their use, have been designed and constructed, to be used in connection with the

establishment of the standard scale of temperature, which work,

owing to the rapidly increasing demands for testing, has not progressed in accordance with its importance.

An electrically heated fused salt bath has been constructed in the

instrument shop for the intercomparison of the standards of the

Bureau and the testing of high-temperature thermometers in the

interval 300°-525° C.

During the 3^ear the first part of the investigation as to the methods

of measurement of high temperature by means of the light and heat

emitted by incandescent bodies, with a view to their application in

the laboratory and in the industries, has been completed, and an

account of it was published in Bulletin No. 2, pages 189-254.

The demands of electrochemical processes make it necessary to control and measure temperatures far beyond the range of any

pyrometer requiring contact with the heated substance. With the

establishment of a satisfactory scale of extreme temperatures in view, an investigation has been carried out during the year in which the

several methods of estimating such temperatures by optical and

radiation pyrometers were compared at the extreme temperature of

the electric arc. The results of this investigation, which showed the

several methods to be in satisfactory agreement, were published in

Bulletin No. 1, pages 109-124.'

The construction and study of a standard gas thermometer, which

is the ultimate standard in all thermometric work, is of fundamental

importance in its bearing on the standards of the Bureau. Some
REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS. . 9

progress has been made in assembling the apparatus necessary for

this investigation.

In view of the great amount of work incident to the establishment

and study of the Bureau's standards of temperature and the large

amount of testing to be done in this section, a considerable increase in

its working force will be necessary.

The low-temperature liquid air and hydrogen plant recently ac- quired by the Bureau makes available the equipment necessary for

the extension of the scale and the study of the standards at the lowest

attainable temperatures.

THERMOMETRY.

During the year over 15,000 thermometers of various kinds have

been tested, including precision standards, clinical standards, hightemperature, maxima and minima, and clinical thermometers. These

include many thermometers that will be used as standards by manufacturers. The tests were based upon the international hydrogen

scale of temperature, thus leading to the general adoption of that

scale. The tests have shown that a large , percentage of the hightemperature and industrial thermometers were subject to ven^ con- 1

siderable changes with use, due to improper methods of treatment

during the process of construction. The attention of thermometer

manufacturers was directed to this matter by correspondence, with

the result that the more recent product submitted shows a marked

improvement in this respect. Investigations bearing upon this question have been completed during the year, and the results are ready

for publication. The tests include over 12,000 clinical thermometers

submitted by manufacturers, dealers, hospitals, plrysicians, and the

several medical departments of the Government.

During the preceding year 11.6 per cent of the clinical thermometers submitted failed to pass the test requirements, in comparison

with 8.4 per cent in the past year, which indicates an improvement

in the quality of the product submitted. The details of the apparatus

used and the methods of testing have been described in Bulletin

No. 2, pages 275-289. This information has been furnished to"a~f

number of manufacturers, and clinical standards have been loaned to

them for short periods with a view to facilitating the general use

of a uniform scale of temperature and an improvement in the product. The apparatus, which has been especially designed for this

work, and which has been constructed in the instrument shops of the

Bureau, has now been subjected to exhaustive trials, and leaves little '

to be desired in accuracy of results and speed of working. Nevertheless, the demands for this work have increased so rapidly during

the past year that the facilities of the Bureau in this line have been

overtaxed.

6936—05 m 2
10 REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

PYROMETER AND HEAT MEASUREMENTS.

Under this head the following instruments have been tested : Thermocouples for measuring high temperature, pyrometer galvanometers,

expansion pyrometers, platinum resistance thermometers, optical

pyrometers, and a combustion calorimeter, and several tests have

been made of the calorific value of fuels. Several of the pyrometers

tested will be used as standards by manufacturers, and will thus serve

to control a large number of pyrometers used in industrial processes

and will facilitate the introduction of a uniform scale of temperature.

The instruments tested cover a wide variety of applications, viz : the

control of temperatures in hardening and annealing, and in glassware

and chemical furnaces, engineering tests, and investigations involving

high temperatures.

The great importance in many industrial processes of an accurate

knowledge and control of the temperatures at which the operations

are carried out is just beginning to be realized in this country. The

representatives of many manufacturing plants have visited the

Bureau during the year, with a view to studying the pyrometers in use in its laboratories and consulting its experts concerning the

methods of temperature measurement, and no inconsiderable part of

the work of this section has been the furnishing of information of

this kind to the public.

OPTICS.

