The sun., 1916-12-31
IMPORTANT WORK
DONE BY The S. A. E.
Influence Is Steadily Spread
ing to All Transportation
Lincs-Will Change Name.
NJ COkER r.
General Manager,

To the scientist and the engineer we
owe 40 much In our modern civilization
that to withdraw the product OF their
labor would utterly cripple the actiyi-
ties OF all but the most primitive beings.
In no field In this more true han In that
Of transpOrtatiOn-a sphere In which the
self-propclled vehicle, he II automobile.
motor ship. tractor or aircraft. is all
important.
The four great industries concerned
with the production OF these vehicles are
largely dependent upon the activities Of
a group OF highly trained technical men
who may be properly called 'automo-
tive engineers. lincc their field OF en-
deavor Is hat of'the design Of self-pro-
PEELED or "automotivc' vehicles. rho
largest Of the four industries is that re-
lated to the automobile, and a very large
percentage Of the engineers whose knowl-
edge n creative ability are In great
part responsible for the inception and
are members Of the Society Of Automo-
bile Engineers.
Several years ago the great value Of
Standardization work and its effect upon
the growth Of the industry were fore.
seen by the s. A. f.. but II Is probable
that few of the society members then
realised how many standards would he
created In a relatively short time or how
pronounced an effect their formulation
would have in decreasing the cost Of
production In the automobile and ac-
cessory field. For example. the stan
dard!zation Of steel specifications. now
widely used. has been instrumental In
effecting a decided decrease In the price
OF steels. more especially those of the
alloy type. These were formerly sold
under brand names. but owing In part
to the adoption Of 8. A. l.. standard
specifications are now obtainable from
even the smaller steel companies. In
many instances from stock. Tho fact
Is that the demand created <or high
grade stecls In the automobile industry
has resulted In tremendous developments
In the production OF such steel in this
country. In this Development the $. A.
=. has played an important part. As n
result the steel industry has been able to
meet the demand for alloy steel created
by the war and has, at the same time.
developed resources that will become n
tremendous asset to the nation in case
Of an attack by a foreign Power.
The close association OF the work OF
the automobile engineers with that OF
the ae%ronautic and the tractor engineers,
az well as with that OF engineers en-.
gagged In the design and construction OF
internal engines for motor
ship and stationary power units. is he
coming well recognized. Tho community
Of interests In these diversified helds-has
already led TO "A most desirable working
arrangement " the s. A. T.. and
organizations representing the respec.
tive fields The consolidation OF the
engineering membership OF these socie.
ties is already well advanced.
At the meeting OF the s. A. r. 20 be
held In New York on January II a con.
sti,utional amendment will be considered
providing for n change In name from,
the Society OF Automobile Engineers 10
the Society OF Automotive Engineers
and for representation OF the newly al.
lied fields OF engineering activity on the
council Of the society. The American
Society Of A~eronautIcal Engineers and
tho Society Of Tractor Engineers have
voted In favor ofsthe proposed consolida'
ton and the executive committee Of thu
National Association Of Engine and Boa
Manufacturers has recommended tha'
the engineers associated with its com,
pany members apply for membership II
the s. A. l.. and cooperate fully in wha'
Standardization shall be feasible IL
motor boat and motor ship design ant
production. Similar action will prob
Engine Association and the American
Society of Agricultural Engineers az q
farm tractor and stationary engin'
standardization. Among the members ~
all the organizations there II n real'za
tion OF the great benefit that will result
from united effort.