Evening star., 1928-03-18
G. A. FAICK,
Glass technooeist, stirring pot of molten optical glass

feet below the ground p r. Heyl Is de-
termining the constant Of grayitation TO
degree that would have drawn a
mighty gasp OF incredulity from Sir
Isaac Newton.
A mere side issue OF Heyl's work is a
new determination OF the worlds
weight. The globes formidable mass is
6. 592, 900. 900, 900, 900, 900. 600 tons OF
1000 pounds. II you prefer more fig
ures, multiply the ton weight by 1000
and you will have the earth's mass ex-
pressed In pounds.
Heat. cold, pressure. altitude, stress
| and strain are some OF the phenomena
| the bureau explores. So varied. intri-
cate and involved is the work Of It's
more than 300 technicians that mere
catalogue OF what they are doing would
| fill a good sized volume.
The Buyers Bible" Is 4 directory OF
specifications perfected by the bureau
for the guidance OF 500 Government
purchasing agencies.
The Army can't buy toothpicks, har-
ness. vinegar or typewriter ribbons un-
less the purchases comply with Epecifi-
cations laid down in the Buyers
Bible" More than 27.000 commodities
are listed In this unique book. A firm
desiring Government trade must make
a superior product.
Whether or not your gold tooth fII-
ing fits, you must wear IT, But II den-
fists treating civil patients were obliged
10 live up TO standards the bureau sets
for Uncle Sans hospitals. all filings
would fit. No alloy or gold filling sub
stance Is put into disabled veterans 's
tooth cavity until II has passed care
ful test in the bureaus dental lab
oTatory.
Scientific buying had It's beginning
about 20 years ago, when the bureau
tackled the specifications Of electric
bulbs, vOiumetTic glassware and Port
land cement. The sound value OF this
early work soon drew 10 II the support
Of private and public officials
The bureaus work is one OF the great
conditioning factors In American life.
What concerns It's experts this week
may start an industry next month.
A visitor 10 the plant wonders how
1t Is possible 10 keep an account Of
these HuitifarjoiIs activities. This. too,
has betn solved scientifically. Each Of
the bureaus IL major divisions is
headed by chief who is responsible 10
the director, Df. Burgess.
The bureau deals with Eve classes
of standards" said Dr. Burgess. Stand
ards o! measurement, numerical con-
stants, performance, quality and prac-
tice
In vault We keep the international
standard of measurement, the meter
and the Eilogram, given lis by the In
ternati0nai Bureau of Weights and
Measures, in Paris. All American
measurements are referred 10 these
standards. even though We know they
are not 0t the highest order Of accu-
facy, They change with varying
amounts NJ heat and humidity, We
hope eventually " have a wave of light
as our standard Of length Then, In
case u IRE. there would be no loss be-
canse the wave length would be repre-
sentea ~ figures"
A Walton concerned the bureau
long befote It's actual value Was
demonstrated. Alexander Graham Bell
used facilities Df the laboratories ~
test his bydrodr0ms.
During the war The bureau marshaied
ilE resources w improve upon the ex~
lsNng hhrGnhnticai equipment. With"
out nying field on d complete aiTplane
! the experts carried on researches whose
iiFhrticabiiity saved many lives and
sape Uncle Sans aiTmsn H. latdabla
place on tile t1ghtiDg sir fronts. The
bureau devised unique high aiti-
hide" chamber. no higher IN elevation
thaD many homes on Connecticut ave-
| tlue, YET capsule Of scientifically simu-
iating conditions 10000 feet above the
ground.
IN pesce times aviation research
gfes Gn space, The bureau manages
~ keep one jump ahead NJ iDdustrya
0fin6Hd. II had the earth induction
compass IN Liaabeggh .hsn Ae VI