Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-06
SPERRY MEMORIAL
EXHIBIT IS OPENED
Inventor Responsible for
Many instruments Now
Used in Aviation.
BY JOHN F. SINCLAIR.


Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, December ga me-
mortal exhibit in honor of the late
Elmer A. Sperry, once president of the
American Society of Mechanical Engi-
neers, is being shown this week in New
York.
Sperry's achievements in science are
almost unbelievable This exhibit shows
the majestic sweep of his many-sided
mind. He perfected instruments utiliz-
ing the gyro-scopic principle, which are
used today to steer ships and to mini
! mtze their rolling and pitching in heavy
seas. His gyro-horizon and directional-
gyro are indispensable aids to blind
flying. BY means of these a pilot can
fly safely through fog darkness or
storm without lokoing out of the cock
pit.
Engineering. mining, the electric
Hight, the storage battery, the electro
chemical and many other industries
owe DR.. Sperry a debt which can never
be repaid. In fact, his inventions are
so varied that he deserves a place be-
side Faraday, Pasteur, Pupin and Edi-
son. He perfected the electric-arc
lamp, while his name is coupled with
EdiSon'S in revolutioniZing our street
lighting systems. The Sperry search
light, five times brighter than any pre-
viouS light, marks an advance that may
be ranked with Sir Humphrey Davy's
discovery of the electric arc in 1907.
Sperry's Inventions.
Through nearly half a century-48
years to be correct-of tedious, pains
taking research Or. Sperry brought
forth invention after invention to i'm
prove the lot of man. His machines
for cutting coal make it possible to
mine seams hitherto inaccessible and
dangerous to the miner. His expert
ments with power propulsion have made
his name famous in hydraulics and in
the field of the Diesel engine.
His processes for making white lead
paint, causttc soda and many other
1ow-coSt processes now used by large
industrial concerns, have enriched the
age and made the world an easier place
to live in.
DR.. Sperry, whose life was a vital
part of our machine age was but little
known outside the scientific field. But
more luster will be added to his name
as the years roll along.
China's Future.
The future of China has been the
subject of a recent study, by a sub
Committee of the United States Sen
ate. The report of the subcommittee
will be issued shortly.
China has population of 400, 900, 900
people, and low standard of living,
but is now seething with uickening in
terest in modern business life.
War has delayed and at times
wrecked her plans. But the modern
Chinese believes that Chinas vast pro-
gram Of internal expansion is about to
begin. AS a matter of fact, it has
already begun.
The United States Department of
Commerce shows that in the last so
years exports from China have in
creased from $4,000, 900 in 1870 to
$3.50, 0oo. 900 in 1929, and imports dur
ing the same time have increased from
$110,000,000 to S810,000,000.
There is no country in the world
which offers such a choice field of CO.
operation to American business men as
the Republic of China-rich in natural
wealth. an industrious people and a
good will not granted to the nationals
of any other nation. for Americans
have been popular in China ever since
the Boxer rebellion.
Investments in Orient.
How much money has the United
States invested in the Orient? The
Department of Commerce figures show
that at the end of 1929, American di-
rect investments there totaled S543,-
$4,000. Based on dollars, this appears
to be a substantial amount, but it is
really only 7.3 per cent Of the total
American holdings abroad, which total
S7,477 900 900.
Dividing the figures, we find that
American holdings in the Far East
Australia and New Zealand account for
$149, $4,000 of the amount, while the
rest, 1894 $40 900, is invested in Asia,
where China accounts for nearly one
third. The Department of Commerce
says that If we include the S25 900 900
representing the Chinese trade act
companies our direct investments in
China are more than twice as large as
Iney are in Japan. This in spite of
the fact that Japan's trade TO the
United States is, much the more i'm
portant Of the two.
The second place in direct American
investments in Asia goes to the Philip
pine Islands, not TO China, and third to
the Netherland East Indies.
American interests in the Philippine
Islands, especially in the field of rail-
roads, public utilities, factories, etc.
total now about SOS 900 900.
But how does the Netherland East
noles happen to have such a large
amount OF American money? The
answer Is investments in rubber.
Japan, NTH country in point OF Amer
1can investments, centers largely in silk
and cotton manufacturing. India is
next. with total American investments
OF about s32,676, 900, burlap manufac-
ture largely.
Investments by Industries.
Grouping direct investments by in
dustries. we find that the following is
the order:
Petroleum .................s ls2,ss7.OOO 1857
Manufacturing ........., l24S75OO0 30 81
s;ling and distribution. 5s,s5s.sSS 1osS
Communications and trans -'0-O'VOO ''.'
Mining and smeitins...... iiS .o79.SSo gs
MseeLaneous --........... 9l,525,O00 1887
But it is in China that American
financial expansion is expected to be
greatest during the next decade.
CZechoslovakia is one Of the most
progressive nations in Europe. Woodrow
wilson was the godfather of this coun-
Try In Central Europe, and a statue in
MS honor has been erected in front
Of the Prague railroad station.
The industrial machinery in this state
Is right up TO date, and its schools are
modern. Recently, the ministry of edu-
cation there installed radios in 10000
primary schools and carefully planned
school programs are being broadcast
twice every day as a test to learn
whether this form OF popular education
, is advantageous.
With television just around the cor
ner. the entire school courses in the
next few years may be carried on
through radio-television method
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