New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-08
WANTS S5,OO0,OOO
FOR NAVY TESTS
Daniels Will Ask Appro-
priatiOn to Build Big
Laboratory.
EDISON IS ELECTED
CHAIRMAN OF BOARD
Outlines Plan for Research. In
Guiding Work on Sub
marines.
rFron n. Tribune Bureau J


Washington, Oct. As result OF
the meeting to-day Of the new Naval
Consulting Board Secretary Daniels
will recommend 10 Congress that So
100000 be appropriated 10 construct a
naval research and experimental lab
ratory, equal to any similar institution
in the world. Thomas A. Edison, who
was elected chairman of the board, Of
fered outline suggestions, which were
unanimously approved by the members.
Il is planned 20 establish the insti-
tuition on tide water, near enough to
LARGE city 10 insure a constant supply
Of labor and materials. II will provide
facilities for experiment in every
branch OF science applicable to the
navy. including the construction and
launching Of experimental submarines
Of 1900 tons, nearly three times as
large as any now in commission in the
United States.
Secrecy will be carefully provided
for. The building will be surrounded
by high fence, and visitors will not
be admitted at any time. A naval Of
fcer of high rank will be placed IN
charge. Under him will be naval Of
ficers Of broad experience in laoora-
tory methods, and stats Of civilian
chemists and physicists. Red tape VIII
he abolished as far as possible, giving
inventors, particularly members OF the
board, every facility for carrying on
their experiments without restrlctl1h'
"Time should be the essence OF the
place" said Mr.. Edison, after the con,
ference this afternoon. The Plan Will
be utilized TO its capacity at all times
it is proposed to have two, and perhaps
three, shifts of men.
According to Mr.. Edison's estimate
the cost of maintenance and operation
will approximate S2500,0O0 or S3,OOO'oOo
wear. Secretary Daniels believes,
however. that this sum will be saved
many times over by the increased Ell
ficiency that will result throughout the
navy.
Among the features TO be incorpo-
have facilities for building and test
ing working models 10 destruction
are:
"A pattern shop.
IA brass foundry.
ca cast iron and cast steel
foundry.
D-Machine shops for large and
small work.
Z CL.o. natal ehoD
F-Forge shop for small and
large work.
Marine railway large enough
to build experimental submarines
of 500 tons.
Woodworking shop.
I-Chemical laboratory.
J-Phvsical laboratory.
K-Optical grinding department,
etc.
L-Motion picture developing
and printing department.
M-Complete drafting rooms.
N-Electrical laboratory and
wireless laboratory
Mechanical laboratory and
testing machines.
Explosives laboratory, sepa-
rate from main laboratory
The board voted to-day 20 subdivlde
into fourteen committees, to be APP
pointed later, which will have charge Of
the various branches Of its work, such
as aeronautics, wireless and communi-
cation. ordnance and explosives, ship
construction, etc.
The officers elected, besides Mr.. Edi-
son, are: Peter Cooper Hewitt, OF New
York. first vice-chairman; William j.
Saunders, Of Plainfeld, n. j., second
vice-chairman; Thomas Robins, OF
Stamford, Conn, secretary; NJ. Il.
Hutchinson, of Orange, y. j., assistant
to the chairman.