The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-12-11
The Secretary of Commerce
Makes Recommendation
in Annual Report
SCIENCE APPLIED
TO MILITARY USES
Interesting Review of Work Accom-
plished During War by Bureau of
Acknowledgement Of Fisheries Work
Also Outlined-Other Activities.

Also outlined-Other Activities.
WASHINGTON, Dee ll.-Expansion OF
the bureau OF foreign and domestic com
merce TO enable it to give effective aid 10
American manufacturers and merchants in
taking full advantage OF after-the-war
world trade opportunities is the chief
Recommendation OF Secretary Rediield in
his annual report made public last night
The secretary also rciterates his approval
OF the proposed development of a govern
ment owned ntracoastal waterway to link
mp the great cities Of the east. from the
lakes to the coast and down the Atlantic
scaboard
Dealing with postwar trade and the
part the bureau Of foreign and domestic
commerce can play, the report emphasizes
especially the need for additional CONNER
clal attaches and trade commissioners. The
balance OF trade in favor Of the United
States Tor the fiscal year 1918 was s.. 9S2,-
226,23S; the total Of the merchandise ex-
port trade was S5.02S ,285.64l and of the
import trade $, $40 ,o59 1913.
Measured by the economic needs 81
the country and by the grave responsible
ties OF postwar competition, the report
says, the bureau should be expanded sub
stautially in every branch OF service
New attaches should be assigned to 4
number Of important capitols. especially
Athens, Rome, Madrid. Ottawa. Mexico
City, and Santiago. Chile. We should also
establish at the earliest possible moment
resident trade commissioners in Sweden.
Norway, Great Britain, France. Greece
switzerland, Russia Mexico. Bolivia. ru.
quay, Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela
Dutch East Iudies. China. Phillipine
Islands, British India, Japan. MALAY Pc
nnsula, Egypt, South Africa. Australia,
and New Zealand The value al resident
representatives IS too obvious to REQUIRE
any argument FOR the extension af tins
| feature al our service.
he applications OF science To miltar.
uses. the report SAYS, are illustrated bv
several examples OF the work of tho bmea',
ol standards directly affecting the comfort
aud efficiency of the soldier. The soldiers
shoes are Investigated in the laboratory
and IN the field to determine the most suit
able leather \ sole-loathcr testing ma.
chine y used and the leather is chemical.
y invc tigated while controlled e4ryi,,.
rests are N progress ~ the soldiers IN
camp. The seryiceability Of shoe strings
has also been under test. Uniform clot},
has been under careful Investigation for
some tl1lc III the textile laboratories If III,
bureau.
The heat conductirity of the soldiers
| hianket has been studied Cotton blankets
may equal wool blankets in tins re.pect
| he bureau has investigated shelter tents
the soldiers canteen, and other Kit cnuip.
ment, washing and shaving soaps. combs
INKS, and other supplies for Tie soldiers
use
The bureau also determined by careful
tests the most suitable trench oil stove
taxing account not only of its heating
! efhelency, but the danger Of observation
from the hight radated on the ground
| 1t has standardized the guages for making
the service rifle, has studied the problem
81 gun erosion, aud the failure Of gun
| parts and material in service. In short.
there j. scarcely a phase of the soldiers
needs and activities IN which the bureau
has not co-opcratcd with the military de.
nartmcnts to secure the most effective BRO.
vision Tor his comfort. convenience. and
fighting power.
| IN addition TO aiding the navy in coast
patroi work, working with the food adj
nlnistration to bring about greater con
sumption oil fish in the United States and
/ developing aquatic sources of leather. tho
| bureau Of fisheries established a new biob
record IN q phase Of its own work-rescu
! ing stranded food fish left in shallow pools
! by hlGh waters along the Mississippi and
ONO rivers. During the year f66ls.slo Of
various species were restored to the rivers
or used to stock suitable ponds.
The bureau OF lighthouses and the coast
and ecodetic survey also are mentioned as
having rendered valuable aid to other
branches Of the government in worl, neces
sary to the prosecution of the war.
rgant needs of the department for the
! inture enumerated by Secretary RedieId
are.
Two sea going vessels and vine drag
launches for the coast and geodetic survey.
! and officers and crews for them.
! Larger clerical force in the field service
! OF the steamboat inspection service and in
the Office of the coast and geodetic survey
together with more draughtsmen and com
/ puters at more adequate salaries in the
/ latter service.
Provision for housing the army Of clerks
needed during the three year period Of
handing the census of 1920, which will be
N full swing by next July.
\ laboratory aquarium for the bureau of
fisheries
\ government owned commerce building
70 rouse all services except the bureau of
standards and the laboratory aquarium.
| An assistant TO the secretary of com
meree to aid in the greatly increased vol
ume Of work.
Estimates for the fiscal year of 1920 ac-
gregate S39,727,740. A large part of the in
crease over the current year of 50, 57l,-
90 IS for the bureau of the census to pro-
VIDE for taking the fourteenth deeennial
census.