ROSA: SCIENTIFIC WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT 369 



manufacturers of machinery and appliances, and the federal 

 government. The work of preparing the codes involves study 

 and discussion, a comparison of experience and a consideration 

 of the best operating methods. Efficiency and good service are 

 considered as prominently as safety. Some of the more impor- 

 tant examples of these codes are the Steam Boiler Code of the 

 American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Electrical Fire 

 Code of the National Fire Protection Association, the National 

 Electrical Safety Code of the Bureau of Standards. A national 

 elevator code, codes for steel mills, blast furnaces, foundries, 

 machine shops, textile mills, saw mills, and dozens of other 

 industrial establishments are being prepared or are under con- 

 sideration. The government is rendering a valuable service in 

 this work, but the work suffers for lack of funds. The indus- 

 tries, the engineering societies, and the state commissions are 

 doing their share of the work. The government's share is im- 

 portant and should be well done. The cost of the work is trifling 

 in comparison with its value, and it does not seem possible that 

 this work will be allowed to lag or cease for want of funds if the 

 general public could but understand its immense importance 

 and usefulness. Aside from questions of humanity and the 

 economic value of human life, the losses in wages and the damages 

 paid in compensation amount to so many millions annually that 

 the small amounts required for the government's share of the 

 work are insignificant in comparison. Probably no work of the 

 government is more useful or more productive in proportion to 

 its cost, and none is more needed by the country at large. The 

 states and the industries are waiting to put these safety codes 

 into effect, and the great advantage of national uniformity will 

 result if they are prepared so well that they can come into general 

 use. The work should be strengthened and enlarged at an early 

 day, as a measure of efficiency and economy as well as of human- 

 ity and good government. 



METALLURGY, CERAMICS, AERONAUTICS, ETC. 



28. Many other examples of the economic importance of 

 scientific research and standardization could be cited, if time 



