372 ROSA: SCIENTIFIC WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT 



rather to the fact that abundant resources (pro\dded of course 

 by the pubHc) are made available and an adequate scale of salaries 

 is paid. Government laboratories could do as well if they had 

 an equal or nearly equal chance ; but they cannot work miracles. 



THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF STANDARDIZATION 



30. The American Engineering Standards Committee has 

 recently been formed to promote engineering and industrial 

 standardization. Five engineering societies and three depart- 

 ments of the government were represented initially in its mem- 

 bership. Several additional member societies have just been 

 added and others will be added from time to time. The Com- 

 mittee is already actively at work in selecting sponsor societies 

 for standardization work and approving standards. The govern- 

 ment is rendering a valuable ser\dce to the industries, and thus 

 to the people, by cooperating actively in this constructive and 

 useful work. Manufacturers have not cooperated with one an- 

 other in the past in standardizing designs as much as they could 

 have done if there had been some practicable way of cooperating. 

 They have resented government dictation and control, but they 

 welcome government cooperation in constructive work that 

 benefits both them and the public. In many cases the designs 

 and sizes of machines and materials manufactured by different 

 concerns are different because development has been independent. 

 In other cases it is in order to have something upon which to base 

 a claim of superiority. In either case, too many sizes and 

 designs and lack of interchangeability increase the cost to the 

 manufacturer, to the distributor and to the user. Nothing 

 promotes economy and efficiency in the use of raw materials 

 and finished products more than intelligent standardization. 

 It reduces the varieties and sizes of materials that must be 

 supplied by the manufacturer, lessens the stocks that must be 

 carried by the distributor, makes the cost of the finished product 

 less and reduces the trouble and expense to the user in caring for 

 and keeping in repair machinery and equipment of all kinds. 

 The high cost of the services of the plumber have been proverbial 

 for years. Standardization in plumbing fixtures and fittings, 



