The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1915-10-15
NAVAL BOARD ASKS FOR
A BIG LABORATORY
Naval Consulting Board Elects Off
GERS and Studies Proposed S5,-
100000 Plant Necessary for
Work.

Washing ton, Oct. 7.-Organizatior
Of the navy'S new civilian board here
today with Thomas A. Edison, as
chairman, was followed by the adop-
ton of a resolution proposing estab-
!ishment Of a great research and oX-
perimental laboratory to cost about
S5,O00,000. 1t is probable that the
recommendation will be included by
Secretary Daniels in his estimate to
congress this winter.
Other officers elected by the board
were:
First vice chairman-Dr. Peter
Cooper Hewitt, New York.
Second vice William l..
Saunders, Plainfield, y. J.
Thomas Robins, Stam-
ford, Conn.
Assistant to the chairman-M. r.
Hutchinson, Orange, \. J.
The naval consulting board" is the
official title chosen by the scientists
with the approval of Secretary DAN
iels. 1t was announced that regular
meetings would be held every sixty
days.
Proposed by Daniels
Two sessions were held today, the
first devoted to organization and cleo
ton of officers and the second to con-
sideration of the research laboratory
plant which was proposed by Secre-
tary Daniels.
Mr.. Daniels was host at luncheon
at the Army and Navy club, during
which subcommittee submitted
program for dividing the 23 scientists
and inventors into committees or
groups for the study of specific prob
lens. 1t was decided that there
should be committees on chemistry
and physics, aeronautics, including
internal combustion motors, cleo
tricity, standardization, torpedoes and
mines, submarines, ordnance and e.
plosives, wireless and communication,
transportation, production and manu-
facture, ship construction, steam en-
gineering and ship propulsion, life
saving appliances, food and sanitation
and aids to navigation.
The committee will have been an
pointed by the time of the next meet.
ing of the board.
Plant Planned.
Although the board will enter upon
its task with such facilities as are
available at once, it will not be able
actually to undertake the work con-
templated by Mr.. Daniels, and it's
members until the research labora-
tory has been provided. The repor,
adopted today recommends that
laboratory building, grounds and
equipment to cost approximately So
100000, should be located on tide
water of sufficient depth to permit d
dreadnaught to come to the dock;
that it should be near; but not in a
large city, so that supplies and labor
might be obtained easily. 1t proposes
the construction of shops and foun.
dries of various kinds, a motion pic
ture developing department., mechani-
cal and wireless and explosives labor
atories, and complete drafting rooms.
Secrecy, the report says, should be
governing factor of such an establish
ment, the plant being surrounded with
high fence and guard being main
tanned at all hours.
1t is estimated that the annual
operating expenses of the laboratory
would be between $2,5OO,OOO and So
100000. The report recommends that
a naval officer of rank and efficiency
De placed in charge, with a corps of
capable assistants. Under these Off
GERS, 1t is suggested, there should be
staffs of civilian experimenters, the
man working on each problem to
1aVe his own corps of assistants and
ShOp facilitiec