New-York tribune., 1915-01-31

Who's Who OF American Commerce.
The Chamber gets a communication from
the Department of Commerce, reading Ike
this:
"A confidential circular from our agent at
Lyons states that there is urgent need OF
brushes and brooms at HaUe, Lyons, Bress
and Boulogne."
Immediately Henry Smith and every other
member of the Chamber who exports brushes
and brooms are notified OF this fact II is up
TO them TO get busy. The same procedure Is
repeated if the Department sends word OF tho
availability OF raw material in China or Japan
or elsewhere.
HELPING THE BUSINESS MAN TO SELL
HIS GOODS.
Here is another specific instance: One day
the Department of Commerce notified tho
Chamber of Commerce that large firm IN
Buenos Ayres had shipped trunk, full OF
samples Of the kind OF hardware il had been
importing from Europe, to New York and
named the place where the samples would be
shown Instantly every hardware exporter in
the card catalogue was informed. They were
saved the trouble of oanyassing this firm. Tho
opportunity was brought to their very doors.
All these, and many kindred examples that
could cite, are due to one thing-to close
co.operation between the forces OF business
and the government. 1t is proving TO be
good investment
This clearing house Of information has its
varied uses, all showing the reliance that the
government now places on the Chamber. Once
when was in the Office of the Chief OF the
Bulletin Service of the Chamber the telephone
bell rang. The Chief took down the receiver
and got this message:
This is the War Department. Can you give
US a list of dealers in cavalry horses all over
the country9 The man who has our list is
away sick"
In FIVE minutes the Department had the
most complete roster of army horse purveyors
available anywhere, and it was just part OF
the constructive files of the Chamber.
The Chamber of Commerce of the United
States is opening the eyes of business men.
large and small to government facilities, the
use of which will make them more efficient
and prosperous
BUREAU OF STANDARDS A CITADEL
OF EFFICIENCY.
How many manufacturers, for example,
know that there is such a thing as Bureau
OF Standards in the Department OF Commerce.
Not great many Yet the simple gray build
ing that houses it, in the outskirts OF Wash
irgton, is the very Citadel of Efficiency-the
Heart of Standardization. Here you can hnd
standard for anything ranging from the most
delicate watch to ten-ton steel BEAM
Why standards, and what good are they to
the small manufacturer, you may ask'
A standard is measure of quality. Quality,
whether in headlight or camera shutter.
depends upon measurable properties. If these
properties are not right then the product is
not right. You may be able to sell it at the
start, but in the end the inequality will find
ven cut and the consumer will buy something
else.
A definite standard cuts down the waste
caused by defective materials. reduces the
Overhead and helps to block the way to
failure.
What the Bureau OF Standards does is simply
this: II establishes scientifically the precise
and accurate standard of weight, quality, meas
ure. density or service. II may be for a gas
meter, a watch, cement, clay for pottery, paper
for printing or wrapping or hundred other
things. John Jones or anybody anywhere can
get these specifications and apply them to his
own needs or uses.
THE OLD AND NEW WAY OF BUYING
PAPER
Take the case OF ordinary paper. There arc
still some high-salaried buyers who purchase
paper by the ule-of-thumb process. They
taste it and crumple it up in their hands and
then think they have tested it. The Bureau
of Standards takes this paper, weighs, snalyzes.
bursts, tears and does dozen other things TO
il and then it has a real standard OF paper.
You who buy. sell or make it can get shis
standard and apply it.
In the same way the humblest matchmaker
out at Souedunk can send watch 70 the
Bureau to be tested. II will be timed in heat
and cold lying down, standing up. leaning
edgewise When it gets back home he will
know everything about it worth knowing.
Where does the consumer come in on this
Standardization? In uniformity and durability
OF output. which can only result from the high
est, seasoned standards. Thus the Chamber.
by its campaign of education, really reaches
all the people in some way.
You have seen the panorama OF these varied
activities unfold. What is the big significance
OF it all?
For one thing, this fsr-rcachng organization
of 500 member bodies, spread through forty
seven states and linking more than 100000