The organization of the optical work was begun to a small extent

in the temporary quarters. The completion of the physical laboratory during the year has made it possible to take up several important

problems. While the work of this section is chiefly related to the

determination of physical laws and constants, considerable testing

has been done, especially in connection with polariscopic apparatus

and standards. This section, and in fact the entire Bureau, is very

much in need of the services of a mechanic skilled in the grinding

and polishing of glass and a glass blower.

SPECTROSCOPY.

The spectroscopic workdias been confined , chiefly to the determination of the laws and conditions governing the production of pure

spectra, with a view to their application in spectroscopic methods, the

determination of standard wave lengths and their use in optical

methods of measurement. It has involved investigations in connection with the spectra of mixed gases and multiple spectra. The

spark and arc spectra of twenty-one different metals were photographed under different conditions. An examination was also made

of the spark and arc spectra of alloys. It is proposed to further
REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS. 11

examine the individual lines by means of the echelon spectroscope.

For this purpose a 30-step echelon grating has been purchased and a

special mounting constructed.

POLARIMETEY.

The work in polarimetry has been confined almost entirely to the

examination of methods and apparatus used in polariscopic analysis

of sugar. During the past j^ear polarizing apparatus for especially

accurate measurements and a thermostat for use in connection with

this apparatus have been designed and built in the Bureau shops.

An accurate quartz compensation polariscope has been assembled, and

a number of quartz control plates to be used as primary standards

have been obtained. One of the greatest obstacles to accurate polariscopic measurements is the lack of sources of monochromatic light

of sufficient intensity. Sodium light, the accepted standard, is far

from monochromatic. One of the spectral lines emitted by a quartz

mercury lamp seems to answer every requirement. Accordingly a determination of the rotation of quartz for light of this particular

wave length has been undertaken. The measurement of the absolute rotation of quartz control plates for primary standards is well

under way.

Owing to the lack of reliable data on the effect of the reagents

commonly used in sugar testing, it has been found necessary to determine their rotary dispersion curves. These measurements, as well as those on quartz, for the mercury line referred to above will soon be

published.

During the past year the Bureau has been requested by the Treasury Department to test the exchange samples of sugar from the four

principal sugar ports. These ports send samples daily to each other

and to the Bureau. The results of these tests are forwarded to the

Secretary of the Treasury, the work of the Bureau thus giving him a check on the accuracy of each day's work at the ports referred to. Active cooperation has also been carried' on with the Treasury ' Department toward establishing uniform and improved methods for

polariscopic sugar analysis.

A considerable amount of testing was done during the latter portion of the fiscal year, including tests of a number of quartz control

plates and polariscopes. The Bureau is prepared to test control

plates to a high degree of accuracy.

ENGINEERING INSTRUMENTS AND MATERIALS.

It has been impossible to assign to this section laboratory space

and assistance commensurate with the importance of the work and the

demand for testing. The Bureau is in a position to study and test water meters not larger than 2 inches, gas meters, speed indicators,
12 REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

and pressure gauges. Designs have been completed for an anemometer testing machine, which is now in process of construction in the

shops of the Bureau. The tests made during the year include among

'others two different kinds of water meters, several sizes of a new form

of speed indicator, and a paper tester—the latter to be used in one of

the Departments of the Government. The investigation in connection with fire-hose couplings has been continued with a view to the

selection of a national standard. Important progress has been made

in this direction. The more important tests of materials include the

test of the tensile strength of the new cable for the elevator in the

Washington Monument, the cement used in the construction of the

new office building for the House of Representatives, and the adhesive

power of a large number of mucilages, with a view to determining

the proper specification to be used in Government purchases of this

article.

INSTRUMENT SHOP.

During the year a large amount of special apparatus has been constructed in the instrument shop. Everj^ test or new problem taken

up requires a certain amount of mechanical assistance. Special

apparatus which can not be bought in the market is much more

cheaply constructed under the personal supervision of the experts

who have planned it and who will superintend its use than elsewhere.

The mechanics emploj^ed in the instrument shop are all instrument

makers of experience and skill. The equipment of the shop is

modern and efficient, but neither the number of instrument makers

nor the equipment is sufficient to meet the needs of the Bureau.

ELECTRICAL WORK.

The electrical work of the Bureau is divided into five principal

sections. The first has to do with resistance and electromotive force,

the second with magnetism, the third with inductance and capacity,

the fourth with a wide range of electrical measuring instruments, and

the fifth with photometry.

