L The Engineering Experiment Station and Its Relation to Illinois Industries By L. P. BRECKENRIDGE M. W. S. E. Reprint from Journal Western Society Engineers August, 1909 THE ENGINEERING EXPERIMENT STATION AND ITS RELATION TO ILLINOIS INDUSTRIES. L. P. .Bkeckenkiih.k, m.w.s.i:. Presented May 5, ipop. The State of Illinois is most advaiUagcoubly situated in relation to the continually increasing industrial activities of the Middle West. The wonderful fertility of its soil has made it for many years fore- most in the wealth of agricultural products. The climate and rain- fall have favored the production of immense crops of corn, wheat and oats, and fully 75 per cent of its great area (56,650 sq. mi.) has been prepared for cultivation. Its fuel supplies are enormous, its yearly product is next to Penn- sylvania in amount and it probably has within its borders today more bituminous coal of usable grades than has any other state. It is not strange that to these fertile fields came many settlers. It is not strange that on the edge of its Great Lake was planted its now great city. After people come, transportation is provided, then manufac- turers follow to supply the needs of the people. Then more people come to distribute the products of farm and factory, wealth accumu- lates, and still more factories are built to supply luxuries as well as needs. State and municipal institutions spring up and multiply. Provision is made for the penal, charitable and educational needs of state and city. What seemed large provision soon becomes inade- quate and the work of a few years ago must be torn down and in its place must be put up again a new and larger and more modern struc- ture. The stores and bank and the library are all soon too small and must be built anew. So it has been with Illinois, so it is now with Illinois. A great agricultural, a great mining, a great manufactur- ing, a great commercial, and a great transportation State, teeming with a vigorous, wide awake, progressive population surpassed in numbers only by New York and Pennsylvania and surpassed in op- portunities and energy by none. The story of the growth and development of the industries of Illinois is most interesting. The growth has been rapid and natural. It has not been held back by any natural barriers and progress has been easy compared with that of some of the states earlier settled. There are a few significant facts which should be continually before the citizens of Illinois. These facts should make them feel the possi- bility of accomplishing great undertakings, and should impress upon them the responsibilities which their wealth, their position and their opportunities impose. To some of these interesting facts your atten- tion is directed under the heading of 2 Breckenridge — Engineering Experiment Station Illinois — A Great Industrial State. (a) The population of Illinois is about 5,500,000, which is ap- proximately 1-14 of the population of the United States. Exceeded in population only by New York and Pennsylvania. (b) Illinois stands second in the value of its agricultural prod- ucts, for 1908 the value being about $550,000,000 (c) Illinois stands third in the value of its manufactured prod- ucts, for 1908 the value being $1,600,000,000 (d) Illinois stands second in tons of coal produced, the value of product for 1908 being about (51,000,000 tons) $54,000,000 (e) Illinois stands second in barrels of oil produced, the value of this product for 1908 being about (40,000,000 Bbls.) .$24,800,000 (f) Illinois stands second in miles of steam railroad, the num- ber of miles in 1906 being about 12,000 (g) The value of the mineral products of Illinois has increased 65% since 1905. For 1908, which included coal and oil, the value was about $150,000,000 (h) The capital invested in the thirteen leading industries in Illinois is ( 1906) $600,000,000 In the remaining industries 375,000,000 Making a grand total of $975,000,000 This amount is now (1909) estimated at about $1,200,000,000 The Development of Illinois Industries — By the charts and dia- grams which accompany this article it is intended to point out the possibility of the great industrial growth of the United States and to show how rapid has been the development of Illinois as a manu- facturing state. The population of the world, Fig. i, gives promise of a market for the products of our farms and factories if only we are prepared to send them where needed. The citizens of Illinois gave evidence that they were awake to the future possibilities of a foreign market for Illinois products when they voted iii favor of the next step in water transportation which must finally end in a waterway from the Lakes to the Gulf. Illinois, now third in population (Fig. 2), is advancing rapidly and it will only be by taking thought for tomorrow that the future of her interests will be conserved. What will be the population of Illinois in 1950? Perhaps ten millions; the chart. Fig. 3, makes promise of that figure. And Chicago at that date, — will it still be 40% of the State's total, and reach four millions? If so there are many things to be done in the State and city in the next forty years and it is none too soon to start on many of them. When we see what is the distribution of wage earners. Figs. 4 and 5, among the leading pursuits, it is not surprising that so much at- tention has been and will be given to those things that pertain to agriculture and to engineering. In Illinois, one quarter of the wage earners are engaged in agriculture while nearly one half are engaged Brccki'nridge — En^iinccrwi; lixf>criment Station 8 in pursuits directly related to eiigineerinj^, such as manufacturing, transportation and mining. This nation has made such great prog- ress because, above all things, it has found near at hand, forests, food and fuel. It has been extravagant in the use of all. Its forests CHART SHOWING NUMBER AND DENSITY POPULATION OF THE WORLD 1806 GROUPED BY fiATIONS ALL OTHER -<«^^. NATIONS 0£flijr* 01 POPutATIQfi FIG. I. — POPULATION OF THE WORLD have rapidly disappeared ; its land which once raised food is nov^ un- productive ; its fuel will last perhaps 6oo years ; it has apparently begun to think about these things ; it will save and renew some for- ests ; it can preserve the fertility of its soil and fortunately here in Illinois that problem is well in hand and the methods for doing it Breckenridge — Engineering Experiment Station are available in the investigations of the Agricultural Experiment Station. It can economize in the use of its fuels, it is doing so in all the great plants that manufacture light and power. Not more than one half as much coal is used to produce one horse-power today as MILLIONS 23456789 10 NEW YORK PENNSYLVANIA ILLINOIS OHIO MISSOURI TEXAS MASSACHUSETTS INDIANA MICHIGAN IOWA GEORGIA KENTUCKY WISCONSIN TENNESSEE NORTH CAROLINA NEW JERSEY VIRGINIA ALABAMA MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI CALIFORNIA KANSAS LOUISIANA SOUTH CAROLINA ARKANSAS MARYLAND NEBRASKA ■ WEST VIRGINIA ■ CONNECTICUT ■ MAINE B COLORADO Bi Florida ■ washington — RHODE ISLAND h OREGON m NEW HAMPSHIRE ■ SOUTH DAKOTA ■ OKLAHOMA ■ INDIAN TERRITORY" VERMONT ■ NORTH DAKOTA - DIST. OF COLUMBIA - UTAH ■ MONTANA ■ NEW MEXICO ■ DELAWARE ■ IDAHO ■ HAWAII ■ ARIZONA ■ WYOMING ■ ALASKA I NEVADA I FIG. 2. — POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES was used thirty years ago. But fuel must be burned to produce most of our power (Fig. 6) for