374 ROSA: SCIENTIFIC WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT 



capita would accomplish wonders. The matter is of so fundamental 

 importance, and promises results of so great economic and social 

 value, that it is to be hoped that some more adequate effort 

 along this line may be made. It seems impossible that such 

 effort would not succeed at least in part, and even a partial 

 success would more than repay the cost. 



The English journal previously quoted says this of the govern- 

 ment's part in scientific research: "The endowment of research 

 and the financing of scientific investigation are essential in any 

 progressive nation, and if the money is well spent no amount allo- 

 cated to these branches can be too great at the present stage in our 

 country s history.'' 



In Great Britain the Engineering Standards Association is 

 largely financed by the government, while the Department of 

 Scientific and Industrial Research is a government body financed 

 entirely by the government. The American Engineering Stand- 

 ards Committee and the National Research Council (of America) 

 are financed entirely without government aid. This is an addi- 

 tional reason why government research institutions in America 

 should be so well supported that they can do their full duty in 

 cooperation with privately supported scientific and industrial 

 institutions which are doing work in the interest of the public. 



GOVERNMENT LABORATORIES AND THEIR TRAINED PERSONNEL 



AVAILABLE FOR WAR 



32. The war called for scientific research in connection with 

 the standardization and making of munitions, finding and 

 using substitute materials, locating enemy guns by sound and 

 flash ranging, locating submarines, building and equipping ships 

 and submarines, building and equipping airplanes, dirigibles 

 and balloons, and many other major subjects as well as countless 

 minor ones. This called for well-equipped scientific laboratories 

 and the trained personnel of research workers and assistants. 

 The government laboratories were utilized to the limit of their 

 capacity, and all kinds of makeshift facilities were pressed into 

 service. If preparations had been begun several years before, 