The work of the first, second, and third sections was transferred

from the temporary quarters previously occupied to the new Physical Laboratory at its completion. The Avork of the fourth and fifth

sections was partially installed during the previous year in the

Mechanical Laboratory. The establishment of the electrical work in

new quarters has enabled the Bureau to begin several investigations

relating to fundamental electrical units and standards. This is

especially important in view of the coining International Electrical

Congress, at which the Bureau will be expected to contribute the

results of its work.
EEPOET OF DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS. 13

At the request of the authorities of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, an electrical testing laboratory was equipped and maintained

in the Electricity Building of the exposition. The object of this

installation was to exhibit a working electrical laboratory and to test instruments and standards for the jury of awards, for the railway

test commission, for the Government, and for other electrical interests at the exposition. Notwithstanding the fact that the laborator}^

was in a temporary structure, it possessed many of the appointments

of a permanent installation, and a considerable amount of testing was

done in it during the latter half of the exposition period. ' The exhibit

proved to be of great value to the electrical interests of the country.

It was especially appreciated by visitors from abroad familiar with

the equipment of European institutions doing similar work, and was

awarded a grand prize by the exposition authorities.

ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE AND ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE.

The work of this section involves the construction and verification

of resistance standards and standards of electromotive force, the

calibration of resistance boxes. Wheatstone bridges, potentiometers,

precision rheostats, and resistances for current measurements, and

the determination of the electrical conductivity of materials. The

permanent installation of the work of this section in the rooms set aside for it has involved the expenditure of considerable time and

labor. This has been done with a view to facilitating as much as possible the routine Avork of testing and the undertaking of several

important investigations relating to fundamental electrical standards. The new pieces of apparatus purchased or constructed during

the year include a direct-reading shunt compensation ratio set, by

which two resistance standards may be quickly and accurately compared; a special Carey-Foster bridge, a mercury contact Wheatstone

bridge, and a DArsonval galvanometer of the highest sensibility.

A direct-reading method has been devised and apparatus designed

for the rapid calibration of resistance boxes, with satisfactory results.

Further Avork has been done on the construction of some primar}'

and secondary mercurial resistance standards, and it is hoped that

they AA'ill be completed during the coming year. Investigations pertaining to the standard cell have been interrupted by the work

incident to the installation of the neAV laboratories and by routine

testing. These investigations will be taken up again during the

coming year.

MAGNETISM AND ABSOLUTE MEASUREMENT OF CURRENT.

Several different pieces of apparatus for testing the magnetic

properties of iron and steel have heen calibrated by comparison, by

the double-yoke method. The Bureau is prepared to determine the
14 REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

magnetization and static hysteresis curves of suitable specimens of

iron, and a few such tests have been made. During the present year

apparatus will be added for testing sheet iron by the wattmeter

method, under widely varying conditions. In connection with the work

of current measurement, the study of the silver coulometer has been

continued. An absolute electrical dynamometer is in process of construction, the cylindrical frames of which have been completed and

carefully measured. An examination of the elastic properties of

suspensions for use in this instrument has been made. The electrodAmamometer will probably be completed during the coming year.

INDUCTANCE AND CAPACITT.

This work includes the investigation of methods of inductance and

capachVy measurement, the construction and testing of standards of

inductance and capacity for the Bureau, the testing of such standards

for the public, and the measurement of the inductance and capacity

of instruments. As a result of the year's work, several important

improvements have been made in these measurements, and the accu- racy attainable has been appreciably increased. An extended study

of the standards of inductance of the Bureau has been made and

their values fixed with satisfactory precision. An investigation has

been carried on to determine with greater accurac}' than has as yet

been done the ration of the electromagnetic to the electrostatic units

of electrical measure. Excellent progress has been made and the work

will be continued during the next year.

ELECTRICAL MEASURING IXSTRLOIENTS.

In this section is carried on the investigation, and construction

when necessary, of instruments of precision for measuring electrical current, electromotive force and power, and the phase, wave

form, and frequency of alternating electrical currents: also the

testing of laboratory and commercial ammeters, voltmeters, wattmeters, anad watt-hour meters for both direct and alternating current,

and frequency meters, phase meters, curve tracers, and other instruments used in connection with alternating currents. Several investigations have been made in connection with electrical measuring instruments and a considerable amount of testing has been done. During

the past six months a large amount of work has been done in perfecting

the installation and equipment necessary for this wide and important

field of electrical testing. The facilities required for handling and

measuring alternating currents of 1.000 amperes and direct currents

of several thousand amperes are much more difficult to provide

than for smaller currents. An effort is being made to equip this

laboratory with the instruments necessary for measuring all of the

alternating currents involved in precision and commercial testing
REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS. 15

and to provide it with the generating machinery, transformer-, and

other apparatus necessaiy to produce the range of frequency, wave

form, and power factor necessarily employed in the testing of

alternating-current instruments. A special harmonic alternator is now being built for the Bureau, which will add materially to the

facilities for the testing and study of such apparatus.

