146 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 
The American shoe industry was one of the first to 
maintain a well directed research laboratory. It is marvel- 
ous when we contemplate what they have accomplished, both 
in the preparation of the leather and the precision apparatus 
which constructs the shoe. These achievements are due to 
no single individual, but to a group. 
The development of the automobile, especially the low 
priced car, or putting it plainly, the Ford, is a marvel. 
The gasoline consummed in our country equals the 
water supply of a town of 40,000 inhabitants and its costs, 
only on holidays and Sundays, are $1,000,000. Many of the 
automobile companies now maintain research departments 
comprising designers, chemists, machinists, physicists, 
mathematicians, etc. One tire manufacturer alone spends 
$100,000 upon his research department. 
In 10 years time the Ford Automobile Company in- 
creased its output from less than 2,000 cars to one half mil- 
lion. Each acre of floor space, and there are 47.5 in the 
plant, produces annually $3,000,000. The number employed 
number 21,000 and it is claimed that they receive the high- 
est average salaries of any similar group in the world. 
It is estimated that a complete Ford car leaves the fac- 
tory every 25 seconds. The organization of both the men 
and the placing of machinery is almost perfect. Such a 
phenomenal growth and astonishing organization is only 
possible with a well equipped research department of ex- 
perts, in physical science, in biological science, in social 
science as well as in commerce and business. Nearly all of 
our optical companies are starting or already maintain good 
research laboratories, employing both physicists and chem- 
ists. 
The Eastman Kodak Company has a splendidly equipped 
laboratory which has just recently been built in Rochester, 
N. Y., for specialized work in research. It spends lavishly 
funds for the investigation of problems which are based upon 
the fundamental principles upon which the industry rests. 
In the paper industry general research is confined 
mainly to the Forest Products Laboratory at Madison and 
in the industry it seems we need more technically trained 
