Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-06


r.. S. Woodward. Arthur Gordon WEBB
Cooper Hewitt. Thomas Robins, Howar
Richards, Lawrence Addicks.
Mr.. Edison has happily said that the
naval experts compose the attending
physicians, while the members OF the
board are the consulting phyiscians. In
the department we must do the bulk OF
ideas and suggestions. and call upon
you gentlemen to aid In two ways:
Means Of Giving Aid.
4. To give your expert advice when
called upon in the big problems the
navy Is always trying to solve.
"2. To initiate suggestions which
will add to the efficiency of any unit
Of the navy.
ITO give counsel. to use your initia-
tive and resource. embraces the run
range of service which can be de-
sired. 1t is for you and for our ex-
perts to determine the channels into
which your efforts will flow. so that,
working together, the best results can
be achieved.
las preliminary to the big things We
must discuss, permit me to touch upon
two. which I trust will have your con-
sideration at this first meeting:
Il. Some days ago I wrote to each
member of the board, suggesting
Congress to appropriate sufficient
sum to provide a laboratory for re-
search and experiment. What re-
sources the navy possesses for research
and experiment are set forth in a
memorandum which will be furnished
to each member. The navy has done
much. but our laboratories and places
Of research are far too. small for the
mazda NJ TO-DAY 7 will hone RI 9ec1lrA
your advice and recommendation as to
the kind Of national laboratory needed.
70. The prime need Of the navy d
today is a motor-a motor for subma-
rines and aircraft Since Langley first
tried to fly over the Potomac and the
first, wheezy automobile was regarded
as q plaything, wonderful Improvement
has been made in perfecting motors.
but we have not yet secured a perfectly
satisfactory motor for hydroplanes or
submarines. I am pinning my faith to
you. gentlemen, to aid our experts in
perfecting such motors.
You will find, gentlemen. that the
officers Of the navy, whose contribu-
lions to naval development cannot be
too highly praised. warmly welcome
your cooperation in a. service demand
ing knowledge and scientific attain
ment
The universal approval Of the forma-
ton of the board in and out of the
navy is a happy augury. I have no
doubt that the services you will rem
der will add to the gratitude Of the
people: American genius and enter
prise have always been equal to any
demand made upon 1t. In this new day
Of invention and of miracles Of sci
ence I have faith that you will be the
leaders"
Memorandum on Laboratory Work.
Members Of the board had with them
| today a memorandum submitted some
time ago by Secretary Daniels on the
laboratory and research subject, and 1t
may be said that the Navy Department
believes that this general line Of work
will be that on which the board will work
at first. In this memorandum the fol-
lowing occurs:
I'VE have no adequate research de-
partment and no experimental labora-
tory equipped to meet our larger needs
We havs a very modest establishment
at Annapolis, which is known as the
experimental station. but 1t is already
overburdened with routine work. such
as the testing Of Goals. the photomi-
croscopic examination of steel and iron
and the conducting of other tests OF
| materials used by the navy. and there
are neither facilities nor room for work
| of this kind on the scale demanded by
new conditions
Il have been advised by such mem
bers Of your council as l have talked
| with Of the necessity Of the creation
OF an experimental and research labor
atory such as is now considered an es-
| sential part of every great manufactur-
| ing establishment. / wish to make 4
| definite recommendation to Congress
| on this point and request for a
proper appropriation. and I feel that
the members of the advisory council
q 1iur RI fcd IN dyyya
| to Just what is needed. Almost all of
the members have research and expert
mental laboratories Of their own or
| have at their disposal laboratories of
turing industry. They have. therefore.
the practical knowledge as to what
such laboratory should be, how large
1t should be, what sort Of tools and
| materials 1t should have and what
kind of a building is needed"
| Members of the board are:
| Thomas A. Edison, chairman: W. R.
Whitney. L. H. Baekeland, Frank Ju-
liam Sprague. Benjamin G. Lamme. R
S. Woodward, Arthur Gordon Webster
A. NJ. Hunt. Alfred Craven. Spencer
Miller. William Leroy Emmett. Mat
thew B. Sellers, Hudson Maxim. Peter
| Cooper Hewitt. Thomas Robbins, How
ard E. Coffin. Andrew ]. Riker. Henry
A. Wise Wood. Elmer A. Sperry, Will
liam l.. Saunders. Benjamin B. Thayer
J. w. Richards and Lawrence Addicks
Witness Test Of New Gun.
| Later the scientists boarded the pres.
idential yacht Mayfiower for the trir
to the naval proving grounds at In.
dian Head. and to inspect the laborato.
ries and see tested the newest 14-inct
gun turned out by the navy gun fac.
tory.
The new rifle is a .50-caliber weapon
as against the .45-caliber 14-inch CUR
on ships already in commission. 1t !,
one Of those built for the battleshiI
Idaho. now under construction, an6
ordnance experts believe 1t is equal II
every respect, If not superior, to thu
15-inch guns mounted on the --latest
European battleships. By increasing
the length of the 14-inch gun, some In
crease in range. decided decrease IL
wear on the gun and increased hitting
power has been obtained. 1t Is be-
cause Of the development OF this weap
on that the department has as yet made
no use OF the heavier 16-inch rife per
fected by its engineers many month";
tago
! Problems for Confederation.
The first problem to be presented fol
consideration Of the civilian ooart
when 1t settles down to work viii b
that OF deveiopine Ratfafact R48o'