Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-11
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING

}NMENT Is DOING
cient suitable stations along both
coasts of the United States. Alaska and
United States possessions over seas. 1t
ness at shore stations and handle II
efficiently with but little additional
personnel. AT present this service
maintains radio stations for public rea-
sons at some points whore small COM
mercial stations operate continuously
within 100 miles. by which the naval
stations are prevented from handling
commercial business In accordance with
the present radio net.
To avoid Interference and to central
ize control of traffic, 1t is desirable. the
naval officers say. to open all naval
stations, except few reserved for gov
eminent work exclusively. to CONNER
cial business. and the purchase of all
commercial shore stations engaged IN
ship to shore work is essential. In time
of war or threatened war all such sta
lions would be operated by the govern
ment. and their operation In time OF
peace would avoid the period of in
efficiency following sudden change
ton. until the new stations could be
worked into naval organization.
1t has therefore been strongly recon-
mended by naval officials in charge OF
this radio work that the necessary
legislation be requested to permit all
naval radio stations to be opened to
commercial traffic, during peace times.
at the discretion of the department, ana
that the necessary appropriation be re-
quested from Congress to purchase all
the commercial shore stations men
toned above.
The bureau of mines has just COM
pleted an interesting Investigation into
the question of safety
T1.o+r;o;%u =, rules for Installing and
using electrical equip
Coal Mines. ment in bituminous coal
mines. AS a result of this study ex-
perts of the bureau have made some
interesting suggestions for such SAFETY.
and have recommended rules for the
installation of electrical equipment in
mines.
These rules are being spread broad
cast by the bureau among the coal
mine owners with view to reducing
the number of accidents from cleo.
tricity and to urge the use OF Wen
chosen equipment and the adoption OF
uniform and efficient methods of con-
struction, installation and maintenance
These rules. the officials insist, are 70
be regarded as constructive ana not
as restrictive, as intended to assist
and not to hinder, and are to be con-
sidered. they say. as a suggested guide
to the accomplishment of satisfactory
results.
Experts of the bureau have based the
rules on the following five basic meas
ures for safeguarding the electricity
in mines: First. remove the contribu-
tory causes; second, remove from the
vicinity of electrical apparatus all ele-
ments susceptible to the influence OF
electricity: third. keep the electric cur
rent where it belongs, if possible-1f
not, limit the area of its activity by
protective devices; fourth. use large
factor of safety in the selection, In
stallation and inspection of equipment;
ments of electrically driven machines
Each rule that Is given above is pro-
posed as necessary. by the experts. or
helpful to the accomplishment of one
or more OF these measures.
:. y
The outstanding feature in the for
eign trade situation. up to this time,
of the United States
Exnort Trade has been the increas-
ing stability of our
ACTIVITIES. export activities. ac-
cording to experts Of the bureau Of for
eign and domestic commerce.
During the first year Of the European
war, they point out, great emphasis
was placed upon the opportunities of
the merchants and manufacturers of
this country to engage in foreign trade.
In this agitation, however, 1t is SAID.
there was much that was unstable and
vague, much that smacked of loose
thinking and slittering generalities.
Recently, however. distinct change
has taken place. There has been less
unproductive talk and fewer dinners
have been devoted to the subject. More
gible development, more statesmen
have been sent out. longer credit
terms have been extended and on more
careful bases. Interest in foreign
trade has not been confined to manu-
facturers and merchants, but has been
shared by banks. universities. col
leges, students and the general public.
These are the conclusions that Uncle
Sans experts have reached who are
continually making a careful study of
this one matter.
Not only, they say, have there been
changes in our general attitude toward
foreign trade, but there have ap-
peared certain fundamental changes
III our IcTetSH tItAc SiiuitipA. Alot
to the European war the United States
was the third exporting nation of the
world. England and Germany exceeded
this country in the volume of their
exports and also in the total volume of
their foreign trade. 1t is evident,
therefore, that the United States. con-
trary to the prevailing impression. did
play a significant role in the interna
tionai trade of the world. Ours was
not only a considerable part. but 1t had,
for a number of years before the be-
ginning Of the European war. been d
rapidly increasing part In information
al trade.
1t should be observed. however. the
experts state. that raw materials, food,
stuffs, and unfinished products played
by far the most important part in our
exports. and that manufactured goods.
on the other hand. played very con-
siderable part in our imports. The
situation. during the past year. how
ever. has shown genuinely striking
change. Our total foreign trade. and
especially our exports. has increased
at great rate. The United States has
had foreign trade greater than
any other country during any year.
There has also been q market shift
ing in the character of our foreign
is the great increase in our exporta-
tons of manufactured goods and the
decrease in our importationS OF such
goods.
The experts point out that there is
no reason for anxiety over our i'm
ports The increase has been I'M
precedented. but it has been Of most
satisfactory character. For instance,
it Is stated. the group OF crude ma