many years to come. Harness the water whenever you can, but three quarters of the power produced in the United States at the end of the next forty years will be produced by burning coal. Fortunately Illinois has much coal. It is cheaply POPULATION CHART UNITED STATES 1900 Hi t'ckcnndf^r J:ii);inri-t iii)^ li.x f^t'tinirnt Staliott .'» mined, and in lar^c plants, loraU'd near i)lciity of condensing water, power can be produced as clieaply in Illinois as it is now produced at the brink of Niag^ara Falls. P.ut industries prosper, because in CHART SHOWING POPULATION OF ILLINOIS AND CHICAGO z o -I D Q. O Q. U. O 0) z o -I Z 8 II 1 iKiniQ CHICAGO 7 6 t 5 / / 4 / / 3 i / / 2 / / / / / 1 / / 1 i / f — / n 1 — ■ ^^ y -- ^ 1800 1850 r900 1950 YEARS FIG. 3. — POPULATION OF ILLINOIS AND CHICAGO America we use power for our labor and we make steam and elec- tricity do a rapidly increasing part of the work. In some states it Breckenridge — Engineerinf: Experiment Station WAGE EARNERS UNITED STATES — I900 MiL.L.IONS A. 6 N AGRICULTURE, IN MANUFACTURING, MECHANIC PURSUITS AND TRANSPORTATION. IN ALL. OTHER OCCUPATIONS. FIG. 4. — DISTRIBUTION OF WAGE-EARNERS IN UNITED STATES COMPARATIVE NUMBER OF PERSONS EMPLOYED IN DIFFERENT OCCUPATIONS. STATE OF ILLINOIS. BORtAU OF L/^DOR STATISTICS, 1 90ff- FIG. 5. — DISTRIBUTION OF WAGE EARNERS IN ILLINOIS Hi I'lk-t-tiiitii^t- /•. //.i,'/M(T/ 1//^' h A f^i'i iiiiint .Shilioji 7 would sccni as tliouj^li all the wn^c canuTs, iisiii^- all the possible j)0\vcr, were cngai;c(l in niaiuifacturin^^. in these states the value of the inaiuifactiircil product per capita of population is naturally large. It will he seen, Fig. y, that in this list of states Illinois stands well HORSEPOWER PER CAPITA 1900 . m '^^^^^^^^^Mw^MM 1890 ^M ^^^^^^^^ .095 1880 1 .0 68 1870 mm ^^ -061 POWER PRODUCED IN THE U.S. BY STATIONARY PLANTS POPULATION Hi WATER POWER CZI ALL OTHER POWER ^ 00 z o -J o I O ^ / g 30000000 / / / / / 25000000 > f ^ / / / 20000000 J_ 1 \, / 1 £> 00 o* o rH OJ CO '^^ in ^o c- cr» o> o> o o o o o O o o GO cx) CO o o> Of* 0^ o> 0^ o* o» YEAR FIG. 8. — YEARLY OUTPUT OF COAL IN ILLINOIS the Director, determine the character of the investigations to be undertaken. The investigations are carried on by the members of the Staff directly, by fellows as graduate work, by members of the in- structional force of the College, and by special investigators belong- ing to the Station corps. Plan and Scope — It is the purpose of the Station to carry on in- vestigations along the various lines of engineering, and to make 12 Breckenridge — Engineering Experiment Station RANK OF MANUFACTURING STATES. 1850 I860 1870 1880 1890 1900 NEW YORK 1 1 1 1 1 1 MASSACHUSETTS 2 3 3 3 4 4 PENNSYLVANIA 3 2 2 2 2 2 OHIO 4 4 4 5 5 5 CONNECTICUT 5 5 8 7 10 10 NEW JERSEY 6 6 7 6 6 6 MARYLAND 7 12 14 13 14 13 VIRGINIA 8 9 MAINE 9 14 12 15 MISSOURI 10 11 5 8 7 7 NEW HAMPSHIRE II 15 15 RHODE ISLAND 12 13 10 14 15 14 KENTUCKY 13 16 INDIANA 14 10 II 10 II 8 ILLINOIS 15 8 6 4 3 3 CALIFORNIA 16 7 16 12 12 II MICHIGAN 16 9 9 8 9 WISCONSIN 13 II 9 MINNESOTA 16 13 12 KANSAS IS IOWA 16 FIG. 9. RANK OF STATES IN MANUFACTURING Studies of problems of importance to professional engineers, and to the manufacturing, mining, railway, constructional and industrial interests of the State. It is believed that this experimental work will result in contributions of value to engineering science and to the industries of the State and that the pursuit of such investigations will give inspiration to students and add to the value of the instruc- tional work in the College of Engineering. Equipment and Facilities — In carrying on the activities of the Engineering Experiment Station, there is necessary a large amount of equipment of various kinds suitable for investigational purposes. Di cckenridRC — Iitifitnrt'rinf^ li.x pci inir)it Station 13 CHART SHOWING RANKoMLLINOIS AS A MANUFACTURING STATE -RANK OF ILLINOIS AS A MANUFACTURING STATE The regular equipment provided for instruction in the College of Engineering has largely been used for these investigations, supple- mented by the purchase of additional apparatus necessary for special researches in the Engineering Experiment Station. After an investi- gation has been concluded, the apparatus used becomes a part of the equipment of the department to which it most naturally belongs. The item of expense for equipment, therefore, does not enter into the general expenses of the Engineering Experiment Station. (The value of this total equipment in the College of Engineering is now [April 1909] about $225,000.) 14 Breckenridge — Engineering Experiment Station CAPITAL INVESTE.D IN THIRTLEN LEADING INDUSTRIE.S OF THE STATE. OF ILLINOIS. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS- 190€ ''v//////Ay//////////y///////////////^^^^^^^^ }' y/,y///y/y//.':vM/////CMTt;Rl^ CAS lUULintNATlNC AND HtftTING , iNO nACMINC SHOP AINO PAC*<.>f^<5 ■///////////////A AGRICULTUI^^U inPL' HCNTa WZT^ vy///////,wyA/y///y/y//////y////A mi TT^T T^ ^gT T J arCAI^ RAILROAD '///,\ IRQN ANB JTCCU JUORS - DISTILLED ANO MA S ATID PUBU3M1NG CARS AND REPAIRS COM >ANATIVE y//y//////////y//m t,n, shuct >son A'iO OJPPCI? LEADINC CAPITAL INVeSTEO IN TMIRTEEH INDUSTRIES AND ALL C3THER INDUSTRIES. W////M^//////A CLOTHirsa ETH '/////////////////A /:LEcrR„ V //////////////A ''///////////A Ma<5IC«L .NSTOUMtNTS mm.u.ons or oollAr.i -CAPITAL INVESTED IN THIRTEEN LEADING ILLINOIS INDUSTRIES ANNUAL VALUE of the MANUFACTURED PRODUCT OF THIRTEEN LEADING INDUSTRIES of ILLINOIS BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS 1900. P#%M»#M % # M%m rcr.. ^. ^.. sr.r. ,4>05SZ,Z, ^M^^^MMM^MMMMMMMMmM^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ m///////////////A L.,.c Ci. O T»" w/ mmm V///M/////A \0 CAf^S. FIG. 12. — ANNUAL VALUE OF MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS IN ILLINOIS Breckenrid^e — liniiinccrvm lix()cnmcnl Station 15 The funds expended in carrying on the investigations, already completed and now in progress, have been during the last five years a little over $150,000, making an annual expenditure of about $30,000. The existence of the Engineering Experiment Station at the University makes it possible to utilize to great advantage — (i) The library facilities of the University. (2) The continual extension of the equipment of the various departments of the College of Engineering. (3) The helpful suggestions and direct co-operation of other scientific departments at the University outside of the College of Engineering. 9 Center J/ Pcp<./jflOrt /nm CoMJ Tfepo^r o/ /900 FtG. 13. PATH OF CENTER OF POPULATION AND OF MANUFACTURES With these three aids the expenditure of our funds is bound to result in much larger returns than v^^ould be possible otherwise. The work of the Station is going on in all of the technical and scientific laboratories of the University. As an indication of the character of the investigations which are now possible a list of sev- eral important pieces of apparatus and installations is given. In connection with this article there are also given several reproduc- tions showing the laboratories in which the investigations are in progress and also the most important apparatus. 