Middletown transcript., 1918-05-04

optical glass equallng the pr0duct
Of European manufacturers, from
whom only it formerly could be OBJ
tanned, is now being produced for mill
tary use by the bureau of standards Of
the United States department of COM
merce and several privately owned
factories. One shipment from the glass
factory in Pittsburgh. for use by the
navy department. contained $50 pounds
of high-grade optical glass-en0ugh
to provide lenses for probably TO
binoculars.
Development in glass manufactur.
ing in the United States has been SINH
lar to that Of dye making. Before the
war manufacturers or optical goods In
all their glass from Europe, them
selves doing only the grinding, polish
ing, and mounting. European glass
factories one Of the three largest be-
ing located in England, one In France,
and one in Germany were closely
guarded to protect secrets Of the. trade
sometimes a century old. 1t was con-
sidered impossible to produce efficient
glass without formulas and factory
processes developed by many years Of
experimentation.
One Of the problems facing the bu-
reau of standards when. with optical
companies in America, it started to re-
place with locally made products the
supply Of European optical glass which
had been cut off by the war. was to
provide suitable pots for melting. In
one process of it's manufacture the
glass must be kept at temperatures as
high as 1000 degrees F., when it
would rapidly dissolve a container
made of iron. steel. or other metal.
Pots now being used which satisfac-
tOrily withstand the heat and chemical
actions of" molten glass are made Of
clay found in the United States.
In addition to the factory operated
by the bureau of standards at Pitts
burgh. several privately owned COM
panies are now furnishing optical glass
for military use in telescopes, binOcu-
lars. field glasses, periscOpes. and 9TH
err technical and scientific instruments.
The quartermaster corps, charged
with the responsibility of feeding and
clothing the soldiers. is rigidly inspect
ing the food purchased for the troops
to see that only pure articles are sup
piled. AS an indication of the amount
of food that must be obtained, says
statement authorized by the quarter
master general 100000 men con-
sumo daily 100000 pounds of beef.
225 900 pounds Of bacon. 10000
pounds of ham. 1854 cans of toma-
toes. and 225.OOO cans Of jam-with
other articles aggregating 6.75O.OOO
pounds.
These quantities Of foodstuffs are
subjected to thorough inspection.
which begin at the source and con-
tinue until the food is actually con-
sumed. Each depot of the quarter
master corps is central subsistence
business of it's own, supplying the
camps. cantOnmentS, aviation fields,
and other posts in its territory. The
officers are held response
bic for the quality Of the goods they
receive
Before the supplies reach the depots.
they are passed upon by in
spectors in the packing houses, can
neries, and other sources of origin.
The records at Washington show the
character, and standard
Of every establishment furnishing food
for the army. The specifications
which their products must meet are
clear and exact.
The inspection branch maintains a
current file of unreliable dealers and
unreliable products, insuring the elm
nation Of dealers who. having been
denied the right to supply some Of the
many depots Of the army. make sub
sequent attempts to obtain contracts
ut other points.
Relatives and friends Of several SOL
lliers in army camps have been VIC
timized nv swindlers who wired or
wrote for funds under soldiers names.
In each instance it was requested that
money be sent by wire waving identi-
ficatiOn, or by mail to general delivery,
he customary explanation being that
The soldier had been discharged and
would have no way of securing iden-
ification. nor Of getting mail address,
I'd to his company.
The following is a typical telegram,
sent to the father of a soldier in q
camp:
"Have been discharged. Coming
nome. Going to Atlanta through cOun-
ry tonight. Please wire me $50 at
Atlanta so I may pay for uniform and
.Ome home direct Wave identified
ion as am not known in Atlanta.
Wire cash quick so 1 can get it to-
morrow morning..
Before being complied with, any re-
Iuest for money to he sent under such
conditions should he verified by a let
err or telegram to the commanding Of
icer Of the camp in which the man
whose name is signed to the request Is
stationed.
The United States government Is
boxing for men who can take charge
# branch Offices of the bureau Of for
ign and domestic commerce, depart
nent of commerce. and men to act a.
ssistants in these offices. Branches
re located in the principal CONNER
ial cities. The salaries range from
Il 800 to $1,000 for managers and
rom 81 200 to 81 300 for assistants.
A nOncOmpetitive examination will
e held May 16 in various parts of the
ountry. Applicants will be examined