The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-01-05
4 National standa rdiking bureau.

The senate Committee on Commerce II
considering "A bill to provide for the e~tab-
lisllment of a national standardlzing bu-
resu. and through a subcommittee has
already received "A good deal OF testimony
In favor of the plan Tn" gist of the pres ent
bin was laid before the House Of represent
atives last April a. an amendment to the
Sundry Civil bill but the appropriation
called for was not made then. and he plan D,
now provided for 10y special legislation
The bill changes the name Of the Office
Of Standard Weights and Measures to the
National StauiardlGluc Bureau. and d.-
fines the functions uf Ia" bureau as CONSIST
ing in the custody of the standards, the
comparison Of III" standards us,-t IN
scientific invest cations, engineering
manufacturing. cummcrce ana eiuca-
tional institutions. with the standards
adopted or recognized by the Govern
ment, IL" constitution when necessary
al standards. their mulupl-s and sub
divisions the testing and celebration II
standard measuring apparatus, the solu-
ton OF problems which arse IN connec-
ton with standards; the determination
of physical Constants. and n" proper
ties of materials when such data AZ" of
great importance to scientific or manu-
featuring interests and are not 10 he Oh
tanned Of sufficient accuracy elsewhere
AZ present. the operarons of the OnIco
Of STANDARD Weights n Measures ara
very limited. they have h"ch confined
chiefly To problems concerned with thu
standards oi,length. mas, capacity and
,cmueratura. But the Increased order Of
accuracy demanded in scientific and com-
mcrcial uroments. and tho rapid
progress Of pure and applied science
nave increased the scope Of the work
until the orlno Is behind the requirements
Of the day. AMI "A lar 20 and Cpnulet" plant.
Including a laboratory. Is deemed ncce,-
sary. Some OF the problems that will
promptly be laid before an enlarged bu-
reau are these:
"Teulng opt cal surfaces, comparison ~ photo
re,re Standards. determinations Of grating spaces.
saiihaiIun ~ gintings, e~'r'i'ying The u 60 - tuning
forks. comparison ri mercury thermometers With
the nitrogen ~, 'mometor 81 with Other mercury thci
mom.trtS That have been ~ compared and n. dr
termination " magnetic permeahlllty tot samples Of
ron sIhmiu,d In standard sl.s"
In this country We have no establish
nlsrt mf'i u meet the requirements 81
modern life IN tins matter; In Germany
there ar" two such bureaus. in Great Brit
ain three, whI.n France. Austria and
Russia have each one such Institution.
These of course are Governmental offices:
for In all countries the Government alone
Ia empowered e. regulate the weights and
measures to b. used
The creation ~ such n bureau a. the
bill provides would H., 81 very great value
TO eli classes Of scientific and commercial
workers. At present. IN some branches
Of modern industry. a, for example. cleo
tnoty. there az" no PLACES nearer than
England AMI Germany where standard,
may Iva obtained IN" proposed bill
requires the bureau To- do work for the
Government and the state, gratu'pusly.
for private persons and Institutions
proper fee, ar" To- hr charged. Secretary
G.GE. VINO or glnl'ri tho amcnimant
last spring, called the attention OF the