SIGNIFICANCE: WALTER DOUGLAS

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ously educating customers to make the best use of the products which are supplied to them.

Only by research and the systematic development of knowledge can we hope to attain to the true increase of wealth, an increase which affects the comfort and happiness of employed and of employer alike.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH FOR MINING AND METALLURGY

BY WALTER DOUGLAS

PRESIDENT OF THE PHELPS DODGE CORPORATION

The extreme importance of industrial research in the successful conduct of great mining and metallurgical enterprises can be appreciated when it is realized that upon the development of certain scientific methods depends the commercial success of the production of metals from ores formerly regarded as valueless. The efforts of producers are directed toward economical means of extracting coal and metalliferous ores with the least possible loss consistent with safety to the miner, and the concentration and beneficiation of the raw material in such manner as to obtain the highest extraction of the valuable content. To this end, scientific investigation and experimentation are essential, and nearly all great, forward steps in industrial and technical advancement have originated in the research departments of the large producing companies. At this time, with foreign sources of supply of certain important elements curtailed through shortage of vessels, it is of special importance that means be devised to furnish certain substitutes or to utilize our own raw materials through the invention or perfection of processes by which production of commercial grades can be made available. Never before have the departments of industrial research assumed such importance to the basic industries of this country as they do today, and if we are to make ourselves independent of materials for which we have in the past relied on Germany, we must enlarge and elaborate our 'departments of research and investigation to an extent considered in the past as unnecessary and unjustified.

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APPLICATION: JAMES R. MACCOLL

THE APPLICATION OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH TO ONE INDUSTRY

BY JAMES R. MACCOLL

TREASURER OF THE LORRAINE MANUFACTURING COMPANY

It must be frankly admitted that in many industries the importance and value of scientific research have not been adequately grasped.

In the textile industry (particularly wool and cotton) twenty years ago there were probably no concerns large enough to carry on independent scientific research on a broad and liberal scale. In recent years, combinations have been formed-under one control of groups of mills, and it would certainly be advantageous and profitable for these large concerns to make a liberal appropriation for scientific research, employing for this work men of ability who combine scientific training with sound, practical business ideas.

In addition, however, to these independent efforts, it would be of great benefit to the industry if there could be a coöperative movement organized by the National Research Council along with the leading textile schools and a committee of manufacturers to develop and supervise research and experiment in laboratory, textile school and factory.

The field is a broad one, beginning with the raw materials through all the processes of yarn-making, weaving, dyeing, printing, and finishing. It is a fact worthy of note at the present time that there is a large supply of faulty wool and low-grade cotton which can be purchased at relatively low prices compared with the better classes of wool and cotton which are in demand and in short supply. Here is a profitable field for research, and it is only one of many that could be enumerated.

The concentration of scientific minds upon research and experiment would undoubtedly be of vast benefit to the textile industry and to the welfare of mankind.

THE ORGANIZATION OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH AT HOME AND ABROAD

By H. E. HOWE

VICE CHAIRMAN, DIVISION OF INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH, NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL

I. GENERAL STATEMENT

Research is not merely the collection of existing facts and data on a given subject; that is but an incidental though important phase of the work. One type of research creates new knowledge and gives new power over materials; the other type seeks to apply this newly created knowledge to the solution of specific problems. The two are really interdependent, equally complex and necessary.

For a number of years the world has been gradually developing a better appreciation of the scientific method and of scientific research largely because the benefits derived through its application to industry have been strikingly demonstrated. There are many examples of the commercial value of researches begun in pure science with no idea of immediate industrial application. Research therefore has been encouraged more and more, resulting in many discoveries of scientific and practical importance.

War is always a combat between two or more groups of resources and the most efficient utilization of these resources requires the proper application of science. This in turn involves the coördination of all facilities for research and applied science and frequently it has been shown that many serious difficulties were traceable to the failure to employ research previously. War has given great impulse to nearly all branches of science and one of our duties is to maintain and increase the momentum which has been gained.

