Evening star., 1939-06-23
New j. ). Frontiers
Created by Private
Research Efforts
New York Trust Cites
Increasing Efficiency
Of Production
Special Dispatch to The Star.

SPSSAal blopdtSii W Lie Sbdl.
NEW YORK, June 23.-New eco
nomic frontiers are being created
within the United States as the re-
suit of the genius and labors of SCI
entists, inventors and research work.
ers in private industry, says The
Index, published by The New York
Trust Co., in listing several scores
of recent inventions. while the
geographical frontier has vanished
from this country, it is possible that
exploration of these new economic
frontiers has only just begun The
Index continues.
In addition, such inventions and
discoveries pave the way for the i'm
provement of established products
through chronological advances and
the accompanying expansion of
manufacturing facilities. Thus, great
industries may arise where none
existed, others will be able to pro-
duce more efficiently and cheaply.
so that more people will be able to
enjoy their products, more jobs will
be furnished, and the standard of
living advanced.
In the United States, as else
where, the current task is to raise
the standard of living, to get more
goods into the hands of more people.
Since the population Of the United
States is greater now than it was
before the depression, production
plainly must be increased beyond
pre-depression levels to accomplish
this.
Inventions Vital
with an increase in efficiency of
production accompanied by a pro-
gressive reduction in prices, the
standard of living would rise One
way of effecting the desired in
crease in volume and efficiency of
production, and perhaps the only
way, is through chronological ad-
Nnces based on new inventions and
discoveries.
"Fsior to the depression, manu-
featuring industry in the United
States was producing more than
three times its output in 1899.
These goods were being consumed by
a population only about 81 per cent
greater than that of 1899 so that
per capita consumption in 1929 was
approximately double what it was
in 1899. Typical illustrations of how
the products of invention serve to
increase the production and con-
sumption of goods and employment
are furnished by the automobile and
radio industries.
Developed since 1899, these. indus
tries have added billions of dollars
worth of goods to the Nations out
put, goods that would not have been
produced or enjoyed had it not been
for the inventions upon which they
are based. With their related in
dustries, such as highway transpor-
tation and radio broadcasting, the
automobile and radio industries have
created employment for millions of
people.
Previous Work Helps.
Moreover, had it not been for
the increased production made posi-
BILE through previous improvements
in facilities and methods, the stand
ard of living during the depression
very probably would have dropped
below its present level. According
to the National Industrial Confer
ence Board, the work week in 1887,
the most prosperous year since 1929,
averaged 391 hours.
Except for the increased output
per worker, the factory force of 1887
could have provided the goods neces-
sary for the standard of living en-
joyed only by working "a hours a
week. Under those conditions, the
labor costs per unit of output would
have been so great that prices would
have risen beyond the capacity to
pay of consumers in general, with
a consequent greater reduction in
the standard of living than has
actually occurred.
Better methods and facilities,
based on new inventions and dis
coveries, will be necessary to carry
through to completion any such pro-
grams of expanded production re-
quired to restore living standards"
The Index concludes. There is
evidence at hand to indicate that
the research Laboratories of the
country where inventions are being
developed and perfected can supply
the basis for the new major in
dustries needed in the United States
to speed economic recovery by fur
nishing new employment and invest