16 Brcckenridge — Engineering Experiment Station List of Equipment in the Different Laboratories. In the Laboratories of Applied Mechanics and Hydraulics. ( I ) A Riehle vertical' screw power testing machine of 600,000 pounds capacity fitted to take large and bulky test specimens. This machine will take compression pieces 25 ft. long and tension pieces of the same net length except as allowance must be made for stretch. The clear distance between screws is 36 in., which gives room for bulky and built-up pieces. The machine is provided with a stiffened vertical frame to allow eccentric and oblique forces to be applied Ih t'cktni idi^i- lin)^int-i-> in)^ lix(n-t i»u)tl Stulion 17 to test pieces, an uiuisiial feature in lestin<^ macliiiies. Short beams may be tested on the inacliine, and provision may easily be made for testing longer beams. Auxiliary a])pliances are used for holding the various forms of test pieces in order to secure an application or distribution of the load in the manner desired. Especial attention was given in the design and construction of the machine to making FIG. 15 TESTING A REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAM FIG. 16. — TESTING LARGE REINFORCED CONCRETE FLOOR SLABS FOR TRACK ELEVATION, I. C. R. R. 18 Breckenridge — Engineering Experiment Station it applicable to a large range of tests. The calibration of the ma- chine shows that it is very accurate and very sensitive. For the smaller loads a second poise weighing up to 60,000 lb. is used. Fig. 14. FIG. 17. — TESTING LARGE REINFORCED CONCRETE FLOOR SLABS I. C. R. R. TRACK ELEVATION FIG. 18. — GENERAL VIEW OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY Bfcckcnridge — Engineering Experiment Station \^ (2) An Olsen four-screw testing machine of 200,cxxj lb. for tests in tension, compression and (lexiire. This machine will take beams up to a lenq^th of 20 ft. Fii^. 15. (3) Four 100,000-11) testing machines of different makes, fitted up in the usual way. (4) An Olsen torsion machine of 220,000 inch-pound capacity. (5) An Olsen vibratory testing machine for testing stay bolts. (6) An impact testing machine with a capacity of 3,000 foot pounds, fitted with autographic apparatus for recording the velocity of the falling weight and the deformation of the specimen. FIG. 19. EXPERIMENTAL BOILER PLANT, 210 H. P. HEINE WATER TUBE BOILER GREEN CHAIN GRATE, STURTEVANT ECONOMIZER AND FOSTER SUPERHEATER (7) Four hydraulic jacks with pumps having a total capacity of 800,000 lb., with auxiliary rigging, available for testing large cul- vert pipe, large reinforced concrete beams, reinforced concrete pier footings and other bulky pieces. Fig. i6 and 17. (8) A variety of smaller machines for testing cast iron, timber, etc. (9) A large equipment in measuring devices such as extenso- meters for various uses, autographic recording devices, gauges, etc. Many of these pieces of apparatus were designed and built by the department and are especially adapted to the work of the laboratory. (10) A commodious hydraulic laboratory, well equipped with steam engine, steam pumps, centrifugal pumps, standpipe and pres- sure tanks, lines of piping, measuring pits, tanks, weirs, gauges, meters, motors, etc., giving excellent facilities for testing hydraulic apparatus and for making investigations in hydraulics. The equip- ment includes apparatus for the study of problems of sedimentation and filtration of public water supplies and the softening and re- moval of iron from water. 20 Breckenridge — Engineering Experiment Station In the Mechanical Laboratory. — (Fig. i8 and 19.) I. A 210 H.P. Heine water-tube boiler especially arranged for testing Illinois coals. This boiler is a duplicate of the boilers used by the United States government in testing coals from various parts of the country. A Green chain grate stoker is installed under this boiler, and draft is furnished by a Sturtevant induced draft fan, drawing the gases through an economizer. The chain grate under the boiler may easily be removed and a plain furnace for hand- firing substituted. A complete equipment of auxiliary apparatus Brrckt'ni uilit' -lin^iinrt-nnfi Ii.\ fffnincnt Slutioti 21 necessary for l)()iler tests is available, incliidiiiL; rccordiiij^^ and ()j)tical pyrometers, and standard and recordiii)^ ai)i)aratus for continuous gas analysis. Facilities arc now available in the department of physics for caHbratinp;" all thermometers and pyrometers used in work of this character. l^HB^ W^^—r—4 — y- ^^^^^^^^^^^Vl^*5 ^^vJ •^^'"i «^ ^^^Hi'! ' M i ''t '' V "ii- i T^ m FIG. 21. — YORK ICE AND REFRIGERATING MACHINE 2. An independently-fired Foster superheater capable of super- heating- the steam from a 150 H.P. boiler to 300 deg. F. above its temperature, at 120 pounds gauge. 3. Several residence heating boilers, for hot-air, steam and hot water service. These boilers will serve to compare the values of such various coals as are offered in the Illinois market for domestic purposes. Fig. 20. 4. A 1 0-ton York refrigerating plant for the production of cold or for specific tests. With this plant there are 17 cans for ice making, each holding 100 pounds. The possibility of subjecting various building stones or other material to alternate freezing and thawing is worthy of consideration. The effect of fifty winters might thus be known in a single month. The heat conductivity of all kinds of walls used in buildings could be tested. Fig. 21. 5. A liquid air plant with a capacity of about three quarts an hour. It consists of a Norwalk four-stage compressor, compres- sing up to 3,000 pounds, together with a Hampson liquefier with facilities for temperature determinations. 6. An Ingersoll-Sergeant two-stage air compressor driven by compound steam cylinders. The steam cylinders are 12 in. and 22 in. in diameter with a 12 in. stroke, and air cylinders are 12^4 in. 22 Breckenridge — Engineering Experiment Station and iS%. in. in diameter with a 12 in. stroke. A vertical receiver 42 in. by 8 ft. high is provided for use with the compressor. 7. A 50 H.P. suction gas producer built by the Otto Gas Engine Works. This producer is adapted to burning anthracite pea coal, coke or charcoal. Special apparatus is available for extensive in- vestigations of gas producer problems. 8. An Otto gas engine of 23 H.P. capacity for use in connection with the gas producer. The engine cylinder is 10 in. in diameter, with a 19-in. stroke. It is provided with a compressed air starting device, sparking generator, speed indicators and all other instru- ments necessary for testing gas engines. Fig. 22. FIG, 22. A 50 H. P. GAS PRODUCER AND OTTO GAS ENGINE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 9. A 15 H.P. De Laval steam turbine direct-connected to a com- pound centrifugal pump. This apparatus will deliver 140 gallons of water per minute when pumping against a head of 500 feet. The turbine wheel and small pump runner make 23,500 revolutions per minute ; the large pump runner makes 2,350 revolutions per minute. The turbine is provided with condensing and non-condensing nozzles. 10. A hot blast heating system installed to heat the Mechanical Engineering Laboratory. This consists of a series of coils amount- ing to 2,800 feet of I -in. pipe and a 72-in. fan draws the air through the coils and forces it into the galvanized iron pipe, 36 in. in diam- eter, which distributes it to different parts of the building. The fan is driven by a small vertical steam engine. 11. A 100 H.P. Allis-Chalmers Corliss engine, equipped with a suitable brake and other apparatus for making tests. 12. Several high-speed steam engines for testing and for driving other apparatus. 