adapted for making investigative tests on the physical properties of structural materials of all classes. PAPER AND TEXTILES. The testing of papers, textiles, and cordage has extended to practically every department of the Government. Assistance has been rendered numerous State and city governments in selecting standard papers, and analyses have been made for dealers and manufacturers. The equipment for extending paper investigation and preparing experimental papers has been supplemented and some preliminary work accomplished. The equipment for the conditioning of textile materials has been nearly completed. Some investigation has been made of the accuracy obtainable in the determination of yarn counts both in the yarn and finished fabric. A study of the experimental sampling, scouring, and conditioning of wool is in progress and has already yielded some interesting results. There were tested 3,276 papers, 1,207 samples of cordage, and 606 textiles. It has rendered extensive assistance to the General Supply Committee in the preparation of specifications, the testing of samples, and in expert service on its several subcommittees in the making of awards. It has also assisted committees of Congress, the President's Commission on Economy and Efficiency, the Tariff Board, and several departments in the collection of technical data. THE OFFICE. LIBRARY. The library contains 7,528 accessioned volumes (including a few bound pamphlets), almost exclusively of a scientific and technical character. During the year the Library of Congress has transferred to the Bureau the second copies of books deposited for copyright, bearing on physics, testing of materials, and allied subjects, in all 560 volumes. The Library of Congress and other libraries have freely loaned books to the Bureau as in previous years. The number of periodicals currently received has been 270, most of them being obtained through exchange with the Bulletin of the Bureau. PUBLICATIONS. During the year 29 new scientific papers were published, giving results of investigations conducted by the Bureau. Eleven revised editions of circulars were printed, and 6 new circulars issued upon the following subjects: "The Standardization of Bomb Calorimeters," "Publications of the Bureau of Standards," "The Testing and Properties of Optical Instruments," "The Determination of the Optical Properties of Materials," " Announcement of a Change in the Value of the International Volt," and "Lime: Its Properties and Uses." The results of technologic investigations are being prepared for publication in a new series of publications, to be called " Technologic Papers of the Bureau of Standards." The first number of this series is entitled "Effect of Preliminary Heating Treatment on the Drying of Clays." PERSONNEL. The personnel of the Bureau, including the Director, as provided by Congress, for the past fiscal year, consisted of 192 persons, classified as follows: Laboratory: 1 chief physicist, 1 chief chemist, 2 associate chemists, 2 physicists, 12 associate physicists, 32 assistant physicists, 7 assistant chemists, 38 laboratory assistants, 15 aids, 12 laboratory apprentices, and 3 laboratory helpers; total, 125. Office: 1 secretary, 1 storekeeper, 1 librarian, 14 clerks, 1 packer and shipper, 5 messenger boys; total, 23. Operation of plant: 1 superintendent of mechanical plant, 4 assistant engineers, 2 electricians, 3 firemen, 3 watchmen, 1 messenger, 5 skilled laborers, 4 laborers, 3 janitors, 2 female laborers, 1 telephone operator, 1 elevator boy; total, 30. Construction: 1 chief mechanician, 8 mechanicians, 2 skilled woodworkers, 1 draftsman, 1 glass blower; total, 13. In addition to the foregoing, approximately 77 persons have been employed in special research and other work, being paid from the appropriations provided by Congress for conducting these investigations. The number of the employees engaged in this class of work varies from time to time in accordance with the needs of the service. SUMMARY OF TESTS. The work of the Bureau involves, among other things, a large amount of testing of standards, measuring instruments, and materials. A certain amount of this work is already organized upon an accurate routine basis. Much of it, however, involves investigation of the scientific principles underlying the test, a study of existing methods, and the development of new standard tests of known accuracy. In such cases, the research which must precede the actual testing is a most important function of the Bureau. For the test a reasonable fee is charged, except when made for the National or State Governments. The corresponding amounts for Government testing are of interest, however, and are added to the statement of tests which follows: NUMBER AND VALUE OF TESTS COMPLETED, FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1911. 1 Besides the foregoing, the Bureau inspected 942,059 incandescent lamps at various factories for other departments of the Government, the fees for which would amount to $6,674.75 additional. 23,314 tests, amounting to $23,738.61, were chemical tests made on structural materials. The number of tests made for the Government during the fiscal year 1911, exclusive of lamps inspected at factory, was 173 per cent greater than in the preceding year, and the number of tests for the public was 52 per cent greater, the increase in tests for both Government and public amounting to 154 per cent. The receipts for tests were as follows: Total receipts, 1911_ Received prior to July 1, 1910, for tests completed in fiscal year 1911 Outstanding fees. Refunds -- $10, 880. 73 $200. 43 8.04 596. 11 11, 476. 84 136.00 Received for tests completed, fiscal year 1910 Received for tests in progress at close of fiscal year 1911 206.37 Fee for tests completed, fiscal year 1911.__. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. 312.37 11, 134. 47 The following statement shows the amount and object of each appropriation provided for the Bureau for the fiscal year 1911, the disbursement during the year, the amount of unfilled and unpaid orders at the close of the year, and the unexpended balance remaining at the close of business June 30, 1911: |