Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-11-29
-oa TIE PUBLIC SAFETY.
-.... Of Material are Made in
Laboratories.

,uyh IL is somewhat the fashion
pn that the modern world con-
"n ~. wonders OF science to be its
ri important field of observation and
Tow people realize how impossi-
~ s,ould be the erection OF a modern
W.. establishment of modern
or the building of a modern
er or battleship without a certain
,, Of preliminary work in scienti-
shoratories. To US as Americans
oerhaps even more interesting,
,he important European iabo-
lns' now playing this absolutely
rr mart in twentieth century
nss,,ou. are based upon the meth-
49,, originated on this side OF the
Spch is one OF the conclusions
n.ossssor E. +. Miller. of the Massa .
TIE Institute of Technology. who
.,s, returned to Boston after a
- tho hest technical schools and
.,,,ent experiment stations of
Lind and the Continent. Never an
,,ant building. or a big vessel. a
soet railroad bridge, or any one
- Indefinite number of large mod
.,,rctnres for the comfort and con-
.soce Sf humanity is built until the
..r,al is thoroughly tested to see if
'nI boar the strain to which it must
.,biected. Naturally the labora-
!. If the world are always watch
! .aeh other. the authorities of the
German institution at Chariot
,nrc for example. keep a watchful
an The Massachusetts, Institute of
brology and the Institute of Tech
..v senfs its representative to visit
ar,ottenbure.
1, Grs, lance this seems simply an
u,le a. the rivalry of important
catIonal institutions. But in reality,
Inv IN view the actual relations be-
Nm the modern laboratory and the
ding processes of modern civiliza-
is also in the long run. a rivalry
veen national civilizations. In Lon
where the business quarter is said
b. threatened by an invasion of the
American office building. there is
adv tangible opposition on the
und that the buildings are still an
ptiment and probably unsafe to
unts The answer of course lies in
continued safety of the high build
and this in turn depends obviously
the accuracy with which the ma
nj has first been tested. Before the
building became so important
Of modern construction these tests
rrial from which the strength of
Mr. sections was deducted by COM
ated arithme tical calculations. But
erection Of taller buildings, as well
the growth of ships. steamers,
kges. etc found these tests unrelia-
and the Massachusetts Institute of
hnology. not so very many years
took the pioneer step of adapting
laboratories to testing fur sized
terial by the methods now almost
rersally followed on both sides of
water.
10 see these tests in progress Is an
Eestine glance at what is practical
~ birth Of many a familiar struct-
whether the office building of
city. the floating fortresses of ii
y, or the railroad bridge spanning u
b gorge in the mountains hundreds
niles from civilization. In the en-
Ferng laboratories of Tech. as the
ffhet of modern testing is best
fvn In its own immediate neighbOr-
Of Massachusetts. these tests are
rogress not only night and day but
e OF them lasting over several
OF constant strain and pressure
gwen piece of material. The
ratory itself is what seems almost
haos of powerful machinery whose
purpose is to bend. twist. pull or
the various materials of modern
fruction to their last point Of re-
ahee Wooden beams. for example,
mere kept under constant pressure
years. their sag being recorded
day to day to determine just how
m The timber Is detected during the
d building IN which it is placed
loEg continued experiment which.
ong other things. looks forward to
hedyins the often uneven floors of "A
f,cn milf.
contractor Is building "A church
masonry arch large enough for
ach door Is tested with IA weight
parable TO that of church steeple.
eaded, TO be sure. with so many
puos OF material. but being COM
wed to the crushing point by steel
MS drawn downward by relentless
hdhicai power. Steel rods are sub
W. !" the torsional or twisting tests
nuer mat the necessary dimensions
s"atlS Tor engines. steamships and
ah sorts of shafting for the trans
sun OF power may be definitely
1eu' Bricks are compressed until
etnmble into dust. but the re-
Wv results of many tests determine
Sa'e height nj a chimney or an Of
ouliulhs of brick construction.
colunns are placed under the
p'ession until they buckle or break
s then known for Il certainty
many pounds they will support
nout disaster.
sucu'arly interesting are the tests
wy IN which the great difficulty Is
w u 10 break in the middle rather
al me Knot or fastening. Wire
eah be tested by molding type
around the ends and thus fur
VIZ grip for the jaws of the ma
an the case Of manila rope the
iavorite hitch. the bow line. is
!" De the most unsatisfactory
VI all. while two half bitches de-
.he largest efficiency. OF course
Meiency Of a rope is no greater
.nat of the Knot by means OF
. II Is made fast. but when it is
to learn the breaking strength
4M..r ~