13. Several types of gasoline engines, ranging from i to 10 H.P., for experimental purposes. Breckenrid^e—LnginciHH^ l'..x pcriment Station 2'.i 14. Automobile motor, 4 cyliiulcr, iiulcpciulently cast, of 30 ll.I*., specially equipped for extensive investigation of high-speed internal combustion motors. 15. An automobile testing platform for testing automobiles. 16. A six-stai;e, ()0 11. P. Kerr steam turl)inc, e(iuij)ped with absorption dynamometer, and installed with 60 II. P. Wheeler sur- face condenser and suj)plicd with saturated or superheated steam. 17. A Worthin^ton surface condenser, 362 sq. ft. of cooling sur- face with independent steam driven vacuum and circulating pumps, equipped for special investigations of condenser performance. '■f>W4!l I I m&*^--'- • FIG. 23. — U. OF I. MACHINE SHOP, LATHE AND MOTOR DRIVE FOR TESTS OF HIGH SPEED TOOL STEELS 18. A Meitz & Weiss, 2-cycle, 10 H.P. kerosene engine equipped for com.parative tests of oil and alcohol. 19. Gas Analysis Laboratory for complete analyses of flue gases from Heine boiler and house heating-boilers and furnaces, exhaust gases from gas engines, and power gas from the producer. 20. A lo-ton electric crane, having three alternating current mo- tors, for experimental work. 21. A Golden oil testing machine for testing lubricating oils and bearing metals. 22. A lathe and motor for tests with high speed tool steels. Fig. 23. 24 Breckenridge — Engineering Experiment Station In the Electrical Laboratory — (Fig. 24). 1. Three rotary converters furnishing current based on no and 550 volts D. C. 2. A 15 H.P. variable speed Westinghouse D. C. interpole motor giving a speed range of 300 to 1,200 rev. per min. 3. A 7)^ kw. inductor alternator which can be run at frequencies up to 150 cycles. PH FIG 24. — MAIN TESTING FLOOR OF THE ELECTRICAL LABORATORY 4. Two General Electric stationary armature alternators de- signed to operate as either two or three phase generators or motors and at a variety of voltages. 5. A 45 kw. motor generator set, used to furnish a constant, voltage either A. C. or D. C. for experimental purposes. 6. Several induction motors ranging from 2 to 5 H.P., of one, two, and three phases and various voltages. 7. A number of no and 220 volt D. C. motors of from 10-15 H.P. and a variety of D. C. generators of various makes and rang- ing up to 10 kw. in capacity. 8. A single phase, variable speed, 220 volt, 10 H.P., A. C. motor. 9. A 60 cell Gould storage battery of 240 ampere-hours capacity with a switch board so arranged that all voltages between 2 and 120 can be obtained ; also current up to 100 amperes at full voltage with greatly increased current at lower voltage. 10. A large number of transformers of various capacities, volt- ages and transformation ratios, including a small 10,000 volt and a 10 kw. 100,000 volt testing transformer. 11. A photometry and illumination laboratory, provided with a Breckenvidge — Engineering Experiment Station 25 3 meter and a 5 meter photometer bar, photometers of various kinds, standard lamps, a Sharp Millar illuminometer and a room equipped for the study of problems in illumination. 12. Two experimental telephone switchboards and a supply of both manual and automatic telephone apparatus. 13. A large equipment in electrical measuring instruments of various types, both A. C. and D. C, among which is a series of electrostatic voltmeters measuring up to 1,800 volts. 14. A line set of standard electrical measuring instruments in- cluding a Weston D. C. laboratory standard voltmeter and a milli- voltmeter, Westinghouse precision voltmeter, ammeter and watt- meter and a Leeds Northrup potentiometer. There are also switchboards for rapid handling of apparatus, numerous lamp banks for resistance, oscillographs, inductances, con- densers, a mercury arc rectifier, arc lamps of many types, racks for life tests of incandescent lamps and much other smaller apparatus of value in research work. The department maintains a well equipped machine shop with an expert mechanic in charge so that special apparatus can be made under the direction of the experi- menter on short notice. The Cement Laboratory. This laboratory is equipped with briquette molds, molding ma- chines, testing machines, etc., necessary in testing hydraulic cement, and in making investigations as to the effect of different materials and methods of manipulation upon the strength of mortars and concrete. The Road-Materials Laboratory — (Fig. 25). The Civil Engineering department in its Road-Materials Labora- tory is equipped with apparatus for testing materials for road and pavement construction as follows : FIG. 25. ROAD MATERIALS TESTING LABORATORY 26 Breckenridge — Engineering Experiment Station (i) Two types of rattlers for testing brick: National Brick Manufacturers' Association and Talbot- Jones, machines. (2) A Dorrey, a Deval and a Page machine with the necessary accessories for testing the road-building qualities of gravel and macadam. (3) A stone crusher, ball mill, briquette machine and impact ma- chine for testing the cementation of stone and gravel for road con- struction. (4) Testing sieves and agitator for grading stone and gravel, also balances for accurate weighing. In the Physics Laboratory. The department of Physics has already done much valuable work for the Engineering Experiment Station. Upon the completion next September (1909) of its new Physics Laboratory, costing a quarter of a million dollars, it will then have such equipment and facilities as will enable it to do extensive fundamental research work which will be of great value to the Station. It is already well equipped for such work as — (i) The checking and calibration of instruments for measuring temperatures. (2) The checking and calibration of electrical standards and instruments. Miscellaneous Testing. — Besides the equipment for the work in the lines indicated above, the department of Physics is supplied for research work with standard apparatus of a variety of kinds, all of which is available for testing purposes. Such facilities are standard barometers, standards of length, photometric standards with photometers, standards of weight with sensitive physical bal- ances, a dividing engine and comparator, vacuum and compression pumps with gauges, and various optical apparatus for the determi- nation of optical constants and accurate appliances for the measure- ment of volume or pressure of liquids and gases. In the Railway Laboratory. (i) Electric Test Car. — The Railway Engineering Department owns a two hundred horse power electric test car. This car, of the interurban type, was designed especially for experimental work and was built in 1905. It is equipped with four-50 H.P. D. C. motors and with the Westinghouse multiple control system. The car is supplied with recording voltmeters, ammeters, and wattmeters and with auxiliary measuring arid recording devices by means of which there is automatically made a graphical record of voltage, current, power, speed, acceleration, time, and curvature. By the courtesy of the Illinois Traction System, whose lines are at present operated between the cities of Danville, Urbana, Cham- paign, Decatur, Bloomington, Springfield and St. Louis, the de- partment is enabled to operate this car on their lines. Breckt-firidfie — lin^inct'rinn Experiment Mutton 27 (2) Dynamometer Car. There was tlesi^ned and built in 1900 a dynainonieter car which is owned jointly by the University and the Illinois Central Railroad. This car is equipped with all the appli- ances necessary for carryings on train resistance experiments, as well as with auxiliary apparatus used during- locomotive tests. During the seven years in which it has been in service this car has been operated over the entire Illinois Central System, in the estab- lishment of tonnage ratings, as well as on the lines of the New Jersey Central, the Baltimore and Ohio, the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis, and the New York Central Railways. Fig. 26 is a view of the interior of this car. FIG. 26. — INTERIOR OF DYNAMOMETER CAR (3) Drop Testing Machine. — There has recently been added to the equipment of the Railway Engineering Department a standard drop testing machine which in its design conforms to the specifica- tions of the Master Car Builders' Association. This apparatus is used in making impact tests of car couplers, wheels, axles and other material. It consists essentially of a hammer weighing 1640 pounds which runs in vertical guides fifty feet in height. The. material to be tested is placed upon the massive foundation at the base of the machine and the hammer is allowed to fall upon it from any de- sired height. 