The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-05-02


OF European manufacturers. from
whom only II Formerly could be OH
tanned. Is now being produced for mill
tary use by the bureau Of standards of
the United St;ifes 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 enough
TO provide lenses for probably $50
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
this country were content to import
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, 1t 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 its manufacture the
glass must he 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.
er 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 Indicates of the amount
of food that must be obtained, says a
statement authorized by the quarter
master general 100000 men con-
sumo daily 100000 pounds Of beef,
225,000 pounds of bacon, 100000
pounds of ham, 1875, 1000 cans Of tong.
toes, and 225,000 cans of jam--with
other articles aggregatlng 6,750000
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 a central subsistence
business of its own, supplying the
camps, environments, aviation fields,
and other posts in its territory. The
subsistence officers are held RESPONSE
Bile for the quality of the goods they
receive.
Before the supplies reach the depOts,
however, they are passed upon by in
spectors in the packing houses, can
neries, and other sources of origin.
The records at Washington show the
capabilities, character, and standard
OF every establishment furnishing food
for the army. The specifications
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.
segment attempts to obtain contracts
at other points. 49,.
Relatives and friends Of several SOL
diers in army camps have been vic
tlmized by swindlers who wired or
wrote for funds under soldiers names.
In each instance 1t was requested that
money be sent by wire waving ldenti-
fication, or by mail to general delivery,
the customary explanation, being that
the soldier had been discharged and
would have no way of securing iden-
LITIGATION, nor Of getting mail address
ed to his company.
The following is typical telegram
sent to the father Of soldier In a
southern camp:
slave been discharged. Coming
home Going to Atlanta through coun-
try tonight. Please wire me $50 at
Atlanta so I,may pay for uniform and
come home direct. Wave Identified
ton as / am not known In Atlanta.
Wire cash quick so can get 1t to-
morrow morning"
Before being complied with, any re-
quest for money to be sent under such
conditions should be verified by let.
ter or telegram to the commanding Of
ficer of the camp in which the man
whose name Is signed to the request Is
stationed.
The United States government is
looking for men who can take charge