Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-17
HYDRAULIC STUDY
TO SAVE MILLIONS
Industries Profit Extensively
by Research of National
Laboratory. '

Large savings to industry are expected
% result from the scientific researches
IN the study of water problems at the
National Hydraulic Laboratory, the
building and maintenance Of which has
been authorized by Congress. The ap-
pointment of six representatives of the
civilian engineering profession to serve
on an advisory board which, under DR..
George K. Burgess, director of the
United States Bureau Of Standards, will
plan the design and equipment of the
laboratory, was recently announced by
the American Engineering Council.
Two of the members chosen will spend
several months studying the principal
hydraulic laboratories of Europe, par
ticularly those of Berlin, Munich and
Zurich. These two scientists, william
b. Gregory, professor of experimental
engineering at Tulane University, and
John r. Freeman, authority on n.y.
draulics, have prepared tentative plans
for the new laboratory which will be
established in the Standards Bureau at
ing for housing the laboratory will be
completed in one year. and the labora-
tory viii begin to function in two years.
Others Considering Plans.
The other members of the advisory
plans include Sherman M. woodward,
professor of mechanics and hydraulics
at the University of Iowa; Lewis F.
Moody, consulting engineer of Cramp-
Morris IndustrialS, Inc; Ely O. Hutch
inson, editor of Power, and Blake R.
Val Leer assistant secretary to the
American Engineering Council.
The laboratory will be arranged eSpe-
eially for the investigation of the phys
laS fnl, n
water. It will be studied by means of
models and other equipment, the engi-
neering problems arising in connection
with the control, disposition and meas
urement of water in large quantities,
such as for irrigation and power pur-
poses.
The hydraulic laboratory has be-
come" DR.. Burgess says, AN absolute
necessity to engineers who are engaged
ter supply systems, plumbing systems,
canals, hydraulic turbines, pumps and
accessories OF all kinds.
Carefully conducted tests in such o
laboratory furnish data which enable
the designer TO keep the cost Of his
structure to a minimum, and, what Is
even more important, give assurance
that the structure will perform its as
signed task in the future in the most
mum cost for upkeep.
Hundreds of Millions Spent.
This country IS spending hundreds
of millions of dollars annually in en-
cheering works of a hydraulic nature.
Our engineers have developed probably
the best and most economical methods
in the world for the handling of enor-
nous quantities of materials and for
the erection 0f the structures
They have applied the available
knowlc ige of hydraulic phenomena in
their designs as well as could any other
group of engineers in the world But
they have lacked exact, data and a de-
tailed understanding Of the process OF
fiow which would have enabled them to
improve greatly upon the fundamental
features of their design"
Hundreds of other problems await
study and research in the new labora-
tory. These problems include flood con-
troll, the design of adequate structures
at Boulder Dam, the design OF trash
racks, ground sluices, DETECTING walls,
intakes and spillways.
Hydraulic experiments conducted In
Germany on the design OF great snip
locks have resulted in saving OF $780,
900, as recently reported by the con-
tractors Ar experiment which led to
o simplified construction for the fllng
and emptying of another lock effected
q saving of 100000. These expert
ments were carried on in the Berlin
Hydraulic Laboratory.
The work now starting has been the
outcome of seven years of effort by the
engineering profession in this country
TO provide a national hydraulic labora-
tory to work on these problems as
public service organization.