Evening star., 1927-05-15

Practical aids to American industry
are constantly being furnished by the
Bureau of Standards of the Depart
ment of Commerce through what are
known as it's research associates. Back
in 1901 DIR. Alexander Graham Bell,
one of the most outstanding scientists
which the country has produced, pro-
posed that Congress enact law which
would throw the bureaus of the Gov
ernment open to the uses of private
industry. In connection with his ex-
perimentation resulting in the inVen-
ton of the telephone, DR.. Bell found
that the Government had information
and facilities which could materially
assist inventors.
The privilege of using Government
material lies in the discretion of heads
of the various bureaus, but no serious
effort for the betterment Of some prod
uct. although produced by a private
corporation, ever is refused.
The list of industries which are
being aided in their productive work
is a. long one. The industries them
selves pay the salaries of the research
experts, but the work is done chiefly
in the Government own laboratories
Every important industry has some
sort of trade association OF which the
individual manufacturers or producers
are members, paying dues or in some
way contributing to the support of the
organization. The coal industry, Tor
instance, has an association the men,
bers Of which are operators. They pay
a fraction of cent on every ton or
coal they take from their mines. IN
this way the distribution OF cost is
equitable, the big operator paying in
proportion to his output and the small
one left free from an undue burden.
All, however. participate equally In the
benefits derived from the research
work done on behalf of the organi-
ZatiOn.
Nor is the privilege Of sharing in
the benefits of research conducted
with the cooperation of the American
Government confined to organizations
of the United States. Foreign as
sociations may participate provided
they meet the requirements or the
bureau. For instance, the Academy
Of Science Engineers Of Stockholm In
Sweden is accorded research privi-
leges.
Number Increases Steadily.
When the plan first was adopted in
1901 there were but 10 research as
sociates admitted to the Government
laboratories. Now there are 81 and
it seems probable that this number
will increase as the industries are
coming more and more to realize the
value Of Government assistance.
Typical work Of this type includes
the study of metallurgy, the welding
of railway rails, structural materials
in the study of which tensile strength,
endurance under water, under
changes Of temperature and such
matters are tested; textiles, paper,
dyes. the ability of various building
materials to resist fire, acoustics in
volving the study of how various
building materials react to sound
waves, radio, automobile fuels and
host Of other things.
One of the especially interesting
laboratories of the Bureau of Stand
ards is that in which airplane pro-
pellers are tested. The process is
called testing to destruction" There
is building constructed of very
heavy materials, unusually thick walls
and roof. An airplane motor Is set
in position in this building and the
motor turned on. The researchers
stand outside the building and peep
through small openings in the walls
BY the use of an electric. connection
they then turn the motor faster and
faster. Ultimately the tremendous
centrifugal speed causes the propeller
TO fly to pieces. Were a man inside
the building he probably would be
killed by the bits of wood flying at
immense velocity.
By this test the scientists determine
what kinds of wood can stand the
greatest centrifugal force and, in ac-
cordance with their findings, recon-
| mendations are made for speclilca-
tions for Army and Navy planes ana
| the data made available to CONNER
| cial companies.
Another interesting machine Is one
which tests the strength OF steel
| beams. 1t is important for structural
| engineers, such as bridge builders ana
erectors of skyscraperS, to know how
much pressure can be withstood by a
steel beam Of given dimensions. the
machine consists of two huge pieces
Of steel connected by a series Of pow
erful screws. The steel beam to be
tested is placed endwise between the
two pieces, and then the screws are
| tightened by the application of power.
| The machine is capable OF applying
| the equivalent of 100000 pounds
pressure. The investigators watch the
experiment and determine with instru'
ments of precision at what point the
beam buckles and loses its rigidity.
Many Different Mills.
The Bureau of Standards also has
textile mill for the making of yarns,
a paper mill, cement mill, an -elab'
| crate clay products factory, which can