EDITORIAL. 
which alcohol can be manufactured are being continually renewed and 
are capable of great expansion makes alcohol fuel the ideal for the 
uture, and any State which neglects to encourage and to prepare for 
its application to these purposes is ignoring the best interests of its 
citizens.” 
RESEARCH WORK IN SHIPBUILDING. 
The question of the advisability of “ Lloyd’s” arranging to under- 
take at its own expense experimental and research work in connexion 
With shipbuilding and marine engineering has for some time past 
received the careful consideration of the Committee of Lloyd’s Register. 
In June, 1918, the Committee decided that such work should be under- 
taken by the Society, and appointed a special sub-committee on research. 
Amongst the subjects which this sub-committee has already had before 
\‘t may be mentioned the carriage of fluid cargoes. Arrangements are 
being made for experiments to be carried out at the tank at the National 
Physical Laboratory for the purpose of obtaining information with 
Yegard to—(a) The effect of a fluid cargo in the form of oil in bulk 
on the behaviour of a ship in a seaway; and (b) the manner in 
Which energy passes between the ship and the fluid in the holds. 
NEW BRITISH STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS. 
Four new specifications have been issued by the British Engineering 
Standards Association. They relate to— 
(a) Instrument transformers, dealing with two classes of current 
transformers and one class of potential transformers. 
(b) Indicating ammeters, voltmeters, wattmeters, frequency and 
power factor meters. s 
(c) Recondine (graphic) ammeters, voltmeters, and wattmeters; 
an ; 
(d) Rolled sections for magnet steel. 
The last-named includes a symmetrical series of 60 sections for 
general purposes (26 of which it is recommended should not be used 
unless it is impossible to use any of the remaining 34 sections), and 
a supplementary list of ten special sections for ignition magnetos. 
POLLUTION OF THE ATMOSPHERE. 
The committee charged with the investigation of atmospheric pollu- 
tion in Great Britain has published a report. giving the results of. 
observations at 24 selected stations. The condition of the atmosphere 
at Neweastle-on-Tyne and at Malvern is contrasted, these stations 
giving respectively the highest and lowest deposits of all the stations: 
for which complete returns are available. At the former the mean 
monthly deposit of the solids contained in the atmosphere amounts to 
20.81 metric tons per square kilometre, at the latter only 2.51 tons. 
Generally there is a tendency at all the stations for the amount of solid ~ 
matter to increase during the summer. At that time of year dust raised 
by the wind forms the preponderating share; in the winter dust from 
fires preponderates. ; 
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