Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-01


Other discussions will be concerned
with the measurement and regulation
in the household Of heat. light, eiec-
tricity and humidity, and chapters VIII
also be devoted to the measurement OF
gas, water and even time. The bulle-
tin will discuss. too, the less common
measuring devices such as those which
register the density of liquids and the
pressure Of the atmosphere.
The exceedingly practical nature OF
the bulletin is indicated by the fact
that it will include such items rs in
structions for using fever therm onie-
tiers, a discussion of the causes of high
bills for electricity and gas, and even
employ in moving a pendulum clock.
The bulletin will be issued probably
early in August.
Because the value of the governments
chemical researches in connection with
the work of the
Standards Bureav bureau OF stand
ards is coming to
Laboratory. be more and more
keenly realized. commodious labora-
tory building. into which the now scat
tered Offices and working quarters OF
the chemical staff will be gathered.
will be built in the course Of the next
few months, as provided by Congress.
In this structure. which will house
some of the most completely equipped
laboratories in the country, it is safe
to predict that discoveries will be made
and methods and formulas perfected
that will eventually place hundreds OF
millions Of dollars in the pockets OF
American manufacturers and consumers
Government scientists feel that the
completion Of the building cannot fail
to bring a direct increase In the value
of the chemical work performed: for
while the legislation providing for the
structure made no increase in the stan
Of the chemical division. 1t provided
quarters for more than twice the num-
Der Of employees now at work. 1t is
considered foregone conclusion. there
fore. that there will soon be a material
addition to the number of chemists.
Such an increase, 1t is pointed out by
those familiar with conditions, will
permit the taking up Of Investigations
Of the utmost Importance in the eco
nomic life of the country that have
been fairly clamoring for consdera-
ton for years: for the docket" of the
chemi stry division of the bureau is in a
condition of congestion that is not sur
passed bv that even Of the Supreme
Court. When the STAFF of workers is
increased many pending projects rap
idly can be completed and new ones
by the needs Of manufacturers. mu-
inequalities, states and the federal gov
eminent can be taken up.
OF the dozens of problems now under
one of the most important concerns the
technique Of paper making. the aim
being to discover the best methods Of
turning out papers of given proper
ties. Another set of problems has to
do with the methods for production of
t1h eri,,
ments. In the matter of automobile
tires alone these latter investigations
vitality affect an industry with an an
nual output of millions of dollars. An
other project of the utmost Importance
in an age in which machinery is play
ing an increasing part is the study of
lubricants; and strangely enough the
chemical knowledge Of these substances
is extremely limited.
The fftieth anniversary of the issu-
ance of the emancipation proclamation
by President Lincoln
Progress OF which Is being cele-
Neoroes brated this year by an
exposition in Richmond,
gives added interest, in the opinion of
sociologists. ethnologists and econo-
mists. to the statistical study. Negroes
in the United States" recently issued
by the census bureau.
The predominant southern distribu
ton of the race is emphasized by the
fact that the center of negro popula-
ton is almost exactly on north and
south line with the center Of total pop
ulation of the United States but is
some 400 miles south of the latter point
in the northeast corner OF Alabama
7 80
the center of negro population is NOV
ing steadily westward and has ira
Versed about thirty six miles in the last
three decades.
ton. it is indicated. the negro popula-
ton has much more than doubled, the
increase from 1860 to 1910 being over
121 per cent. This increase was with
practically no immigration. The in
crease in white population with heavy
immigration was over 203 per cent, yet
the ratio of negro population to the
whole population has decreased only
per cent. The negro population at the
close Of the civil war was about $780,
900 and the white population was ap-
proximately 100000. The respective
populations in 1910 were 9,82S,000 and
81732.000.
In two states. the study shows. more
than half the population are negroes
These are Mississippi and South Caro-
lima. In four other states-Georgia
Alabama, Florida and Louisiana-the
percentage is over 40. The county hav-
ing the highest percentage Of negro
population. 1t was found. is Isaquena
county. Miss, where the negroes con-
stitute 94.2 per cent of the total popu-
lation. In fifty-three counties-all in
southern states-the negro population
is over IS per cent of the total
The ethnic statistics show marked
changes in the makeup of the race In
the past fifty years. When the emanci-
patton proclamation was issued mulat-
toes represented about 10 per cent Of
the negro population. The percentage
in 1910 was nearly 81 and Is now prob
ably higher. Socioloeically and eco
nomically the changes have been mark
ed also. Illiteracy. for instance, has
decreased in fifty years from so to 80
per cent, and the proportion of the
members of the race owning homes
free of incumbrance has increased from