40 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XLIX. No. 1254 



neering. This enabled it to take up promptly 

 many important military researches. The lab- 

 oratories, so useful during- peace, proved of 

 especial importance in war. The specialized 

 equipment of instruments, materials and sup- 

 plies were on hand which were then almost 

 unobtainable elsewhere. The bureau promptly 

 extended its service to all lines of scientific 

 work which would assist in the war. Prac- 

 tically every section of its regular organiza- 

 tion has had military problems of the most 

 pressing nature submitted to it, and invaluable 

 service has been rendered. 



The recent expansion of the bureau has 

 been on lines vital to the success of the war. 

 It is interesting to note, however, that many 

 of these lines are also of essential value to our 

 industries in peace. The need for the na- 

 tional provision for master-gauge standardiza- 

 tion was only realized by those in close touch 

 with such work. The accurate dimensioning 

 of the functioning parts of mechanisms will 

 permit extending the American system of 

 manufacturing interchangeable parts to its 

 maximimi usefulness. The importance of 

 nation-wide standardization has long been 

 known, but the practical working out of such 

 standardization is best met by a national lab- 

 oratory such as the Bureau of Standards. 

 The same principle holds for all the technolo- 

 gies and special branches of physics. 



The combination of pure science and tech- 

 nology has proved esjjecially stimulating and 

 effective. The close cooperation of physicists 

 and engineers in practical as well as theoret- 

 ical work has given an imusual breadth to 

 such researches. In turn, the technologic 

 facilities have proved of great value in the 

 purely scientific work. Many cases might be 

 cited where the elements of a research prob- 

 lem ramify into laboratories of practically 

 every division of the bureau. The airplane 

 is an example, and a problem apparently as 

 simple as the spark plug has called for re- 

 searches in many different technical sections 

 of the bureau. The establishment of new in- 

 dustries in America, such as those of optical 

 glass and chemical porcelain, and the scientific 



remodeling of older industries are fruits of 

 the more intimate cooperation of science and 

 industry which it is the fimction of the ^ureau 

 to promote. 



A fine laboratory for industrial research is 

 nearly completed and will be ready for use in 

 a few months. This laboratory, when com- 

 pletely equipped, will be one of the most 

 effective of its kind in the world. In no na- 

 tional institution in the world is the vinion be- 

 tween pure science and practical technology 

 so intimate as in the work of the Bureau of 

 Standards. 



Apart from confidential reports the bureau 

 published during the year about 50 new pub- 

 lications, including scientific and technologic 

 circulars and bulletins. Thirty-six confiden- 

 tial circulars were printed on the subject of 

 aviation instruments alone. The establish- 

 ment of the work on metals in a suitable lab- 

 oratory building was followed by the establish- 

 ment of experimental foundry and other 

 research work on a practical basis. An inter- 

 esting branch of the bureau's work is found in 

 the field of public utilities, especially recent 

 developments in regard to telephone service 

 standards, and the standards of safety prac- 

 tise for power service, elevator service, crane 

 construction, building construction, and the 

 like. 



SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS 



Professor Edward M. East was elected 

 president of the American Society of Natural- 

 ists at the recent Baltimore meeting. 



Dr. C. M. Child, professor at the University 

 of Chicago, has been elected president of the 

 American Society of Zoologists. 



Mr. Egbert T. Jackson, of Peterborough, 

 N". H., has been elected president of the Pa- 

 leontological Society. 



Dr. F. E. Wright, of the Geophysical Lab- 

 oratory of the Carnegie Institution, has been 

 elected president of the Optical Society of 

 Aonerica. 



The Society of American Foresters have 

 elected the following officers for 1919: Presi- 

 dent, F. E. Olmsted; Vice-president, W. W. 