\

PHOTOMETRY.

While the work in photometry is principally optical in character,

its relation to the electrical work is such that it has been included

in that branch of the Bureau's work for the present. In addition

to the regular testing for the departments of the Government and

for the general public, the photometric standards of the Bureau have

been intercompared and their comparison with the standards of

other countries has been taken up.

The integrating photometer for the measurement of mean spherical

candlepower, designed at the Bureau and begun a year ago, has been

completed, and after adjustment will be applied to the solution of

several problems of commercial importance in addition to its use

in the actual testing of electric lamps.

A rapid commercial photometer has been designed to meet the

increased demands for commercial testing of incandescent electric

lamps by the various departments of the Government, and it is nearing completion. For this work a photometer is required with

which lamps may be rapidly tested. This photometer, together with

adequate means for making life tests of lamps, will constitute a fairly

complete equipment for the photometry of incandescent electric lamps.

During the year a thorough study of the sectored disk, an essential

adjunct to a photometric equipment, was begun, and it is expected

that the results of this investigation will be published within the next

year.

CHEMISTRY.

Since the rooms set aside as chemical laboratories are situated in

the Physical Building, vei^ little could be clone toward their permanent equipment and the installation of the large amount of special

fixtures and plumbing necessary until the completion of this building, thus delaying the chemical work in new quarters until March of

the present fiscal year. Previous to this, work of the chemical section

was carried on in the temporary quarters of the Bureau and in the

chemical laboratory of the Bureau of Chemistry of the Department

of Agriculture through the courtesy of the Secretary of that Department and the chief of the Bureau of Chemistry. In addition to the

planning and installation of the permanent equipment and apparatus

of the chemical laboratories, a number of investigations have been
16 REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

undertaken which were considered important from a commercial or

scientific standpoint, or have been necessary in connection with the

work of this and other Government bureaus.

The Bureau has undertaken to standardize some of the more important chemical reagents, and considerable work has been done in this

direction. Samples of a few important materials, including limestone

and steel, have been carefully analyzed with a view to their distribution

when necessary for the purpose of checking the accuracy of methods of

analysis used in scientific work and the industries. Questions relating to the purity of reagents and analytical methods are of the greatest

importance to scientific and commercial interests. It is hoped that

the Bureau may considerably extend this work during the coming

year. A number of substances have been examined physically and

chemically for the Department of Commerce and Labor and other

Departments of the Government with a view to determining standards

and standard specifications to be employed in the purchase of Government supplies. The relation of the chemical work to that of

other sections of the Bureau is exceedingly important. Scarcely a problem can be taken up concerning the construction of standards, or properties of materials, that does not involve chemical preparations, chemical analyses, or the cooperation and advice of expert

chemists. The entire work of the Bureau has been greatly strengthened and its efficiency increased by the organization of the work in

chemistry.

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. In recommending persons for appointment to the staff of the

Bureau every precaution is taken to insure that they possess the proper

qualifications for the work in hand and the fundamental education

or training necessar}' for advancement in the service.

The staff of the Bureau, including the Director, consists of 71 persons, distributed as follows

Scientific force.—One physicist, 1 chemist, 4 associate physicists, 1 associate

chemist, 7 assistant physicists, 1 assistant chemist, 15 laboratory assistants,

j computer. 2 aids, and 3 laboratory apprentices; total, 36. Office and clerical farce—One secretary, 1 librarian, clerks, 1 storekeeper. 1 draftsman, 2 assistant messengers, 1 messenger boy ; total, 13.
REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS. 17

Engineer and meclianical force.—One engineer, 2 assistant engineers. 1 electri- cian, 5 mechanicians, 2 woodworkers, 2 shop apprentices, 2 firemen, 2 laborers,

2 watchmen, 1 janitor, 1 charwoman ; total, 21.

LIBRARY.

The library has been increased by the addition of 235 volumes.

It now contains 2,184 bound volumes and about 1,200 pamphlets,

reprints, and miscellaneous reports. These books are all of a purely

technical character, dealing with the work of the Bureau or with

subjects closely related to it. The library subscribes to or exchanges with 77 scientific periodicals,

and receives gratis many reports, translations, and bulletins from

similar scientific institutions, universities, and learned societies.

During the year 101 volumes of this material have been entered and

bound.

