Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-13
TO DIRECT
NEW NAVAL BOARD
Head of Civilian Inventors, Who
Will Be Advisory to Bureau
to Be Created.
DANIELS WORKS OUT PLANS
Men Prominent in Special Lines
OF Research to Be Asso-
ciated in Work.
DANIELS WORKS OUT PLANS

WEST ORANGE y j.. July 12-
Thomas y, Edison has accepted an in
Tita'ion from Secretary Daniels to
mead nm advisory board Of civilian in
ventors for bureau Of invention and
development to be created in the Navy
department. His acceptance Will go
forward Immediately to Washington.
where the new plans await word from
the man who can turn dreams into
realities"
Mr.. Daniels's idea OF utilizing the
inventive genius of Americans in and
| out OF the military and naval service
10 meet conditions of warfare shown
in the conflict on land and sea in
Europe. is outlined in n letter written
last Wednesday,, asking Mr.. Edison
whether. as patriotic service to his
country. he would undertake the task
of advising the proposed bureau. The
plan is TO have several men prominent
| III special lines OF inventive research
associated in the work
Among the great problems TO be laid
before the investigators, the secretary
mentioned submarine warfare adding
that he felt sure that with Mr. Edison's
wonderful brain TO help them, the Of
fcers of the navy would be able to
meet this new danger with new devices
that will assure peace TO our country
by their effectiveness"
DANIELS EXPRESSES
ADMIRATION FOR EDISON
II have been intending for some
time" Mr. Daniels said in his letter, ito
write you expressing my admiration at
the splendid and patriotic attitude YOU
nave taken, as reported in the public
press. In refusing to devote your great
inventive genius to warlike subjects.
except at the call OF your own coun-
try. have deferred writing.
however, because, at the same time, !
wanted TO take up with you another
matter TO which / have given a great
zeal OF thought-a matter in which /
think your ideas and mine coincide
There is a very great service
that you can render the navy and the
country at large, and one which l am
encouraged to believe you will
consent to undertake
One of the imperative needs of the
navy. in my Judgment, is machinery
and facilities for utilizing the natural
inventive genius of Americans to meet
the new conditions OF warfare as shown
ABROAD, and 1t is my intention IL a
practical way can be worked out. to
establish department of inven-
ton and development. TO which all
ideas and suggestions can he referred
There is at present no adeuuate-
ly equipped department to which to
send them for the careful study re-
quired, In addition. our naval Of
hcers. particularly those at sea, are in
position to note where improvements
are needed and to devise ways in which
ha
They have, however, neither the time
nor the special training nor, in many
cases. the natural inventive turn of
mind needed TO put these ideas into
definite shape. Were there n place
where they could he sent 10 be worked
out and perfected | am sure we would
get many noteworthy improvements
from this source alone There
are. unfortunately, no officers now de-
tailed who can take time from the mass
or work which they are called upon to
do in order to devote ii fully to study
ing suggestions end inventions
The department is also unprovided
with the best facilities for work OF
pure experimentation and investigation.
with the exception of our testing sta
tion at Annapolis, which is, as vet, a
small affair. Most of all, as have
said, there is no particular place or
particular body of men relieved of other
work. charged solely with the duty of
either dcvising new things themselves
or perfectinE crude ideas submitted to
the department by our naturally in
ventivc people.
ONE ALONE WHO CAN TURN
DREAMS INTO REALITIES
II have in mind general plan of
organizing such department.
feel that our chances of getting the
public interested and back of this pro-
ject will be enormously increased il
we can have at the start, some man
whose inventive genius is recognized
by the whole world to assist us in con-
sultation from time to time on matters
OF sufficient Importance to bring to his
attention. You are recognized by all
of us as the one man above all others
who can turn dreams into realities, and
who has at his command, in addition
to his own wonderful mind. the finest
facilities in the world for such work.
what |. want to ask Is If you would
be willing, as n service to your own
country, to act as an adviser to this
board. to take such things as seem to
you TO be OF value, but which we are
gate. and to use your own magnificent
facilities in such investigation If YOU
feel IL worth while. This IS
great deal to ask. and I, unfortunately,
have nothing but the thanks OF the
navy and. / think. OF the country at
large, together with the feeling OF SER
vice to your country that you will have
to offer, by way of recompense: yet, so
clearly have YOU shown your patriotisp,
that / feel justified In making this re-
quest.
I'VE are confronted with q new and
terrible engine of warfare In the sub
marine, to consider only one of the
big things which have in mind and
/ feel sure that. with the practical
knowledge of the officers OF the navy,
with department composed of tho
keenest and most inventive minds that
we can gather together, and with your
own Wonderful brain tn aid no ,bo