Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-25

TIME most important measures coming
before the incoming Congress-such as
Mississippi River food relief, the $780,
600, 900 Federal building program and
the three great waterpower and reclamation
projects, Boulder Dam, Muscle Shoals and
Great Falls-emphasize that Washington is the
great engineering center of this continent,
1t has been in growing Importance since George
Washington and Maj Charles LEnfant 1876
years ago. charted this most beautiful of al!
cities out of wilderness and swamps.
Study Of Washington as great center for
engineering work also brings forcibly to the
attention Of those who have drifted into the
thought that the seat Of Government is
theater for political sQuabbling, and little else.
that In reality great constructive work is being
done by the Federal Government which Is be-
ing carried along progressively regardless OF
which party happens to be In power. 1t shows
also that private industry and the best engi-
neering skill Of the country is cooperating with
and supporting the Government to get the best
results-and not merely for some petty individ-
ual contract, as many suspect
X x x
The new 50 600 900 water system for Wash
ington, with a conduit from Great Falls
paralleling the old one, and a new filtration
plant at the Dalecarlia reservoir (Which also
supplies water to neighboring Maryland and
Nirgnia) is one visual example of the impor-
tant engineering projects in Washington The
$15,000,000 Arlington Memorial Bridge across
the Potomac River. physically linking the
North and the South, is another and the new
Chain Bridge must come soon.
Not only the $50, 900 Government build.
ing program for the Capital City to house
properly Uncle Sans workshop, but the $685.
100000 program for the country which is to be
expanded into a $500, 000,0 900 program-al heads
up here.
The development Of the National Capital by
the National Capital Park and Planning Com
mission, co-ordinating its work with similar
commissions in Maryland and Virginia is essen.
TALLY an engineering program, including park
ing. coming, street layouts, building construc.
ton. water supply, lighting, fire protection,
transportation, traffic control and many other
engineering problems.
All the rivers and harbors work by the
Engineer Corps of the Army, with a current
appropriation of $4,000, 900. is planned and
directed from headquarters here. So also is
the Federal aid program Of linking all parts
of the country together by good roads, for
which the appropriation for the fiscal year 1928
is $75,000,000. The Lee Boulevard, the new
Defense Highway and the proposed memorial
boulevard to Mount Vernon are local illustra-
tons of this phase of engineering activity.
X X = X
The Bureau Of Standards is the headquarters
for scientific research for the Nation, with its
findings eagerly watched for and beneficial to
hundreds of industries. 1t is the greatest in.
stitution of its kind in the world and does in
finitely more than its title indicates. L. Pen
dred, editor Of the Engineer, published in Lon
don, after a recent visit to the Bureau of
Standards. said: Each successive door is a
veritable beehive Of cells and opens to reveal
some new research on a large scale
Here besides the physical engineering and
other laboratories, is complete paper mill, d
large weaving shed with looms and spinning
frames, and glass works where optical glass
is made for the Government. There is new
apparatus the essential feature of which is a
calorimeter. which is being employed for a COM
plete reinvestigaton of the properties Of steam
for the American Society Of Mechanical Engi-
neers. This bureau tests everything from the
tensile strength of building materials to base
balls-recently it has been testing duralumin
parts for airships.
X X
All aviation progress looks to Washington