The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-07-17
FDEoHAElaS SnlVIeOMMIIIEE
VIII GIvE, USE oe HIS. POWERS
~ AIDING UNITED STATES
NAVY.
He y Placed nj Head of Board OF In
sention Devised ny sccrctary Daniels
Submarine wiii he Especial EIa-
tufc &C stsdy of New BODY.

Thomas A.. Edison has accepted ar
invisxsion- from Secretary Daniels u
head an advisory hoard OF civilian IN.
vsntcrp Cor a bureau OF invention ant
development to be created An IN,
navy department. ,.L
Ma Daniels idea of utilizing thu
inventise Ecnius Of Americans In and
out efthe military and naval servic,
to niset conditions OF warfare shown
In the conflict on land and sen IN
Eurcps sis pntiined I'm a letter written
last "Wednesday asking Mr.. Edison
whosher sss a patriOtic service TO hi.
eounfrys heswould undertake the task
of adyssins the proposed buresu a. The
plan In IN have several men promi-
nent I'm Invention research associated
In the work.
Among the problems to be laid be-
fore ths Investigators. the secretary
mentioned submarine warfare. adding
that he felt sure that with Mr.. Edi-
sons wonderful brain to help them
the officers of the navy would be
Alberto meet this new danger with
new devices that wal assure peace
TO or country by their effectiveness"
have been intending for some
umst Mr.. Daniels said In his letter.
TO write you expressing my admira-
lion yst the splendid and patriotic
stti,yde you have taken. as reported
In tps public press. I'm refusing to
dsvots your great inventive genius
to ~Arhke 'subjeets except at the call
OF ysur own country =. =. :. I have
deferred writing. however. because. at
the sAms time. 1 wanted to take up
with you another matter to which 1
havefsiven a great deal of thought
mstter I'm which I think your IDEAS
and mine coincide =. =. There is a
veryt great service that you can
rendsr the navy and the country at
large and one which I am encour-
aged TO believe you will consent TO
undsataks.
-qpe OF the imperative needs OF
the navy, IN my judgment. In ma
ehinsry and facilities for utilizing the
nafusai inventive genius OF Americans
20 9eet the new conditions OF war
-fAra "a FhoHn abroad. and II In my
intesrion. if q practical way can be
worAsd out 10 establish. a depart
ment Of invention and development
to which all ideas and suggestions.
can Pc rsferred.. :. There In at
presSnt no adequately equipped de-
psrt&nent TO which TO send them for
the rareful study required. In ad-
difiop. our naval officers. particularly
thost Mt sea. are In a position to note
whske improvements are needed and
60 dkvise ways I'm which these i'm
provbments can DO made. They have.
how tver. neither the time nor the spe-
cisi fraining nor In many cases, the
natufai inventive turn OF mind needed
90 pot these ideas into definite shape.
Were there a place where they
could be sent to be worked out and
Perfected. I am sure we would get
many noteworthy improvements from
this spnrce alone. =. There are. un-
fortubately. no officers now detailed
who ran take time from the mass OF
work which they are called upon to
DO irt order to devote II fully to study
Ing new suggestions and inventions.
The = vdepartment is also unprovided
withf the best facilities for work or
pure experimentation and invention
withthe exception OF our testing sta
uon at Annapolis. which is as yet a
smap arair-. :.
have I'm mind a general plan OF
orssAizing such a department >. go.
A fen that our chances OF getting the
pubic interested and back OF this
projert will be enormously increased
n VA can have. ut the start. some man
whqte inventive genius Ia recognized
by the whole world to assist us I'm con-
sultksion from time to time on mat
tsrsliof sufficient Importance to bring
TO Ms attention. You are recognized
By al OF us as the one man above
all pthsrs who can turn dreams into
rea4fiss and who has at his com
maSd. In addition To hts own wonder
ful mind. the finest facilities In the
world for such work. What want to
ask ". ~ you would be willing, as
q service to your country, to act az
an advisor TO this board To take such
thiqtA as seem to you to be of value
buttwhieh We are not. at present
equipped to investigate. and to us,
youf own magnificent facilities In such
Investigation ~ you feel II worth
whue. g. .. This ls n great deal u