The Washington herald., 1916-03-24
REDFIELD LAUDS
CHEMISTS WORK
Lays Corner Stone of Chemis-
try Building to Be Com
pleted in September.
SCIENTISTS ARE THERE
Director Stratton Recites History of
Bureau From Time of Its
Formation in 1901.

The corner stone Of the Chemistry Build
ing at the Bureau OF Standards was laid
yesterday afternoon by Secretary OF
Commerce William c. Redfield, adding
another structure to the group OF build
ings in Cleveland Park.
Samuel w. Stratton, director Of the
bureau, recited the history Of the
bureau from the time of President Nc
Kinley's signing of the bill on March
office Of Weights and Measures in the
Coast and Geodetic Survey.
Secretary Redheft was the next speaker
and said in part:
Opportunity of Faith.
It have often thought OF this service
as one which pushes back more and
more each day the shades of darkness
which limit our present knowledge. Ma
ture does not readily surrender her
secrets. They are extracted from her by
toll, and of the toilers who draw them
forth it may be said with truth, to him
that hath shall be given and he shall
have abundance. Such work Is the ti-
umph OF the spirit of man and OF the
mind of man over material things. The
progress that has been made seems slow
when measured in its daily march, yet II
We look back for enough to get a due
pCESptCllNe we CHI see llldl llle TOdu llldl
has been Travelled is long. 1t has not
been an easy road.
This occasion is one of opportunity
and also one OF faith Hampered with
many difficulties and with insufficient IN
struments. you have wrought we'll thus
far, and now, through the wise provision
of a Congress which has trusted you
wisely to further use that which 1t has
provided, the instrument you need is
being created for your hands. Again
the truth appears that to him that hath
shall be given and that had you not had
the spirit OF devotion to work and the
record OF loyalty doing that work this
gift would not have been yours. You
may justly, then, say that as you have
wrought you have received, as you have
given so it has been given to you.
1T Is not yours to dissipate or TO
ignore. 1t is trust and 1t expresses
the trust in which the nation holds the
service of which you are a part. You
are trustees, each and all of you, in your
several places for the wise and fruitful
using of the structure which is here to
be. 1t is an instrument for the further
expression Of yourselves in a larger out
put OF human knowledge in a further
pushing back of the darkness which sur
rounds the minds of men.
May Be Ready in September.
Upon the conclusion Of his remarks Mr.
Redheld placed the corner stone in posi-
ton amid the cheers of hundreds OF de-
partment employees and friends.
William F. Hillebrand. chief chemist
followed Secretary Redfeld, and in his
remarks told Of the contents of the her
medically sealed copper box. which was
placed inside the corner stone, which is
as follows:
Photographs Of Secretary Of Commerce
William C. Redheld Director Of the Blu
reau Samuel w. Stratton, Chief Chemist
William F. Hillebrand, chemistry force at
Washington March Il, 1916; moving pic
ture film Of the ceremony of turning the
first sod for the Chemistry Building, Sep
TENDER Is, 1915; two stationary pictures
taken just before and near the end of the
sOd-turning: two Views of the chemistry
building, March IS, 1916; specifications for
the Chemistry Building; remarks of the
Secretary OF Commerce on the occasion
Of laying the corner stone; remarks of
the chief chemist, following the Secre-
tary Of Commerce; two complete rosters
of the chemistry force on March Is. 1916;
autographs signatures with one excep-
tom on one copy: annual report OF the
director for the fiscal year 1914-l5; the
work Of the national bureau of standards
directors speech at Dayton, Ohio; an
nual report OF the chief chemist for the
fiscal year 1914-15; seven circulars of in
formation covering certain features of
the chemistry work of the bureau; list Of
bureau publications; selected samples Of
standards for analysis and testing issued
by the bureau, together with labels
therefor, and certificates of composition
or of purity; samples of paper and writ
ing to test the lasting qualities Of both
paper and ink; copies of local newspapers,
and a bottle of qulcklime to absorb mois-
ture.
The building when completed will be
four stories, with basement and attic; it
is to be constructed of brick and stone
It will cost 500, 900. Dom & DeminE are
the architects, and Wells Brothers &
Company. of New York City, are the
contractors in charge of the work It is
expected to be ready for occupancy by