SCIENCE AND THE EMERGENCE OE iMODERN AMERICA 



as a whole have not vet learned of the benefits of industrial scientific 

 research and how to avail themselves of it. 



I consider that it is the high duty of our institute and of every 

 member composing it, and that a similar duty rests upon all other engi- 

 neering and scientific bodies in America, to impress upon the manufac- 

 turers of the United States the wonderful possibilities of economies in 

 their processes and improvements in their products which are opened 

 up by the discoveries in science. The way to realize these possibilities is 

 through the medium of industrial research conducted in accordance with 

 scientific principles. Once it is made clear to our manufacturers that 

 industrial research pays, they will be sure to call to their aid men of 

 scientific training to investigate their technical problems and to improve 

 their processes. Those who are the first to avail themselves of the bene- 

 fits of industrial research will obtain such a lead over their competitors 

 that we may look forward to the time when the advantages of industrial 

 research will be recognized by all. 



Industrial scientific research departments can reach their highest de- 

 velopment in those concerns doing the largest amount of business. While 

 instances are not wanting where the large growth of the institution is 

 the direct result of the care which is bestowed upon industrial research 

 at a time when it was but a small concern, nevertheless conditions to- 

 day are such that. without cooperation among themselves the small con- 

 cerns can not have the full benefits of industrial research, for no one 

 among them is sufficiently strong to maintain the necessary staff and 

 laboratories. Once the vital importance of this subject is appreciated by 

 the small manufacturers many solutions of the problem will promptly 

 appear. One of these is for the manufacturer to take his problem to one 

 of the industrial research laboratories already established for the purpose 

 of serving those who can not afford a laboratory of their own. Other 

 manufacturers doing the same, the financial encouragement received 

 would enable the laboratories to extend and improve their facilities so 

 that each of the small manufacturers who patronizes them w^ould in 

 course of time have the benefit of an institution similar to those main- 

 tained by our largest industrial concerns. 



Thus, in accordance with the law of supply and demand, the small 

 manufacturer may obtain the benefits of industrial research in the high- 

 est degree and the burden upon each manufacturer would be only in 

 accordance with the use he made of it, and the entire cost of the labora- 

 tories would thus be borne by the industries as a whole, where the charge 

 properly belongs. Many other projects are now being considered for the 

 establishment of industrial research laboratories for those concerns which 

 can not afford laboratories of their own, and in some of these cases the 

 possible relation of these laboratories to our technical and engineering 

 schools is being earnestly studied. 



Until the manufacturers themselves are aroused to the necessity of 

 action in the matter of industrial research there is no plan which can be 

 devised that will result in the general establishment of research labora- 

 tories for the industries. But once their need is felt and their value ap- 

 preciated and the demand for research facilities is put forth by the 

 manufacturers themselves, research laboratories will spring up in all our 



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