134 
NATURE 
LAPRIT i tors 


form of manual training, and prizes could be given 
for the best cut roll. 
Note 1.—Owing to the war, I have dropped an appli- 
cation for a German patent, which was made several 
months previously to its outbreak. Still, I think it 
desirable that readers of NaTurE should see the fol- 
lowing criticism by the examiner of the Patent Office 
at Berlin. 
‘Owing to the replacement (which is very obvious) 
of the customary springs by weights, the action of 
the regulating bellows cannot be improved, but only 
made worse, since the action will not take place more 
rapidly but more slowly.” 
This objection shows the absurdity of placing im- 
portant decisions regarding the validity of patents, 
and equally important other matters in the hands of 
officials who are not in touch with the actual facts of 
the case. In this case the patent examiner’s decision 
is not backed up either by experimental evidence or 
by exact mathematical investigations, and his decision 
is just what might be expected in the circumstances, 
but is, none the less. hopelessly in error. As a matter 
of fact— 
(1) My experiments prove conclusively that the 
action of the regulating bellows, instead of being 
“made worse,” is greatly ‘‘improved by the replace- 
ment of springs by weights.” That this effect is not 
“very obvious” is shown by the fact that the examiner 
has conspicuously failed to realise its advantages. 
(2) My experiments can only be explained on the 
hypothesis that ‘‘on account of the necessary accelera- 
tions of the weights, the action will not take place 
more rapidly but more slowly,” and that this retarda- 
tion is proved experimentally to give greatly improved 
results, even though this conclusion is contrary to 
our preconceived opinions. 
No doubt arguments similar to those raised by the 
German Patent Office would naturally be raised by 
anyone who had not tested the question by actual 
experience. But if these objections give any clue to 
the extent to which the modern piano-player has 
been perfected up to the present time by German 
inventions accepted by the Berlin Patent Office, the 
results must be regarded as hopeless failures. 
Nore 2.—The differences of tone quality produced 
by differences of touch in my experiments would 
appear to be identical with those obtained by finger 
playing which are largely responsible for the success 
of Prof. Tobias Mathay’s pianoforte school. It would, 
however, appear that some pianos are incapable of 
exhibiting these differences, and Prof. Mathay un- 
fortunately found when it was too late that the piano 
kindly lent for the lecture was defective in this re- 
spect. I have since tested another player-piano and 
found an absolute constancy of tone quality, whether 
played manually or pneumatically. 

SCIENTIFIC WORK OF THE SMITH- 
SONIAN INSTITUTION.} 
Researches and Exblorations. 
DURING the year the institution continued to carry 
on investigations in various lines throughout 
the world by means of small allotments from its funds. 
It also accomplished a great deal in the way of 
exploration and research through the generosity of 
friends of the institution, who contributed funds for 
special work or provided opportunities for participa- 
tion in explorations which they had undertaken per- 
sonally or through the aid of others. Each year, 
however, the institution is obliged to forgo oppor- 
1 Abridged from rhe Report of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution 
for the year ending June 30, 1974 
NO. 2370, VOL. 95] 

tunities for important investigations through lack of 
sufficient funds. 
The Langley Aerodynamical Laboratory. 
On May 1, 1913, the secretary was authorised to 
re-open the Smithsonian Institution laboratory for the 
study of aerodynamics, and in future it was to be 
known as the Langley Aerodynamical Laboratory. 
The functions of the laboratory were defined to be 
the study of the problems of aerodromics, particularly 
those of aerodynamics, with such research and experi- 
mentation as may be necessary to increase the safety 
and effectiveness of aerial locomotion for the purposes 
of commerce, national defence, and the welfare of 
man. 
The first year’s work of the laboratory was to 
arrange a comprehensive programme of operations, 
devise ways and means of carrying on investigations 
and publishing reports, conduct such active experi- 
ments as were possible with the means immediately 
available, and to secure and arrange. in the library 
the best aeronautical literature. 
The first technical publication sets forth the results 
of experiments made at the model tank at the Wash- 
ington Navy Yard. Another report describes the 
organisation and equipment of the leading aero- 
nautical laboratories of England, France, and Ger- 
many. Some of the reports of the committee are as 
yet confidential or incomplete. The library has been 
furnished with the chief aeronautic periodicals and the 
best books thus far published. 
The’ rehabilitation and successful launching of the 
Langley aeroplane (called ‘aerodrome’ by Prof. 
Langley), constructed more than a decade ago, was 
accomplished in May, 1914. The machine was shipped 
from the Langley Laboratory to the Curtiss aeroplane 
factory in April. It was re-canvassed and provided 
with hydroaeroplane floats, and was launched on Lake 
Keuka on May 28. With Mr. Glenn H. Curtiss as 
| pilot it ran easily over the water, rose on level wing, 
and flew in steady poise 150 ft. | Subsequent short 
flights were made in order to secure photographs of 
the craft in the air. Then Mr. Curtiss was authorised, 
in order to make prolonged flights without overtaxing 
the bearings of the Langley propulsion fixtures, to 
instal in its place a standard Curtiss motor and pro- 
peller. At the close of the fiscal year the experiments 
were still making satisfactory progress. 
The tests thus far made have shown that the late 
Secretary Langley had succeeded in building the first 
aeroplane capable of sustained free flight with a man. 
It is hoped that further trials will disclose the advan- 
tages of the Langley type of machine. It may be 
recalled that this man-carrying aeroplane was begun 
in 1898 for the War Department, and in the interest 
of the national defence. It was built on the design 
| of the model machine which, on May 6, 1806, first 
demonstrated to the world that an aeroplane heavier 
than air could be propelled through the air by its own 
power. The large machine was completed in 1903, 
but its actual flight was at that time hindered by 
| injuries sustained through defects in the launching 
apparatus. 
Geological Explorations in the Canadian Rockies. 
In continuation of his previous geological researches 
in the Canadian Rockies, Dr. C. A. Walcott, the 
secretary of the institution, revisited during the field 
season of 31913 the Robson Peak district, in British 
| Columbia and Alberta, and the region about Field, 
British Columbia. 
On this trip Robson Peak was approached from the 
west side in order to study the local geological sec- 
tion, one of the finest in the world. Owing to excep- 
tionally good climatic conditions the season of 1913 
