The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-31
Photo by outs Fabian Bmhrach.
DR.. Arthur G. Webster of the Naval Consulting Board.

the value of suggestions made for
the improvement Of the navy
W merely hope to give the United
States navy what the General Elec-
trio Company at Schenectady. the
Kodak Company at Rochester. the Ma
tional Electric Light Association at
, Cleveland ard many other commercial
organizations have found it absolutely
necessary to maintain, namely. labo-
ratories where physicists, chemists
and engineering scientists of every
kind may rave opportunities TO do IN
telligent research work. hampered by
lack neither Of funds nor OF m II
this can he accomplished the United
States should have a navy II a will he
!, unsurpassed in quality by any in the
world, and the hoard and the men en-
ployed BY II should give us for de-
fence inventions and contrivances that
would many times repay the country
for its expenditure, just as the COM
panies ! have named have been re-
paid many. many times for the money
they invested In their research labora-
tory.
"Another mistaken notion about the
board il that We have been selected 20
run the navy. or overwhelm il with
advice. Nothing could be further from
the truth. and | may say In passing
that the admirals whom We had the
pleasure of consulting with at orr
meeting at Washington entertained no
such absurd notion. The question Of
a consulting board has nothing to do
,,-,s1 4, In ~. -. -. ~. H.. .-
leans must he in q position TO know
that whatever ships they have are
equal or superior to the very best
ships in ;he world, and there is abso-
lutely no reason why they should
not be.
The board will act as a sort of
clearing house for ideas. 1t will pass
upon such matters as may he pre-
sented TO it from time TO time by both
ava officers and others. and will give
its best advice. Each member of the
board Is an authority on some particu-
lar subject, and will be able to do his
part in the solution OF these problems.
At the meeting in Washington we con-
cluded to divide he board into sub
committees. so thai the different SUBJ
J'N'' hiiSbN " HtllAlI'Al ny lUt IltiSl
competent people, These sub-com-
mittees have now been appointed.
"One OF the most important matters
that must be Of interest to all is the
development Of a better gas engine for
aeroplanes. 1t Is maintained that we
nave at present no engines in his
country that are good enough for this
purpose. This subject will probably
be taken up at once. There is no
earthly reason why we cannot build
such engines here. but for this pur-
pose a combination of talent is re-
quired TO determine how such an en-
CINE should he built.
THE plan Of the research laboratory
was quite carefully worked out at our
first meeting. and it includes. not one
single building, as many persons be-
lieve. but a group of many buildings.
The word laboratory is intended to in
clude the whole project. In connection
, with II some OF h resources already
possessed by the navy, say. In the en-
perimental station al Annapolis. or at
the Brooklyn navy yard. may he util-
lied. The following recommendations
were made:
81. (a) The laboratory should he To-
Gated on tldewater OF sufficient depth
to permit the dreadnought to come to
the dock, Cd 1t should be near but
not in a large city, 10 that supplies
may be easily obtained and where la
| Dor is obtalnable.
J "2. The laboratory should he of COM
plete equipment, to enable working
models to be made, and tested to de-
struction. There should be: (a) A
pattern shop; % a brass foundry;
ilc) a cast iron and cast steel foundry;
(d) machine shops for large and small
work; (e) sheet metal shops; On forge
shop for small and large work; go
marine railway large enough % build
experimental submarines Of 1900 tons:
(h) woodworking shops; CD chemical
laboratory; 90 physical laboratory;