The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-06-18


epidemic. The remedy proposed is
more careful inspection OF cows and
mixers and efficient pasteurization
OF milk before distribution to Gus
| toners.
! WHAT EDISON LEARNED IN GER
MANY.
| Thomas A. Edison has been visiting,
German factories and has been tell
ing of what he saw, in picturesque
language. His experiences made him
think, and what he says will doubtless
cause thought In others who have per
haps moderated the Germans as in.
ventors and manufacturers. Mr..
Edison finds that in the factory. as
elsewhere, they are primarily students.
Our factories, he says, have a Cham
payne atmosphere" We shout, ..Hur-
rah. boys" and-go at it with whoop,
while the more serious German is
thinking it all out. We skim the
cream. So does the German-and then
he makes big profit out of the milk
that is left. In German factories,
says Mr.. Edison. we find "a brand of
creative work" different from that
found in most American factories:
better mechanism "for corralling vital
ideas" This is noticeable first in their
research laboratories. Says the in
ventor, as interviewed, for Factory
(; New York;:
4 ft,n - f.
works, two hundred research workers
are engaged upon Investigations that
mean continual new commercial pro-
ducts The thorough, careful way in
! which this concern makes researches
in therapeutics may we'll be consid-
/ cred by every American manufacture
ier, whether he makes synthetic in
digo. sulfonal, food-products, or metal
goods
/ In this country we go in for the
obvious products. the ones we can get
/ quickly and easily. Just as we throw
away slabs at the lumber mill, SO we
lose by-products simply because we
do not think it worth while to bother
with intricate processes or undiscov-
cred uses. The Germans have proved
that it is worth while, that it pays to
+ Stuuy "DETAILS.
I Vast industries are built on research
work; what are known today as the
coal-tar products and host of chem
icals, anilin coIors, benzol creosote,
and so on, all have been developed by
German manufacturers after they
have spent years in experimental and
research work.
The same policy, the same attitude
OF studying to find better ways and
new by-products is illustrated in all
sorts of German industries. Great
quantities of finer chemicals are made
by the Germans from stuff we throw
out in this country as worthless. Go
into our coal-striking districts or the
Iordlnary gas-plant; material is thrown
out as worthless which the Germans
] are developing into salable products.
Here and there in this country you
Will find factory where research is
conducted and marketable products
developed, hut, as whole, American
manufacturers do not take this point
of view.
| Built on this research work as a
foundation, Mr.. Edison found quality
and care taken to maintain it. He
fdiscovered that they paint things on
the under side in Germany" Their
claims do not rest on having the big
3gest or the heaviest or the most SUI
perlative product of any kind. Mr.
Edison went on to say.
In one factory in Germany. / no.
ticed some castings turned out for ex-
port to the United States. They were
] wonderfully smooth and free from
blow-hcles. remembered that many
Iof the finer castings for automobiles
and similar products are sent to Amer
lea from Germany There is enor-
& NOUS waste In American foundries be.
cause castings are habitually made 30
badly that large percentage has to
be thrown out. Comparatively speak.
ing. we do things in a rough-and-
tumble way.
In Germany you see nothing of this
sort. There you will always find in.
finite study Of details. Work is mixed
with brains-with the quality of brains
that delights in turning out fine work.
Lack of thoroughness causes OBJ.
vious waste in this country. Analyt.
ical study Is not made Quick results
4 In bulk are apt to be the chief con
federation in American production
Science, technical skill and research
work are looked upon as something
apart from manufacturing in this
country, while In Germany all these
elements are closely knit into the
factory organization.
In America. Mr.. Edison thinks,
opportunities are now being offered
to manufacturers in lines now turned
over by popular consent to German
factories because of the excuse OF
cheap labor. He said of this:
Take the toy industry as type
Germany undoubtedly has an advant-
age under the present lack of ooordi-
nation among the American industries.
Toy-making in some OF its branches is
largely an industry of the hcmes. Yet
ii the situation were reversed and the
toys were made in America, it is prob,
able the Germans would study out
some way to do it themselves. And
IL we added to our aptitude for de
welcoming automatic machinery the
ali +r of rocaorot, /,