The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-02-25
AIRCRAFT INVENTIONS.
U. S. Government Strives to Encourage
New Designs.

1t has frequently been claimed, in thu
press and in certain scientific quarters
that the principle of Standardization I,
which the government departments arr
committed in the design and manufac
ture of airplane engines and parts, has
la serious tendency to discourage anC
stife inventive initiative throughout tn,
country. 1t is stated that these officials
once they have decided on standard de
sign, continue along that line without
reference to the inventions and sugges'
tons offered from the outside by pa.
triotic scientists.
In view of this feeling, which is not
alone confined TO enthusiastic inventors
who have had their schemes for over
night aerial domination refused by the
| government, a statement is given rela-
| tive to the policy of the a>craft board. in
this matter.
In no department of the government s
war preparations is more money spent
for the encouragement of new designs
and in the development of inventions
which give promise of definite results.
To anyone who has ever encountered the
inventive genius of this country when
thoroughly aroused TO action, manifest
ing itself in thousands of schemes which
pour in from all sections of the United
States, ranging in practieability from
the one suggesting a formation flight
over Germany with huge magnets to
draw up in the air and fly away with
the entire steel supply of the central
powers, to those suggestions whose value
and adaptability are at once patent, it
will be seen that even in the most cur
sorry consideration of all these ideas sub
mitted there is tremendous task.
For the conscientious performance OF
this task the following three bodies OF
scientists pass on inventions in their re-
spective lines:
!. The national research council, made
up of engineers and scientists, both of
the war and navy departments and mem
bers of the great engineering societies of
the country. This body deals with scien- |
tifc development generally as related to |
the military and naval forces
2 The naval consulting board, under |
the Craftsmanship of Thomas A. Edison,
and composed of two representatives, !
each chosen by vote from IL national en-
and scientific organizations of |
the United States. This body, created |
to deal with inventions and de-
in connection with the navy,
has, since the outbreak of the war, ex.
tended its services as an invention bu-
reau connected with the council of ma.
Lional defense
3. The national advisory committee
for aeronautics created by Congress, APP
pointed by the president, and reporting
lirectly to him in all matters of aircraft
development. II is to this body that all
questions relating to inventions in con
lection with aircraft are first referred.
The personnel of the committee is as fol-
ows:
Chairman. William 4 Durand, Phi D.: /
ecretary, S. w. Stratton Sc d.; Joseph
J. Ames, Phi d.; Lieut.. Col. v Il. Clark, ,
! s A.; John F Hayford, C. f.; Charles
:. Marvin, NJ E.; Hon. Byron r. New {
on; Michael |. Pupin, Phi. D.; Maj. Gen.
george o. Squier, L. S. A. Rear Ad-
niral David w. Taylor, L. S. n; Lieut.. i
commander j. II. Towers, t. S. N;
'harles d. Waleott. Sc ID. "
Here an invention is analysed, expert c
1ents are conducted at the bureau of q
tandards or elsewhere, and, if favor r
BILE decision is reached, recommendation {
made to the aircraft board that full O
'orking sized model be constructed | I
.fter such has been done under the di- S
setion of the board it is turned over to 5
he Joint technical committee of the war
nd navy departments for trial and for o
ecisions as to whether or not the inven- d
on is of such military value as to war "
INT its being put into quantity produc- II
on for the purposes of training or of 5,
ar. a