Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1933-01-26
OHr Government
1t Operates
BY William BrAckarf
BUREAU OF STANDARDS

the place in these words. 1T shows
what people have DONE"
am indebted to him. therefore, for
the thought that the bureau Of stand
ards shows what people are doing.
And there can be no more accurate
description. albeit to state fully Its
meaning and TO comprehend its scope
1t must be expanded and expanded
until ones mental processes grow
foggy.
Some years ago, a friend of mine
who has devoted many years to the
public service as an expert In the bu-
reau Of standards, invited me to ride
In his car to my destination at an
other point In the city. Upon enter
Ing his automobile | WAS surprised to
find veritable battery Of taxicab
meters operating In the tonneau OF
the machine. His explanation Of their
presence may be used to illustrate
the type of work performed by the
bureau.
I'VE never have known whether
taxi meters are accurate, In other
words, we have been unable to say
positively whether persons hiring
taxicabs are cheated by the machines
that register the fare. By installing
these meters and using this car nor
mally. we get test of them under all
sorts and conditions of operation. The
sPeedometeF on the car IS tested regu-
larly so that we can check against It,
We will know In about two months
whether any or all Of these meters
give the public a square deal"
Such Is one phase Of the work done
at the bureau of standards and all OF
1t has as its end and aiIn the making
of this better world In which to live.
It's accomplishments In this direction
are endless, BECAUSE those scientists
are tlreless In their pursuit Of knowl-
edEe.
It will be impossible In brief
space to set out even small portion
or outline of the work done In the hu-
reau. place that to my humble mind
contains more thrills thnn ever have
been concentrated under one roof any
where else In the world. But when
one recalls that by persistent effort
bureau experts have persuaded scores
Of commercial lines to do away with
countless styles and types Of products
and to concentrate on standardized
i ~ NH 4 Y, -
cost to the consumer, some idea Is CIV
en- OF the dollars and cents value of
| the work accomplished Take for ex-
| ample, bolts and nuts. One can buy
| them anywhere In this land and II he
calls for certain type. that type will
be supplied whether 1t Is manufac-
| tured In the city of Pittsburgh or San
| Francisco.
Experiments have. been carried on
at the bureau for years respecting
/ the best methods of heating homes
and the best methods for steam pro-
duetien, always with the Idea OF eco
nomieal operation In view. The same
statement may be made concerning the
manufacture of paper-writing paper.
wrapping paper, paper for other spe-
ciflc uses.
A chemistry division operates one
| of the great laboratories of the conn-
try. testing, testing, testing. Thou
! sands of chemicals that reach the pub
| lie, ready for economical use and pre-
| - he ~
one unskilled In handling delicate In
struments are better today because
the scientist of the bureau of stand
ards devoted MANY months to expert
mentation.
i Development of the airplane has
brought with 1t many and varied prob
lens. The bureau has set about solv.
Ing them. Some Of them are mechani-
cal. purely; others deal with natural
forces. That explains why there Is 4
gigantic wind tunnel In operation al
the bureau Air Is forced through nj
every speed and at every angle and
against propellers operated with GER
tain horsepower behind them. The
calculations arrived at enable engi
neers to know what weaknesses tt
avoid In plane construction.
And SO 1T Is, too, with tests made
of such commonplace things as cleo
trio light bulbs. They are actually
burned out. Tests are made with fila
lnents of every known substance nsef
for that purpose, and combinations o
substances are tried Manufacturer,
have the direct benefit Of these ex
perIments. of course, but the ultimate
consumer gains eventually through
lower prices on quality products.
Almost constantly experiments ar
carried on at the bureau with mn
terials used for dyes, dyes for cloth
colors for paints, for inside and out
side decorative purposes. for metals
etc. Their fastness must be known
the conditions under which they vii
fade are developed concluslvely
they fade mt NIL, and means Of cor
recting that weakness are looked fol
The scientists experiment with tn
cloth or the metal or wood. or what
ever other base Is used TO ascertai
what results are brought about by
different foundation for the color'
When they get through with one 10