360 ROSA: SCIENTIFIC WORK OF THE GOVTSRNMENT 



to disintegrate and go to pieces. Industrial research conducted 

 by the government with the active cooperation of the industries, 

 and in some cases of the states, may be made even more impor- 

 tant and successful in the future than in the past ; for it is needed 

 now more than ever, and is appreciated as never before. 



In order to give a more concrete idea of the practical usefulness 

 and economic importance of research and standardization, a 

 number of special cases will be cited in the field of the Bureau of 

 Standards. These cases are chosen partly because I am espe- 

 cially familiar with the work of this Bureau, and partly because 

 there appears to be at this time especial need of the kind of con- 

 structive scientific research in the manufacturing industries 

 which it is one of the functions of this Bureau to carry on. Equally 

 striking examples could be cited in Agriculture or Mines or other 

 lines of government research. 



STANDARDIZATION AND RESEARCH IN THE BUILDING INDUSTRIES 



18. For several years recently the building of homes has been 

 almost suspended, and now there is a scarcity of houses in many 

 cities. Meantime the cost of building has increased enormously, 

 due to the greatly increased cost of labor and materials. In 

 consequence real estate and rents have risen beyond all prece- 

 dent. There never was a time when it was so necessary' to 

 use building materials intelligently, to reduce waste, to simplify 

 design and construction, to standardize dimensions and methods, 

 to make parts interchangeable and fit together readily, so as to 

 economize labor and reduce costs. If standard specifications 

 could be prepared and agreed upon in a much larger number of 

 cases than has yet been done it would greatly facilitate the work 

 of architects and builders; and if building methods and the 

 requirements of city building codes could be thoroughly studied 

 and revised this also would aid in reducing building costs. It 

 seems probable that hundreds of millions of dollars could be 

 saved within a few years if a comprehensive and intelligent 

 study were made of all phases of building, including fire preven- 

 tion and the plumbing, heating, lighting and hardware equip- 

 ment of buildings. It would also reduce the cost of repairs and 