28 Breckenridge — Engineering Experiment Station (4) Brake Shoe Testing Machine. — For the testing of brake shoes the department has constructed a brake shoe testing machine similar in design and identical in operation with the standard ma- chine owned by the Master Car Builders' Association. By means of this apparatus it is possible to determine the coefficients of fric- tion and the wearing qualities of various makes of brake shoes, as well as the wear of the wheel under the action of the shoes. The above list will serve to show what facilities are now available for investigations in certain lines of work; but after all it is men and not facilities that determine what of value will finally be done. The men who have been giving thought, direction, energy and work to the Station during the last year are in a general way indicated by the following groups : — (a) The heads of the different departments of the College of Engineering 9 persons (b) The special investigators of the Station. Experts devoting all their time to this work, doing work, directing work and planning work 9 persons (c) Research Fellows of the Station appointed for two years, devoting one half their time to the investigations of the Station and one half to Graduate Work, receiving the Master's degree at the end of the period 9 persons (d) Various members of the corps of instruction of , the College of Engineering who are able to de- vote a small part of their time to some inves- tigation or who are able to direct some work in progress by assistants, fellows or scholars . . 10 persons (e) Some Fellows and Scholars doing research work in the Graduate School 4 persons (f) Heads of other departments of the University. Experts of the Federal Government, chiefs of state department bureaus, all cooperating with the Station for the mutual advance of special investigations , 8 persons (g) Advisory Committees representing various engi- neering societies and commercial and civic or- ganizations giving counsel, advice, suggestions and criticisms 10 persons (h) Draftsmen, computers, clerks, mechanics, assist- ants and laborers 12 persons It will thus be seen that more than seventy persons are now more or less directly interested in the work of the Station ; of this num- ber about fifty are actively engaged in the work of the Station for a part of their time and approximately twenty persons are devot- ing all their time to the interests of the Station. ^ Bn'i kcnridni' — lin^itwi-rinn li.x (u-rimeyit Station *^9 The Work Already Accomplished. The work which has thus far been undertaken may be divided into three parts : — (a) Work completed and resuhs pubHshed. (b) Work in proidt:e linnincvrinn Exptrumnt Station 37 conliiuR's to cxpaiul, or so long as a knowledge of the strength of materials continue to play, as it always will, such a vital part in the construction of engineering works, the erection of state and private huildings, and the design and construction of all manner and kinds of manufactured products which our complex civilization now de- mands. Perhaps the slow growth of the Station will, in the end, he most satisfactory, hut many problems are now waiting for help and much that is new to Illinois interests should be given prompt attention so that every advantage may accrue to its welfare. "A stitch in time saves nine" applies forcefully to scientific research. A knowledge of facts saves much waste. It is the opinion of the writer, (i) that the Engineering Experiment Station is now prepared to wisely and economically expend on engineering investigations $100,000 annually; (2) that provision for this amount ought soon to be made, and (3) that when this amount has been wisely spent, provision for future funds will be forthcoming. The greatest single need of the Experiment Station at present is for a new Materials Testing Laboratory. A laboratory suitable for this important part of the work of the Station would cost, with its equipment, $250,000.00. The State should be asked to provide such a building ; the work to be done in it would more than repay its cost to the State in four years. The College of Engineering and the Engineering Experi- ment Station have always received the substantial support and ap- proval of the members of this Society. It has appreciated this sup- port and has endeavored to merit it. It is the hope of the writer that this strong engineering society will feel justified in taking a still greater interest in the engineering work of the State University. Why should not our various organized engineering, manufacturing and mining interests in this State support, back up and push for- ward the work of the Engineering Experiment Station in just the same way and for the same reason that the various agricultural in- terests support the interests of the Agricultural Experiment Station? The relation of the engineer and the relation of the Engineering Society to the public are well worth the careful thought of all of us. If the public is to be educated along engineering lines, it is the engineer who must do it. Let the Western Society of Engineers do its share in this work and let it do its share without waiting for some other organization to point the way. Relation of the Station to the Industries. It has already been shown that the growth and development of the industries of the State of Illinois have been truly marvelous. The work which the Eng-ineering Experiment Station has accomplished, has new in progress or has in contemplation for the future, has been briefly reviewed. It will be seen that some work of the Station 38 Breckcnridge — En^iineenng Experiment Station will be helpful to all industries, that other work will be helpful to special industries and still other work will be of significant value to each and every home. The continually increasing cost of lumber during recent years has emphasized the necessity of finding some material to take its place. Concrete is rapidly doing this. Everywhere we see this material entering into all sorts of structures. Its use is becoming universal. It is easily transported and handled. The desired mix- ture of cement, stone and sand can be prepared by machinery and unskilled labor. Combined with suitably located steel bars it is cheaper, stronger and more fire resisting than wood. The cement industry of the country has made the most rapid growth of any