New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-18

England is developing set Of problems at
lightning speed which viii require genera
ton to uncoil. can only indicate theS. 1t
would fin q volume even 20 state them in
detaif
The iirst attempt 70 treat Complementary
The new machinery and buildings created by
war needs. has been made by the annua. engi-
neerinc supplement Of The London Times
What is to be done with this new plant has
been the question asked by many. and an
swered by none. lIr. Hodge, the Minister Of
Labor. states that seveuty-fve million dol
lars OF uew capital has been expended in the
extension of plant in the iron and steel
trade. lie estimates that by the end Of the
war the sum will be one hundred and fifty
millions. lie says: 81 don't care whether 1t
is by tariffs By prohibition, by bounty. or any
other method the plant in our country must
be utilized
Effects Of Standardization
One hundred thousand gauges have been
made I'm the technical Institutes in the last
eighteen months. The gauge standard.zes
the engineering industry and enables 1t to
produce on o vast scale an infinite variety Of
manufactured articles. Standardization is es-
sential to low-cut manufacture and large out
nut and the establishment Of standard IS
dependent on the accuracy of gauges, def
ing specified dimensions Of absolute magni-
tude. and limiting permissible variation.
a professional engineer writes:
"Our locomotives differ only in relatively
small details. excepting valve gears. The
main sizes of cylinders, piston rods. connect
ing rods. side-rods, crank aXles differ only
very slightly in the same class OF engines.
Hundreds of various forms of II in. *
90 in. horizontal engines exist, differing only
in very small degree IN the actual details
that count in actual wear and tear and the
life Of the engine. Could not all these de-
tails be agreed and standardized? If a few
more usual types Of engines marine steam
rollers ctc-Were STANDARDIZED quite q
number Of our present munlton factories
could be engaged in manufacturing connect
ING rods and side rods only, others the cyl
inders and pistons, others the valve gear,
etc: and in busy areas, without much cart
ing. whole engines could thus be assembled
I'm special shops dealing with special en-
eines. TO the great gain of our home, colonial
and foreign customers. a similar course is
demanded very specially for electrical ma
chinery fittings and telephones"
The output in the engineering trade can
be increased at least % per cent. even with
the machinery that existed before the war,
and. with the new machinery, that percentage
will 90 considerably higher.
Inevitably standardization leads 20 organ
ization, and the creation of combines or
trusts Motor car makers suggest the use Of
the great new plants for the purpose of pro-
duciug cheap cars to compete with those
of American make. Already efforts are be
ing made to- bring aboft a combustion OF
British makers.
Bu. 10 is not alone in the engineering
trade that trusts are likely to be formed
Already capital is concentrating in other in
dustries Lord Rhondda purchased group
Of Welsh collierics, and the Welsh Outlook
reports:
Lord Rhondda now controls over ~
millions Of capital pounds, not dollars), pays
1 ~ millions in wages every year, and is
virtually the dictator Of the economic destiny
o. n quarter OF a million miners Rumors are
also current that Lord Rhondda is extending
his control over the press OF Wales"
To control such vast irresponsible econ
omic power will be the task Of Parliament
problem. During the war, Parliament has
largely lost its control over Government
which is administered to-day by temporary