Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-08

| MQIeT1QI leTlal Win which Other
s4, materials of the same
9'e"Aoe' kind can be compared,
but this is generally a makeshift of
the poorest sort, according to experts
Of the bureau of standards. This is
only resorted to, it is said. in the alb
sence Of definite and reliable specifica-
| tons in terms of measurable proper
ties-that Is to say, standard of quail
| ity Of material usually takes the form
of specification or definition Of It's
properties, involving, Of course. the
means of the usual standards of meas
urement.
A certain kind of steel. a cement. a
paint, an oil, or g. paper or cloth is
found by use to be good or poor. The
questions then arise. Why is it good
or poor? What are the physical or
chemical properties of the particular
combination of elements which make
| it of good or poor quality? How are its
properties to be measured or it's con-
questions for the laboratory to an
| swer and involve physical and chem
ical Investigations of the most difficult
| sort. and these are the questions that
Sans experts at the bureau of stand
ards.
A standard Of quality for a given
material necessarily takes into account
to be used. To set the standard too
low results in losses. the experts say.
| poor efficiency. and even loss Of life.
To make it too high may result pre-
cisely in the same tning-that is to
| say. the material must be suitable for
the purpose intended, and the bureaus
| Investigations in connection with the
properties Of materials are to enable
the user of these materials, first, to Sc
lect intelligently the material best
| suited for the purpose; second, to
specify it in terms which the producer
cannot mistake; and. third. to make the
| necessary tests to ascertain whether or
not the material supplied is in accord
ance with the specifications.
The actual testing OF materials by ex-
perts of the bureau to ascertain wheth-
er or not they comply with specihca-
lions is confined almost exclusively to
government purchases, but in making
these tests it is compelled to make
many Investigations concerning the
properties of materials, their specifica-
ton and measurement While this
work is of great value in placing gov
eminent purchases on a correct bust
ness basis. the results of the investiga-
tions as to the properties Of materials
and the information gained in testing
government supplies are even more i'm
portant to the general public and are
distributed in the form Of suitable pub
locations
Tho bureau does not compete with
private testing laboratories, out en-
beavers to assist them by the develop
ment Of standard specifications, meth
DDS Of measurement and other matters
where uniformity is desirable. much of
which information is secured in con-
nection with the testing of materials
purchased by the government and
close observation of their use.
The prediction is made by officials of
the bureau that the time is not far dis
tant when 1t will be required that all
materials bought or sold shall be as
represented, but 1t should be kept in
mind, they point out. that this Is i'm
possible except in the case of those
materials where proper standards of
quality and methods OF measurement
have been developed.