of our new American industries. It is extremely important that engi- neers, architects, and builders should know definitely and accurately concerning the strength and other physical properties of reinforced concrete in all its many and varied forms, mixtures and mechanical treatments. This information the Engineering Experiment Station has been endeavoring to supply, and with, we believe, much success. Eleven bulletins of the thirty-six published have referred to this subject. The first step was the installation of the 6oo,ooo-lb. verti- cal testing machine arranged for testing large and bulky specimens ; then came the planning of the work, the making of the tests ;. then the labor of computations and finally the interpretation of the results and the publication of these results and the conclusions to be drawn from them. The last of these steps is of most vital importance. To do all of these things well is no insignificant task ; but they must be done and those engineers who do not know what the results of such tests signify will either use materials wastefully or will design structures that will be temporary and unsafe. Such work as this can not fail to be far reaching and of large economic importance to all the engineering and industrial interests of the State. In the same way the tests of Illinois fuels which have been in progress for four years are of special value and interest to every manufacturer, every railroad company, every power plant both private and munici- pal and to every home in the State. They are equally valuable to the mining interests of the State. The examination and tests of Illi- nois coals have been carried forward by several cooperating de- partments ; (a) The Technologic Branch of the U. S. Geol. Survey. (b) The State Geological Survey. (c) The Chemical Department of the College of Science. (d) The Graduate ^School and (e) The Engineering Experiment Station and all aided by the special Conference Committee on Fuel Tests, — composed of repre- sentatives of the Western Society of Engineers ; Western Railway Club ; Illinois Manufacturers' Association ; Coal Operators' Associa- tion ; State Electric Light Association ; and the Building Managers' Association of Chicago. Seven bulletins of the Station have related Brt-ikunnii:^i- l.n^uucrm^ lixfH'nmcnt Station 89 to this important work. Tlic coinpusition, tlic licatini^ value and the physical nature of lUinois coals have been most carefully studied and set forth as the result of the work carried on under the direction of Professor S. W. Parr, and his work will continue to be of in- creasing value as time goes on. The experiments by the exj)erts of the Station concerning the burning of Illinois coals under jjower plant boilers, and in furnaces designed to allow perfect combustion and smokelessness have done much to make Illinois coals worth more in our own and in neighboring states, especially those states north and west of Illinois. A knowledge of the comparative ex- pense of burning briquetted fuel, coke, hard coal, Virginia, Ohio and Illinois coals in different types of residence heating furnaces and boilers can not help but be of value to every home in the State. The bulletin of Dr. J. K. Clement, on the "Rate of Formation of Carbon Monoxide in Gas Producers" is a work of exceptional merit and is a first step in aiding the problem of Illinois coal as a suitable fuel for large gas producers. The coal produced by Illinois has an annual value of $55,000,000, a still larger amount is doubtless con- sumed by Illinois industries ; the writer would welcome figures on this subject. If the economies pointed out as possible by the Station were carried out, and in many cases they have been, at least 5% of the coal consumed by the State could be saved. What is true of the Experiment Station's work and tests of con- crete and fuel, is equally true of its other lines of work, but thus far more time and money have been devoted to these two lines of work than to others. More need not be said to convince the engineer or the members of this Society, that the work of an Engineering Experiment Station may be as helpful to the progress of industrial Illinois as the work of the Agricultural Experiment Station has been and is to the agricultural interests of the State. It will, per- haps, take more time to educate the general public to understand the possibilities for good which might easily result from a more generous support of such a station. It will be for such societies as this to demand of the Station, such service as it should reason- ably be expected to furnish, at the same time urging such generous support by the State for its work, as the results of its past investi- gations seem to justify or the possibilities of the future seem to promise. There are many investigations which must be made, they are vital to industrial progress. Many of these investigations can be better made by such a station as the one we are now describing than by any other agency. They can be made for less money. They can be made by scientific methods. While they are being made they will help develop the type of man needed by our industries for the more special investigations of the individual or the more highly specialized industry. Several foreign nations have agencies similar to this to make their fundamental industrial investigations. Are not the future interests of the State of Illinois of such im- portance as to demand the substantial development and extension of 40 Breckenridge — Engineering Experiment Station the work now started by its Engineering Experiment Station and should not the engineers and the manufacturers themselves organize to cooperate with the Station in guiding, in protecting and in ad- vancing the researches of the Station in a way that will serve the best interests of this great industrial State? What Will an Engineering Experiment Station Cost? The Illinois Enginering Experiment Station has been in active operation for four years. When it was first started it was a matter of some doubt about the wisdom of some of its tests. Funds were available in excess of the pressing needs. This was fortunate be- cause some expensive equipment was necessary to carry out the plans of the future. This equipment was purchased. As soon as the bulletins of the Station began to appear and engineers and manu- facturers became acquainted with the work and the objects of the Station, we began to receive requests for tests far beyond the capac- ity of the Station. At the present time it is absolutely impossible to take up one quarter of the work which comes to us for investiga- tion. It has always been the policy of the Station not to do any work for pay. The reason for this is evident. We refer many in- quiries to the proper commercial parties. We are not running a consulting office. The work we do must be of general interest to a large number of citizens. Some work may, nevertheless, be of spe- cial interest to certain groups of engineers or manufacturers. Young industries sometimes need preliminary help; it is good State policy to help them. The expenses of the Experiment Station for the past four years have been as indicated below: — Expenses of Engineering Experiment Station 1903-4 1904-5 $ 25,000 1905-6 . 