Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-10-14
Resolution Adopted Proposing
the Establishment of a Great
Research and Experimental
Laboratory.
WILL COST 100000
Institution Will Be Located on
Tidewater of Sufficient Depth
to Permit a Dreadnaught to
Come to Docks-Policy of
Secrecy Advised.

Washington, Oct. Reorganization OF
the navy's new civilian advisory board
here to-day with Thomas A. Edison as
chairman was followed by the adoption
Of the resolution proposing establishment
Of q great research and experimental
laboratory to cost about 100000. 1t is
probable the recommendation will be in
cluded by Secretary Daniels In his esti-
mates to be sent to Congress this winter
THE Naval Consulting Board" is the
official title chosen by the scientists who
compose the new arm OF the navy with
the approval Of Secretary Daniels It vas
announced that regular meetings would
be held every sixty days, the next tc
take place in New York. December g.
Two sessions were held to-day, the frs,
devoted to organization and election OF
officers, and the second to consideration
OF the research laboratory plant which
after being proposed by Secretary Daniels
was framed into an elaborate report by
Mr.. Edison assisted by DR.. w. r.
whitney, DIR. L. II. Backeland. r. s
Woodward and II. e. Coffin.
Mr.. Daniels was host at lunch at the
Army and Navy club during which a sub
committee submitted a program for divid-
ing the o scientists and inventors into
committees or groups for the study Of q
specific problem. 1t was decided that
there should be committees on chemistry
and physics: aeronautics, including inter.
nal combustion motors; electricity, stand
ardization, torpedoes and mines. subma-
rines, ordnance and explosives. wireless
and communication, transportation, pro-
duction and manufacture, ship construc.
ton. steam engineering and ship propul.
sion life saving appliances. food and sani'
tation. and aids to navigation.
Although the board will enter upon
its task with such facilities as are
available at once 1t will not be able
actually to undertake the work con.
templated until tho research labora-
tory has been provided. The report
adopted to-day recommends that @
laboratory, buildings, grounds and
equipment to cost approximately S.
100000 should be located on tide
water of sufficient depth to permit q
Dreadnaught TO come to the docks
that 1t should be near but not In q
large city. so that supplies and labor
might be obtained easily. It proposes
the construction of shops and foun'
dries of various kinds. a motion pic
ture developing department. mechani'
cal and wireless and explosives labora'
tories and complete drafting rooms
Secrecy, the report says. should be c
governing factor of such an estab
lishment. the plant being surrounded
with a high fence and n guard being
maintained at all hours.
It Is estimated that the annual oper-
ating expenses OF the laboratory would
be between $2.600.0o0 and $3.500,000
The report recommends that a naval
officer OF rank and efficiency be
placed in charge, with a corps OF cap
able assistants Under these officers
lie is suggested. there should be stats
Of civilian experimenters, the man
working on each problem to have his
CORPS Of assistants and shop facilities