Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-20
ASKS OPINIONS Of
! ADVISORY COUNCIL
Secretary Daniels Wants Its
ideas as to Experimental
Laboratory.
NAVY Department WILL
MAINTAIN INSTITUTION
All Proper Facilities for Research
and Experimental Work to Be
Provided.

fr0VlQeQ.
Secretary Daniels has requested all
the members of the newly selected ad-
rsory council on inventions to formu-
late their ideas as to an experimental
and research laboratory to be main
tanned by the Navy Department for the
development of inventions. He con-
siders it advisable to get rough idea
of the amount of appropriations need
ed for such laboratory at as early a
date as possible. Although not settled,
IT is possible that the proposed labora-
tory will be established in the Wash
ington navy yard
The Letter to the Board.
ut is, of course, obvious says Sec
Rotary Daniels in his letter to the
board. that upon the Navy Depart
ment itself will fall the greater part
of the burden of development by ex-
pertinent of various inventions which
will be proposed from time to time.
1u the past it has been serious han
dicap to our own naval experts that
proper facilities for carrying out the
work of research and experiment were
lacking, and if we are going to make
practical the plan of utilizing to the
utmost the inventive genius of our
country for the Improvement of our
navy we must largely increase the
facilities of the navy itself in these
lines.
I'VE have no adequate research de-
partment and no experimental labora-
tory equipped to meet our larger needs.
We have d very modest establishment
at Annapolis which is known as the
experimental station, but it is already
overburdened with routine work. such
as the testing of Goals. the photomicro-
scopic 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 IN scale demanded by
new conditions.
To Ask Congressional Appropriation.
81 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 lab
oratory. such as is now considered an
essential part of every great manu-
featuring establishment. / wish to
make definite recommendation to
Congress on this point and a request
FOR Il proper appropriation, and L feel
that the members of the advisory coun-
Gil are peculiarly fitted TO advise me
OF the members have research and ex-
detrimental laboratories of their own
or have at their disposal laboratories
of this kind provided by some manu-
featuring industry. They have, there
fore. the practical knowledge as to
what such laboratory should be, how
large ii should be, what sort of tools
and materials it should have and what
kind of a building is needed.
Il am going to ask you to work out
your idea of such a laboratory in as
much detail as possible, and at the first
meeting. October s. / hope to get all
of these ideas together and from them
work out, in consultation with the
chiefs of the various bureaus, a plan
which 1 can. lay before Congress.
Urges Economy and Efficiency.
"If you will give this matter your
thought between now and the first
meeting, We will be able to reach a
definite conclusion in time to make a
request for a sufficient appropriation
when Congress convenes. OF course,
you will bear in mind the necessity for
the strictest economy consistent with
emciency in this matter
In announcing his action in this mat
ter. the Secretary of the Navy said. in
part:
Improvements Now Being Developed
THE department possesses, in the
chiefs Of the three bureaus of con-
struction, steam engineering and ord
nance. and in the officers assigned to
those bureaus. men splendidly qualified
to carry to perfection any novel ideas
and to originate many improvements
of heir own. As a matter of fact, the
work along those lines that is now
being done under the greatest possible
handicaps by the nayy's own officers
would surprise the public. were it ex-
pedient to reveal improvements of a
more or less confidential nature. The
navy has, however, been seriously
central establishment, where the ideas
of it's own officers, as well as those sug-
gested by civilians. could be taken up
and patiently developed In the same
way that such ideas are handled in
great manufacturing establishments.
Along some lines the department is
not only on even terms with the most
progressive manufactures, but even
ahead of them. and the facilities of its
model basin at the Washington yard
for testing the models of the hulls of
proposed vessels to determine which
are most suited for their purpose are
frequently taken advantage OF by build
ers and inventors for tests of COM
mercial craft.
aThe recently installed wind tunnel il
another example where the Navy Depart
> rnoQt has adopted the most MODERN CON-
trfvances for the development OF aero
planes and aeroplane propellers. and IN
tho same way at it's testing plants fof
guns and srmor II has provided facilities
for Development and testing work But
aside from these. there have not been
proper facilities for pure research and ex-
perimental development provided. as the
experimental station at Annapolis Ii prac-
tically a station for tests and inveStiga-
tion Of the strength Of composition OF
materials.
The Need Of Such q Laboratory.
There has also been lack Of on
GERS. relieved from other duties. who car
devote their entire attention to develop.
rnent work. which often requires a long
series Of tedious experiments extending
over months and perhaps years.
The need Of such a laboratory, in
charge-of officers specially selected for
this work. has been long realized. and
has been emphasized by Mr.. Edison in
talking over the general project with me.
The details Of the organization Of this
research department have been under con
sideration by the three bureaus interested
and in Il short time the details Of the or
ganization will be ready to be made pub
lie As the laboratory forms an essential
part of the plan, I have asked the ad-
vice Of the members Of the advisory coun-
Gil. who are familiar with research
laboratories, and with what should form
q proper part Of their equipment"