Many of our war problems are associated with peace problems. Methods of manufacture, materials employed, principles to be mastered, are quite similar whether the product is one of peace or war, so that throughout the world it has come to be realized that we must continue to encourage, stimulate, and increase research in both pure and applied science if for no other reason than that we may make more and better things, understanding why as well as how it is done.

Attention is called to the present status of this world-wide movement.

II. UNITED STATES

In 1863, President Lincoln approved an act of Congress, incorporating fifty of the country's leading scientists under the designation of the National Academy of Sciences. One of the functions of the Academy was "to investigate, examine, experiment, and report upon any subject of science or art" whenever called upon to do so by any government department, but the Academy was to receive no compensation whatever for such services. The Academy served well during that emergency and on many later occasions has rendered valuable service to our government. Its by-laws have been modified at times and the number of its members increased.

In April, 1916, the Academy through its president offered to organize the scientific research of the country and the President of the United States accepted the offer and later approved the formation of the National Research Council, a body created to carry on this work. Later the Council was requested to act as a Department of Science and Research of the Council of National Defense, to organize a Science and Research Division of the Signal Corps and to carry out many other commissions for the military and naval establishments.

In order that the numerous problems might have the intensive study of specialists, the Council was organized along divisional lines, each division being composed of sections and special committees, upon which many of the country's foremost scientists served. The officers of the Council, the chairmen and vice-chairmen of divisions, and the chairmen of the sections of the General Relations Division, together with the elected members, made up an executive board which was assisted in its work by an interim committee. The divisions under the war organization were those of general relations, military, an important part of which was the research information service, engineering, physics, mathematics, astronomy and geophysics, chemistry and chemical technology, geology and geography, medicine and related sciences, agriculture, botany, forestry, zoölogy and fisheries.

Even a brief outline of the work accomplished could not be given here. Some of this work was done by the members themselves, some in laboratories throughout the country, and some in a purely advisory capacity, the Council or its sub-divisions acting as a clearing-house for information and helping to secure the necessary coöperation.

On May 11, 1918, the President issued an Executive Order in which it was stated that "the work accomplished by the Council in organizing research and in securing coöperation of military and civilian agencies

in the solution of military problems, demonstrates its capacity for larger service." It was further requested that the National Research Council be perpetuated with duties which were set forth as follows:

1. In general, to stimulate research in the mathematical, physical and biological sciences, and in the application of these sciences to engineering, agriculture, medicine and other useful arts, with the object of increasing knowledge, of strengthening the national defense, and of contributing in other ways to the public welfare.

2. To survey the larger possibilities of science, to formulate comprehensive projects of research, and to develop effective means of utilizing the scientific and technical resources of the country for dealing with these projects.

3. To promote coöperation in research, at home and abroad, in order to secure concentration of effort, minimize duplication, and stimulate progress; but in all coöperative undertakings to give encouragement to individual initiative, as fundamentally important to the advancement of science.

4. To serve as a means of bringing American and foreign investigators into active coöperation with the scientific and technical services of the War and Navy Departments and with those of the civil branches of the government.

5. To direct the attention of scientific and technical investigators to the present importance of military and industrial problems in connection with the war, and to aid in the solution of these problems by organizing specific researches.

6. To gather and collate scientific and technical information at home and abroad, in coöperation with governmental and other agencies and to render such information available to duly accredited persons.

On a peace basis the Council's organization will be slightly different from the war time plan. It will consist of three classes of representatives: first, those of national scientific and technical societies; second, representatives of the government; and third, those of other research organizations and individuals whose aid may serve to advance the objects of the Council. The division method of organization will be followed with two principal classifications, (a) divisions concerned with the more general relations and activities of the Council, and, (b) those dealing with related branches of science and technology. Under the first class there will be six divisions; namely, government relations, foreign relations, states relations, educational relations, industrial research, and research information service. The divisions of science and technology will be seven in number; namely, physical sciences, engineering, chemistry and chemical technology, geology and geography, medical sciences, biology and agriculture, and anthropology and psychology.