The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-07-31
STANDARDS BUREAU
DOES GREAT WORK
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SAFETY RULES IN OCCUPATIONS
WITH ELECTRICITY aAz-
ARD ARRANGED.
CASE OF ALYRlA, OHIO
GOVERNMENT SHOWS ELECTRICAL
RAILROADS HOW TO LESSEN
DAMAGE RISK BY I'M
PROVING CONDITIONS.
CASE OF ALYRlA, OHIO
by Il. Ill. McGOM An.

y
Redfield. of the department of GEM
merce, has just received report from
the bureau of nandards which shows
how the government is doing many
interesting things. This bureau is
undertaking something new all the
time along the line OF scientific dis
covery and practical invention.
For some time the bureau has been
working on safety rules to be observ
ed in the operation and maintenance
OF electric generating stations and
substations. and on the overhead and
underground Distributing wires in
connection Herewith. and a set Of
rules has been prepared for publica-
ton by the bureau. In this work the
bureau has consulted Il large number
of operating companies workmen ac-
lively engaged in the different lines
of work covered by the rules. as well
as State Industrial and public ser
vice commissions. The rules have
been formulated so as 10 be com plete
and simple. and as easily understood
as possible. These rules have been
highly commended by number or
very competent critics. II is believ-
ed that they will be of great value
to State commissions. city authori-
ties and operating companies, and will
portant industry
The report on mitigation Of cleo
trolysis damage in Elyria, O, has
been completed and was presented to
the city. the gas company the tele-
phone company and the railway COM
pany some weeks ago and accepted by
all the interests involved The rail-
way company has promised To do ev-
erything recommended by the bu-
reau, which will result in not only
In correcting very serious electrolysis
troubles. but also will improve the
street railway service in Elyria and
vicinity. improve the lighting of the
cars. and save enough money to the
railway company to justify fully the
total expense involved apart from the
consideration OF electrolysis mitiga-
ton. In other words. the bureau has
shown the railway company how to
effect considerable economies as we'll
as to improve its service. by q rear
rangement OF their distribution sy.-
TENS and the installation of mega
tive cables for the return of street
railway current to the power sta
tions, Because Of these economies
the railway company is willing to un-
ton and new arrangement without
sure from the courts.
In the cement laboratory in wash
ington tests were made from samples
for delivery Of about six thousand
barrels At the Northampton labora-
tory the June shipments sampled and
tested represented $1,000 barrels of
cement, an average daily rate OF 3
sos. 1T Is Interesting to note In this
connection that the total shipm en- is
tested at this laboratory now agg1s-
gate 6.15S,10s barrels. mainly for the
Panama canal
About two months ago an instri-
ment was constructed for the United
States weather bureau for measuring
the so-called nocturnal radiation.
which usually is loss OF heat from
/ terrestrial substances into space. The
/ latest report shows that this instru-
ment is unusually senitive and that 1t
meets all the requirements.
The influence of atmospheric con-
ditions on the testing Of sugars has
long been an unknown quantity owing
to the difficulty Of controlling both
/ temperature and humidity in the re-
search laboratory Relatively large
and lnexplieable differences have been
noted for some years between the
tests on imported sugars for the col
| lection OF duty at the various ports of
! entry. SO great have been these diff
I eerences that sugars have purposely
/ been imported by certain ports with
the intent of paying lower rate OF
! duty The bureau has studied this
| question, and its investigation now
shows not only the exact cause OF
| differences. but also a simple and GER
! tain method Of eliminating them.
In compliance with request re-
/ ceived from the Automobile Club oi
I America for assistance in testing me-
I thods Of eliminating glare" OF head
lights, a method Of accomplishing
J this has been devised and is being
/ tested The director recommends
that a patent dedicated to the public
| be taken on this method
One of the interesting and impor-
tant pieces of work has been the es-
Establishment OF standard Of radia-
ton OF which not merely the light ir
a visible spectrum was measured, but
the total radiation visible and invisi-
! BILE was accurately determined. These
determinations have been completed
with four radiometers and show mos
! excellent agreement as to results
with 05 per cent compared with the
previous celebration Of these lamps
Hence the standard Of radiation al
a II ~