Mat 28, 1920] 



SCIENCE 



535 



During the ten years of its existence the 

 efforts of the laboratory have been devoted to 

 the development of improved methods and 

 processes for the ^better utilization of forest 

 products of all kinds, and to the direct assist- 

 ance of the industries concerned. Among the 

 major lines of endeavor are the following: 



Pulp and paper, 



Hardiwaod and softwood distillation, 



Preservation of wood, 



Decay and decay prevention, 



Meohandcal properties of wood, 



Glues for wood. 



Kiln drying and air seasoning. 



Grading structural timbers, 



Grading lumber, 



Laminated construction, 



Chemistry of wood, 



Boxing, crating, packing. 



Needle and leaf oUs, 



Ethyl alcohol from wood waste. 



Wood finishes, 



Aircraft parts. 



Veneers and plywood. 



Steam bending. 



Identification of wood, 



Microscopy of wood. 



During the war direct assistance was rend- 

 ered the War and Navy Departments and vari- 

 ous other branches of the government in the 

 solution of many important problems, partic- 

 ularly in connection with aircraft, gun-stocks, 

 artillery wheels, escort wagons and the boxing 

 and crating of arms and stores for overseas 

 shipment. It was necessary, throughout this 

 period, to abandon all work on the regular 

 peacetime program. 



A good many men acquainted with the work 

 of the laboratory have expressed the thought 

 that the laboratory and the service rendered by 

 it should receive tsome mark of recognition or 

 appreciation from the industries whidh it 

 serves. In response to this -thought, the de- 

 cennial celebration has been planned, and a 

 general committee organized to carry out the 

 detailed arrangements. 



The present plans call for a two-day pro- 

 gram, including addresses by men prominent 

 in science, industry and commerce; inspection 

 of the lajboratory ; a banquet; and various other 



forms of instruction and entertainment. It is 

 proposed to m'ake a permanent record of the 

 decennial in the form of a souvenir publica- 

 tion to contain all of the addresses and other 

 relevant matter, including tiie names of those 

 who can permit a permanent record of their 

 cooperative contributions to be made. 



ENGINEERING INVESTIGATIONS OF THE U. S. 

 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



A CORRESPONDENT writes : 



In these days of eoonemizing in government ap- 

 propriations it is refreshing to note some of the 

 remarks on the floor of the House by Representa- 

 tive Good, of Iowa, chairman of the Sundry Civil 

 Appropriations Committee and Representative 

 Byrns, of Tennessee, ranking minority member of 

 that committee, in which they urged additions to 

 appropriations. Their arguments were in defense 

 of an item of $125,000 providing for an engineer- 

 ing investigation by the U. S. Geological Survey 

 of the super-power project for the eastern United 

 States. Mr. Byrns stated : ' ' This proposition is 

 one that looks forward to the conservation of oui 

 resources and, as has been stated, the time is at 

 hand when something must be done looking to the 

 conservation of our fuel supply because those ia 

 authority state that at present the known supply 

 of oil wiU be exhausted within a very few years 

 at the present rate of consumption." He further 

 characterized this Geological Survey investigation 

 as one that should be made "by government ex- 

 perts in order that if the investigation discloses 

 that such a plan is practicable, those who are asked 

 to make these investments will have confidence in 

 the accuracy and impartiality of the report." 

 Chairman Good in reporting the Sundry Civil bill 

 had already made special reference to the super- 

 'power item in the bill as unique but as believed 

 vitally important and he stated that such a survey 

 would represent ' ' Government initiative and co- 

 operation which will result in the savings to the 

 country of hundreds of millions of dollars an- 

 nually. It will resiilt in a great saving in the di- 

 rect cost of fuel. It will furnish a reserve source 

 of power for transportation and utility companies, 

 which will be of large value in time of labor dis- 

 putes and public emergencies. The principle can 

 be applied broadly. Its benefits will accrue to 

 towns and villages and to the farms of the coun- 

 try." Chairman Good also stated that this pro- 

 vision best illustrated the policy of including in 

 the appropriation bill items providing for the fu- 