25,000 1906-7 30,000 1907-8 33.000 1908-9 37.000 Total $150,000 It would have cost three times this amount to have done this work if it had been done independently of the educational work of the College of Engineering. It is clear to the writer that the Station has demonstrated its ability to organize, plan, execute and publish work of great value to the State. It can be trusted with much greater work and it will be better done in the light of past experience and better facilities. The problems in hand and before it far solu- tion involve expense. Some problems must extend over several years in time. Three quarters of all the problems which the Station will investigate will relate to the conservation of the resources of the Brcckcnridge — Enaineciitifi Experiment Station 41 w^ - ! 2,5 o «c D ^ a to 73 M a o pj < p p < O >-h -n O orq oq a» £ W g B H p c^ ■ p o r^ O 3 o ^ Si ^ r ro 2 a J" * G P S- g p ~ Q< (/I o ? cna 3 o is l.o' p p <^ 5 73 €» O • a c: CL o o a 2!&Sg o c "^ O P P JT -. O -• ^ u) c P r*. d n> O P (/) (^ D-T3 0) p ■^ -I bS o es ^ P pi C o ss 2l:x p p w •-* 1-1 a> P P t3 o TI 1 cr o i-l 5"p'oS ^ H". O p SJrr — H-'H-.i-iOOOOO ooooooooo ooooooooo ooooooooo ooooooooo ooooooooo ooooooooo ooooooooo ooooooooo ooooooooo YEAR Annual Appropriation for Agricultural Experiment Station Work Annual Appropriation for In- struction in Agriculture, Mechanic Arts and Allied Subjects Total Annual Appropriation o o s " 3 52 > o 2 F3 G r H G r 5S 42 Discussion — Engineering Experiment Station State and Nation. Where else shall the State go for aid in solving such problems as have been outlined in this paper ? Reference has several times been made to the extensive and valu- able work which is being done for the State of Illinois by its Agri- cultural Experiment Station. This Station receives funds from the Federal Government for aiding its work, but by far the greater part of its funds is appropriated by the State. It is asking the legis- lature this year, for its use during the next two years, the amounts indicated in Table 3 below : — Legislative Askings for the Agricultural Experiment Station 1909-1911 1 The College $140,000 2 Live stock investigation 140,000 3 Soils 200,000 4 Crops 60,000 5 Horticulture 80,000 6 Dairy 102,300 7 Floriculture 35,ooo Total $757,300 In addition to this amount for operating expenses, it is asking for buildings, $162,500. The funds appropriated to the University by the Federal Govern- ment — a part of which are for Agricultural Experiment Station work — are set forth in Table 4. Is it any wonder that the work of the Agricultural Experiment Station should have been important and its researches extensive? No one doubts the wisdom of the expenditures and every one praises the results of its work. The Engineering Experiment Station is now ready to do great things for the industries of the State. It will cost more money than has yet been appropriated if greater things are to be accomplished. The writer believes that the industries can afford an extension of the work of its Engineering Experiment Station and that it will pay to make such extension. Discussion. President Allen: First let me thank Prof. Breckenridge, on be- half of the Western Society of Engineers, for his most timely and interesting address. Our Society should be in the closest possible touch with the great engineering schools of the West, and such evenings as this are most important in establishing and maintain- ing such relations,- It is the American idea, and preeminently the western idea, that the education of the people is a function of the State. To this end the State provides its schools, leading from the common school up Disi ussh>n l:n^ini-triii^ J:.\funnuiil Maticn 48 to the University, c()ini)elliiii; everyone to take the rn(hnients of education, ami otVering tlie very hi,i;hest facihties for advanced edu- cation to those who choose and are able to avail themselves of them. In this way the State itself and the whole people of the State come into a very intimate connection with the State educational system, and with the State LIniversity ; on the one hand supi)orlin^- it by general taxation, and on the other hand entrustinj^- to it the education of their youth, and the Western Idea lookin^;]^ to it for instruction, advice and helj) in building up the industries of the vState. In Illinois — one of the greatest manufacturing and industrial states of the Union — our State University at Urbana is a splendid testimonial to the progress of this idea of mutual aid and coopera- tion. We all know the crying need of scientific development ; how few things in the engineering world are done as well as they might be done, and how few people are trained, and have data at hand, to do things in a scientific and systematic way. The work of the En- gineering Experiment Station, as described by Prof Breckenridge, is going to fill a big place in the development of our State. It is certainly a step in the right direction. A great work has been done already, and the possibilities for the future are almost limitless. The work should concern and interest every citizen of the State. The paper is now open for discussion, and I am glad to see our State University as well represented here this evening. We would like very much to hear from Dr. Goss, Dean of the Illinois College of Engineering. Dr. W. F. M. Goss, m.w.s.e. : I know, Mr. President, that you, as well as all members present, will agree with me, when I say that we are indebted to Prof. Breckenridge in a two- fold way tonight. We are certainly indebted to him for presenting in such a clear, logical and strong way this story of the problems and work of the Illinois Engineering Experiment Station, which, when published in our Journal, will put before the engineering public a great work and one w^hich is at present somewhat peculiar to the state of Illi- nois, so far as it is a work which proceeds under state auspices. As yet no other state institution has a regularly organized Engineering Experiment Station proceeding in connection with its engineering college. The second thing for which we as members of this Society, and as engineers in the state of Illinois, may feel indebted to Prof. Breckenridge, is the larger fact that it has been through his en- thusiastic efforts that this Engineering Experiment Station has been established and brought to its present high state of efficiency. I think we may all be proud that we are members of a society in a state where so much has been accomplished for the advancement of scientific information for the benefit of engineers, and that we have with us tonight the man who has laid the foundations, aided in se- curing financial support, and put the station in a fine state of development. 