The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1919-07-03


most of these could be avoided, Fur
Their, it both tested and devised suit
able rescue apparatus by which the
imperilled underground workers could
be succored, thereby saving many lives
that previously had been sacrificed I'M
der kindred conditions.
War Delayed Buildings.
These fruits of the bureaus efforts
were the logical outcome of painstak-
ing esearch--research that was ham
pered in many instances by reason of
scanty funds and inadequate labora- |
tory facilities. Scientific zeal neutral
lied these handicaps to degree, but
the results made 1t evident how much !
more might be achieved in carrying
out the broad functions of the bureau
If II could command suitable array
of investigational apparatus To this
end congress six years ago appropri-
ated half million dollars for the con-
struction Of laboratory buildings in
Pittsburg and 1t was expected that the
structures would be ready for occu-
pancy early in 1915. Other funds
were added to this later. However,
1.-THE outbreak Of war interfered with
this contamination and fulfillment OF
the project is only now at hand,
| Even so the somewhat incompletely
equipped laboratories were put to use
year back and they have played a
big but generally little known part in
Strengthening us for our grim trials
lover there" The new laboratory
structures stand upon an 11-acre tract
adjacent to the grounds of the Carne-
gle Institute of Technology and. near
the University of Pittsburg. The main
building Is three stories high, has a
frontage of 332 feet and Is thanked at
either end by two-story wings that ex-
tend back from the street for dis
lance Of I'll feet. The central part of
the building contains the administra-
ton offices, the mining engineering di-
Vision and an auditorium having a
seating capacity of 300 people. The
west wing houses the mechanical lab
oratory and the east wing accommo-
dates the chemical laboratory. In the
rear Of the main structure is the pow
er plant, together with the metallur-
gical and fuel testing laboratories The
equipment of these several depart
ments is up to date and wonderfully
complete. The personnel Is composed
primarily of 113 technicists, Of which
46 are engineers, 80 are chemists and
81 are specialists in other branches,
And now for what the stress of war
revealed to .us of our previously UNI
recognized needs and, similarly, what
the bureau of mines did to fill the gap
and to supply the deficiencies, In the
past we have been complacently salts
fled merely to know that our natural
riches were well nigh incalculable,
and we gave but little heed to the
great industries growing up abroad,
particularly in Germany, that de-
pended upon vast amounts of raw ma
terials drawn from America. Men of
|lantic were doing what we should
have been the first to do with our ma
tive resources.
Utilize Our Own Raw Materials.
This assembling of technical appar-
atus and scientific personnel has been
effected none too soon. 1t is a matter
of common knowledge to those that
have kept in touch with the situation
abroad that Great Britain, France and
Italy are already fortifying themselves
for the inevitable struggle for future
trade and each of them Is determined
that 1t will make home industries as
afr as possible of all chemical and mi
ming enterprises vital to native well
fare. Great Britain, especially, is pen,
upon developing her own raw materi-
ais or sources of natural supplies to a
hitherto unheard of degree. Mani
testify, we shall have to do battle in
the worlds markets with the keenest
competitors.
| AS has been said, American indus
| try has been awakened to its tre-
mendous potentialities; and the term
raw material has more significant
meaning to us. II other countries can
take our crude substances, pay the
cost of shipment manufacture them
into finished products and then send
them abroad and sell them at a hand
some proflt-even to us, as they have
done in the past. surely the United
States acn make up these native raw
materials and supply her own needs
though she may not be able to under
bid her business rivals in some parts
of the globe.
| The dedication of the new labora-
tories of the Pittsburg experiment
station becomes, in fact, an occasion
for nation wide rejoicing. 1t means
the linking up in a stronger chain Of
science and engineering with indus
| trial enterprise.