Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09
0. s. BUREAU TESTS
SET new RECORDS
Cement Samplings Largely
Increased by Government
Building Program.

Several new records for number Of
tests performed were established by the
Bureau Of Standards in the fiscal year
Just closed, and Il is believed similar
marks may have been set by some pri-
va:e Laboratories, as there is tendency
on the part of many industries to eaten
UP on research during the present pc
Rod OF depression, according to a
statement by the Department Of Com
Tierce.
The Governments building program
was largely responsible for a ~ per cent
increase In sampltngs Of cement by the
bureau and several OF lis branch labora-
tories. Tests Of clinical Thermometers
rose 81 per cent over the previous fiscal
year, and tests of railroad track scales
set a record, 1t was pointed out. Fol-
lowing is the full text of the state
ment:
Some new records for the amount Of
work performed at the Bureau OF Stand
ards, Department of Commerce, were
established during the fiscal year just
ended, while other records OF many
years standing were equaled or closely
Rpproximated, according to DR.. George
x. Burgess, director.
Routine Testing Greater.
Tests Of the mometerss, an important
class of routine testing which the bu-
reau performs for both the Federal
Government and the public, increased
n per cent, compared with the previous
fiscal year. A single order was recently
received calling for the testing Of $4,000
clinical thermometers, requiring one
months time CT the entire thermometer
testing staff.
Approximately 2,311 900 barrels of ce-
ment an increase of ~ Ger cent COM
pared with the previous 12-month pc
Rod, were sampled by the bureau at
washington and in its branch labora-
tories ut Northampton, Pa; Denver and
San Francisco. A large portion Of this
sampling, 1t was stated, was performed
In connection with contracts relating to
the Governments building program.
In cooperation with the railroads OF
the country the bureaus special equip
ment was used during the year to test
1850 railroad track scales, the largest
number ever tested in one year. 1t was
pointed out that since freight charges
running into millions of dollars are as
sessed on the readings Of these scales,
the Importance Of this work to the
public is obvious.
Some Tests Unusually Heavy.
Routine testing of supplies for the
Government, such Is paints, varnish,
bituninous materials, soaps and inks,
was unusually heavy and above the
average for recent years. The same Is
reported true Of mechanical appliances
such as radiator valves, traps, and ele-
vator interlocks which are being ordered
In large quantities in connection with
the Governments current building pro-
gram,
II the amount of testing work re-
QusSted of the bureau during the closing
months of the past fiscal year carries
over into the current 12-month period,
1t is believed that many all-time records
for work performed win be established.
As an example of the increased
amount of work being currently re-
ceived, DR.. Burgess stated that 4,700
weights such as are used in laboratories
and technical plants have been tested
during the past three months, nearly
three times the average number tested
during the corresponding period Of re-
cent years.
DR. Burgess stated that the test work
Of the bureau. other than that for the
Government, is only in fields not COW
cred by commercial laboratories. Doubt
less some Of the private laboratories
could show similar records of increases
in tests performed. since there seems TO
be tendency on the part Of many In
dustries to utilize the present period TO
catch up on research.