44 Discussion — Engineering Experiment Station These are two things for which we should feel especially grateful to the speaker tonight. On my own behalf and the College of Engineering of the State of Illinpis, I want to say that since Prof. Breckenridge is to leave us, and is to sever his connection with this State, there rests upon every one who is interested in the progress of engineering education and the introduction of scientific research, a new responsibility. The work he has carried on so well must be taken up by others, and it will require the reinforcement of interest on the part of everybody in the state who naturally should be interested in that work, in order that it may not fall below the high expectations Prof. Breckenridge has had for it. I take it that while we may have other desires and purposes, yet it will not be a fitting ambition on our part if we do not render all the assistance we can in this matter; we want the work carried on as Prof. Breckenridge wishes it to go on. That I think would be a high idea for the existence of this Station, but of course there are others reasons than that. I am sure the engineers generally feel a great pride in the work which has been already ac- complished by the Experiment Station. Most of them know of that work and many have had a part in it, and I do not need to urge the members of this Society to do what can be done to sustain and foster the College of Engineering. Now we are reaching the time when we shall have to call on our friends, when we shall have to urge our friends to think of the needs of the College of Engineer- ing and the Experiment Station, in order that we may go on to new standards and greater prominence. It is true that we have a great college and we are doing our w^ork, but it is also true that our facilities are far below the facilities which ought to be available in this state, for the work which ought to be done. Those of us who stand in the place of Prof. Breckenridge will wish to lean heavily, frequently, on the clientage of the college, its graduates, its friends, and the engineers of the state, for encouragement and support. I cannot refrain from saying, just at this moment, after listening to this excellent address, that a beginning has been made, arid the time is coming when, in place of efforts which have been made, we must put forth renewed efiforts greater than anything which has yet been done. Mr. W. L. Abbott, m.w.s.e. : The talk this evening has centered principally around the campus of the University of Illinois, and al- though there are many here tonight who owe allegiance to other colors and other engineering colleges, I know that each one feels a pride in the work which the engineering colleges of this day, in common with Illinois, are doing in the work of investigations. One of the principal things which engages the Board of Trustees of Illinois is robbing neighboring institutions . of their shining lights, — for instance, President James was secured from North- western University, and Dean Goss from Purdue University, and so on down the line. But we have cause to regret that while we l)isiussu>tilinninct-nn)i l'..\pi'ri)ncnt Statioti 46 were away on one ul our foraging exj^cditions aiuHlicr institution came along and took one of our best men. One would think, after contemplating the department that i'rof. Breckenridge has built up in the past few years, that he would be content to stay and enjoy the fruits of his labor, but apparently he is possessed of that wanderlust which is characteristic of the Metho- dist minister, who, after having, by sacrifice and struggle, built a comfortable church in which he could stay the remainder of his life, instead of doing so looks for "new fields to conquer," and moves on again to a churchless parish. So Prof. Breckenridge is going to a benighted institution where he thinks the gospel is needed more than it is in Illinois. He is going to show the people of the East what Western civilization and Western hustle can do. He says that if he is able, he will develop an engineering school at Sheffield, which will compare wnth that at Illinois, but in case he is not able to do so, he will settle down in academic repose in the land of fried chicken and fresh oysters. James Lyman, m.w.s.e. : After the remarks of the last speaker, I think it is incumbent upon me, as an alumnus of Yale and a fellow college man with our member Prof. Breckenridge, to call attention to the fact that the great universities and most successful colleges in the West have been started by Yale men. Prof. Breckenridge came West with a splendid groundwork in educational lines and the enthusiasm and spirit of Yale, and it was due partly to that and partly to the fact that he "hailed" from the state of Connecticut (which, although one of the smallest states in area, ranks highest in educational lines), that he has made such a record. The engi- neering department at Yale is a purely scientific school, and the en- gineering graduates are all rejoicing in the selection of Prof. Breckenridge to make Sheffield not only a scientific school, but one that shall minister to the needs of the great industrial enterprises of New England and all the East, in estabhshing such an engineering department as he has created for the state of Illinois. What is loss to the State of Illinois is gain to Connecticut and Yale. Mr. A. Bement, m.w.s.e. (by letter) : As a representative of the Western Society of Engineers on the Conference Committee, organ- ized for the purpose of assisting in the fuel testing work of the Illi- nois Engineering Experiment Station, I wish to extend my hearty congratulations to Prof. Breckenridge, and to join with the rest of his friends in wishing him the fullest measure of good fortune and success in his new position, and to say that his genial presence will be missed. The Engineering Experiment Stations are quite a new institution, something with which we have not had much experience, and it has occurred to me that it would probably be appropriate to offer some suggestions having a bearing on their usefulness. I think it would be desirable to have some form of organization among different stations, so that each may know what character of 46 Discussion — Engineering Experiment Station research is being conducted by the others, thus avoiding dupHcation of work. Also that broad and adequate consideration be given to the experimental work which may be undertaken, because it is no easy matter to expend to the best advantage appropriations made for such work. There is danger that the things selected for study may appeal only to the official in charge, and that his viewpoint may govern, rather than that of the requirements of the public. Aside from the conduct of research, I think the experiment sta- tions have an opportunity to be of great benefit at small expense, by assembling together, properly editing and presenting in bulletins, results secured by other experimenters, which would often be of as great advantage as work that the experiment station might itself conduct. President Allen: The tide has been running for sometime from the East to the West; now we have the return tide, and Western business men are called to high executive places in the East ; West- ern engineers are in charge of many of the most important engi- neering works in the East, and now Western educators are going to Eastern Universities. So the West is coming into its own; in- stead of being a missionary State it is sending its own missionaries abroad. And now let us wish Prof. Breckenridge a career of splendid suc- cess in the East. Our best wishes go with him to his new responsi- bilities, and he will always find a warm welcome from the State and its citizens to whom he has given so many of the best years of his life. Prof. Breckenridge: I desire to thank the members of the West- ern Society of Engineers for all the delightful things they have said to me. I shall always remember the many agreeable things that have come to me during my stay in the West, and when I come to Chicago, it is needless to say I shall always call on the Western Society of Engineers T shall also greet with much pleasure members of this society that come to New Haven to visit Yale or to see me, and I shall always be glad to have any of you hunt me up and let me have the pleasure of showing you Yale and particularly the Sheffield Scientific School. 3 0112 105630245