Evening star., 1921-07-17

took great interest in the
work done by the different
departments. and he was especially
interested in the bureau of Standards
and upon one occasion he declared
that it was the wonder spot" of
Washington.
1t Is doubtful if one-tenth of the
members of the Senate or House of
Representatives have an idea of the
magnitude Of the work that has been
and is being done by Director Stratton
and his corps of able scientists who
are constantly striving to aid some
industry in order that the Aemrican
business man may continue not only
to hold his place in the worlds COM
meFcial fight, but that he may lead;
that thin country may eventually be
tplaced in such position where il an
other war comes we will be inde-
pendent of any or all nations; that the
people at large throughout the land
may be placed in a position where
they can buy American goods that
will not only equal those of foreign
make. but that they may be able to
purchase home products that will be
better than those that can be bought
abroad
Another feature of the work being
. carried on by the bureau is the utii-
izatfon of products that have either
been cast aside heretofore or have been
used only to a very limited extent.
Not alone are the men of science
wrestling with these problems, but
they are constantly trying out some
thing new. delving into this or ex-
perimenting with that. so that some
region of the country may have the
opportunity to add to the nations
wealth.
A remarkable feature and one of
the most important points is that the
bureau OF standards is so equipped
that it can function either during
war or peace. No matter what the
condition may be at the hour. the bu-
reau is on the job twenty-four hours
out of every day. There is not un-
seemly hurry. no confusion, it is a
well organized. splendidly manned
department that leaves nothing to
Rck, the rule of thumb has no place
in its makeup and no act of man can
get 1t the slightest bit excited. If a
on this country tomorrow it is not
probable that any of the able gentle
men who work with Dr. Stratton
would be the least bit excited. nor
would any of them get the least bit
dustered-not that these savants are
>ahat tells the whole story. OF course,
they would all ask if it was possible
e for them to do some extra work. just
as they did during the late war, but
outside of that they would proceed
with their allotted tasks with the
same calm that has enabled them to
successfully grapple with and solve the
many difficult problems that. from
time to time. have confronted them.
x x
WHEN the bureau of standards was
w first proposed there were many
old-timers who had an idea that it
was another plan to secure offices for
"the faithful" after election time.
but they soon realized that it was a
n6n-politicai department and that
the director and those with whom
he had surrounded himself had but
one object in view. and that was to
Abe of help to the country. The result
has been that the bureau has not
only earned the respect of thinking
members of Congress. but. is today
recognized by the business world
as one of the most valuable assets
. the country possesses.
Again. lest the ranter who would
make political capital without
thought of the good the bureau does
every day, every month and every
year, it should be remarked in pass
ing that the work done by this bu-
reau during the war period resulted
not only in the saving of hundreds
of millions of dollars, but saved
hours that cannot be computed into
doIiars and cents, work that meant
the finishing Of the war in shorter
period. thus saving the lives or
countless men.
The buildings in which are housed
the. executive oftces and the work.
shops Of the bureau are not located
downtown with the other branches
of the government They are sit
,-uated out at Connecticut avenue and
Pierce road. AS one alights from the
Chevy Chase car he beholds num-
Der of substantially built and well
lighted edifices and, as he proceeds
up a walk in order to first examine
the largest building in the group.
he notices that the pavement con-
kists of concrete blocks, each with
sufficient space between. so that they
can, If necessity arises, be removed
and used in another portion of the
grounds. These blocks are the initial
view of the efficiency which per-
,neates the bureau. 1t might be re-
marked in passing that the construc-
tioR Of these blocks is Of q char
acter that old-time concrete workers
s&ofed atm fact they declared
tSat blocks containing the ingredi-
Snts therein in such proportions as