Acquisitions by purchase have been, in general, books that were not

available in the other libraries of the city or were in such constant

use as to require that copies be immediately at hand. The privileges

of nearly all the other libraries of the city have been extended to the

Bureau. Many books have been borroAved from them during the year,

and much assistance has been rendered by the several librarians. A

complete author and subject catalogue of the works on hand has been

prepared. Through the card distribution of the Library of Congress

the Bureau possesses a complete author and subject catalogue of the

Library collection, so far as cards have been printed, in the subjects

relating to the work of the Bureau. Titles are being continually

added as they appear.

PUBLICATIONS.

The following publications have been issued during the year

Circular No. 8, covering fees, regulations, and instructions relative

to the testing and use of thermometers.

Circular No. 9, in connection with the testing and use of glass volumetric apparatus.

Circular No. 10, regarding legal weights, per bushel, of various

commodities.

The results of the scientific work of the Bureau are published in

the form of bulletins, two of which were issued during the year.

A new edition has been issued of a graphical chart illustrating the

international metric system of weights and measures and its relations

to the customary system.

The national and State laws concerning weights and measures have

been compiled and published in a volume for the use of the Bureau

&nd for State and city officials having in charge matters pertaining

to weights and measures.
18 "REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

NUMBER AND VALUE OF TESTS COMPLETED.

The following table shows the number of tests made at the Bureau

and the amount of the fees received therefor during the fiscal year

ended June 30, 1905 :

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

Number. Value. Number. Value. Number. Value.

Length

Mass..-

Ill 260

756 1,417

539

18

171 984

34

87

S170.50

269. 50

243.20

266. 13

430. 25 66.00

404. 25

161.30 90.00

68.75

133

32142

11.274

16 344

1034

39

§177. 70

209. 70 47.00

1,752.48

5.00 24.00

417.:*

71. 75 50.00

31.50

244

581

798

12, 691 540

24 515

1.08738 126

§348.20

479.20

290.20

2,018.61 435.25 90.00

821. 55

233. 05

140.00

100.25

Capacity _. _ Temperature

Optical

Engineering. ... ..... . . ... Electrical Photometry . . Chemical

Sundry

Total ^_ 4.377 2, 169.88 12,267 2.786.43 16, 644 4,956.31

The number of tests made for the Government in 1904—5 was 27

per cent greater than in the preceding fiscal year, and the number of

tests for the public was 185 per cent greater, the increase in tests for

both Government and public being 115 per cent. The receipts for tests were as follows

Total receipts 1904-5 $2, 815. 38

Previously received for tests in progress 1904-5 $31. 60

Due for outstanding tests 33«25

64. 85

$2, 880. 23

Received for tests completed 1903^ 29. 05

Received for tests in progress 64. 75

93. 80

Fees for tests completed 1904-5 2, 786. 43

FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

The following statement shows the amount and object of each

appropriation provided for the Bureau for the fiscal year 1904—5, the

disbursements during the year, the amount of unfilled and unpaid

orders at the close of the 3

7 ear, and the unexpended balance remaining

at the close of business June 30, 1905

APPROPRIATIONS, 1904-5.

Appropriation

Disbursement. 1 Liability. Balance. Total.

Salaries - #83,569.10

70, 211.74

13. 399. 01

1,0110.1111 15.90

§2.210.90

111.71 148.00

§85,780.00

78,500.00 13,430.00

1,(1111). 0(1 12,600.00

Equipment

General expenses Grounds

§8,176.55

882. 93

Outbuildings

Total

12,000.00 484. 10

167,195.75 21,059.48 2,954. 77 191,210.(10
REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS. 19

The following statement shows the condition of the appropriations

for the two preceding fiscal years at the close of business June 30, 1905 :

APPROPRIATIONS, 1902-3.

Appropriation. Disbursement. Liability. Balance. Total.

Salaries $32,559.93 29,350.00

4,939.97

§3.500.07

650. 00 60.03

$36. 060. 00

30,000.00 5,000.00 Equipment

General expenses _ J

Total .... 66,849.90 4,210.10 71,060.00

APPROPRIATIONS, 1903-4.

Salaries ... . . $69, 754. 59 109,172.15

10,876.36

500.00

$4,945.41 237.20

48.97

$74,700.00

110,000. 00 10,925.33

500. 00

Equipment

General expenses

$600. 65

Grounds.

Total 190,303.10 600. 65 5,221.58 196,135.33

Respectfully,

S. W. Stratton, Director.

The Secretary of Commerce and Labor,

Washington, D. O.
I

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