The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-02-27

ON, D. c., SUNDAY, FEBRUA'
expanding by heat ascends in a tube that
is marked; again, by a platinum wire,
through which a current of electricity is
passed and the resistance noted, and then
by the optical pyrometer, which meas
ures the visible light radiation in q fur
mace OF melted iron or a kiln of burning
pottery. Steel. iron, and glass makers.
potterS and bakers use promoters
Formerly, men paid large salaries for
simply looking into furnaces and kilns
and guessing at the temperature. IT thus
happened that the manufactures of iron
was always uncertain as to the quality OF
his next cast. A difference of twenty de-
grees, even where heat is so high that
metals are melted. often changes the
character OF the product The pyrometer,
one of the modern instruments OF pre-
cision.v DIT. Stratton went on to say, and
detected some emphasis in his words.
permits of records being kept and gives
stability and uniformity TO manufaetur-
ing. Bakers know what degree Of heat
best bakes their bread. Blast-furnaces
can make the-same kind of iron week In
and week out The potter now burns
his kilns by the laws OF science. Tenn
peratures can be controlled and guessing
need no longer be a costly service in
many Industrial processes"
100 Below Zeea.
What are the extremes OF tempera-
ture," asked
with certain manufactures tempera-
ture may reach 200 degrees Fahrenhlte.
AT the bureau we have put the tempera-
turs down. chemically. to 400 degrees
below zero
what sort of q measure for cold do
artoic explorers employ7'
II suppose Peary used alcohol or gas
Thermometers. Mercury freezes at about
10 degrees below zero"
DO you have measures 20 ascertain the
tensile strength OF steel used for bridges
and buildings?"
I'VE could perform such work for the
government. but not for individuals be-
cause there are scores Of private labora-
tories where It could be dcne. Steel, how
ever, has a good many other qualities
besides tensility"
Have you undertaken any tests OF steel
rails?"
THAT is a matter I do not care to
talk about In detail Because of heavier
engines and cars. made necessary by in
creased traffic. railway managers are hay
ing trouble with rails that were once
satisfactory. The problem may be worked
out by three groups OF men. Engineers
of important roads, perhaps, will expert
ment with different rails, putting them
down here and there. one in each place.
and watching them When a rail- is found
that will wear and is safe il may be
brought to US. After we have analysed
It and described its constants. or physical
properties. the railways will probably ask
the steel men II they can make other rails
Just like IT,"
Generally" I asked. "are scales and
measures in groceries and butcher shops
accurate?"
People Are Indifferent.
I'VE are now doing something with that
subject" Or. stratton replied VERY
few OF our States or even our cities have
officers charged with looking after
weights and measures. In Europe. where
wages are low and living is dear. the
people are particular aboat- gsttlze ex-
actiy what they pay for and laws have
been passed and officers have been ap-
pointed to compel the honesty OF weights
and measures. IN the United States. with
plenty OF money and an abundance Of
everything. the people do not seem TO
care whether they get fourteen or sixteen
ounces when they buy a pound Of NEAR
or butter.
The honest merchant, in my opinion.
would welcome governmental supervision
or inspection Of his scales and measures
II he is giving short weights. he win
want to know it. As it is to-day, In a
very large part Of the country. the dis
honest merchant can cheat his custom
ers at viii, and there Is no way by law
OF detecting or stopping him. In one
large Eastern State an old pupil of mine
Is an Inspector, Z might say. of weights
and measures. He told me recently that
after purchasing articles Of daily and
common use in different towns and cities
ne had weighed them. By a calculation
Of his own. based on the facts so found.
he estimates that the people Of the state
are paying 100000 a year for food that
they never get, much less consume.
There should be an efficient and cour-
ageous SUPERVISION Of scales and meas
lres In all the villages and cities through
put the country" Or. Stratton continued
to say. Undoubtedly inaccurate scales
are being used by merchants OF integrity
but the result to the consumer is the
same as it would be were the merchant
'heating purposely and deliberately"
samuel Wesley Stratton. physicist Is
,orty-eight years old and a bachelor.
Copyright. 1910, b. James B. Slorrovl