and fire on buildings and materials. The present report embraces a statement of the organization and equipment of the division. The next will relate to the studies of the constituent materials (sands, gravels, stone, and cement) used in the construction of concrete masses, samples of these materials having been collected in different parts of the country and examined in connection with this general investigation.

Other reports now ready for publication will embrace the results of other lines of investigation in relation to concrete and to reinforced-concrete masses made of these materials mixed with the typical Portland cement described in this report.

In connection with the taking up of any new line of investigation, much time is necessarily required for the preliminary work of procuring equipment, training experts to conduct the investigations, determining the exact methods which are to be employed, and bringing the establishment to a high degree of efficiency. This having been accomplished at the structural-materials laboratories, the work should hereafter go forward rapidly and in a satisfactory manner. There is serious need, however, of additional equipment for testing. larger masses of material, for investigating clays and clay products, and for testing the fire-resisting properties of materials.

ORGANIZATION, EQUIPMENT, AND OPERATION OF THE STRUCTURAL-MATERIALS TESTING LABORATORIES AT ST. LOUIS, MO.

By RICHARD L. HUMPHREY.

INTRODUCTION.

HISTORICAL SKETCH.

The investigation of structural materials now being conducted at the structural-materials testing laboratories in Forest Park, St. Louis, Mo., had its inception at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1904 in the collective Portland cement exhibit and model testing laboratory of the Association of American Portland Cement Manufacturers, the purpose of which was to exploit the growth and magnitude of the American Portland cement industry, the many uses of cement, and the equipment and method for testing cement proposed by the special committee of the American Society of Civil Engineers. This exhibit was under the direct supervision of Mr. Richard L. Humphrey.

The exhibit building served as a working illustration of reinforcedconcrete construction until its completion, September 1, 1904. The exhibit comprised: (1) A collection of raw materials from which Portland cement is manufactured, together with samples of this material taken in various stages of manufacture; (2) a collection of various sands, gravels, cinders, broken stone, and metal used in concrete construction, together with photographs and models of concrete and reinforced-concrete structures in all parts of the world; (3) a library of books and files of the various technical journals devoted to cement mortar and concrete; (4) a completely equipped model testing laboratory; (5) a collection of machines for mixing and molding concrete; and (6) a collection showing the many forms in which concrete is used. The laboratory was in operation until December 15, 1904. During this period the laboratory work was confined to illustrating the proper methods for testing cement and to investigations of the comparative value of a few sands, gravels, and broken stones used in

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cement mortars and concretes in some of the principal cities of the country. Outside exhibits of full-size beams, floors, columns, pipes, railroad ties, fence posts, burial vaults, and building blocks were made by several construction companies, and at the close of the exposition some of these structures were tested to destruction.

Shortly after the close of the exposition the buildings occupied by the exhibit became the property of the city of St. Louis and the equipment of the laboratory was purchased by Mr. R. W. Lesley, and presented to the University of Pennsylvania. Before the equipment was moved, however, an earnest appeal was made to Congress for funds to continue the work under Government supervision.

About 100 yards west of the cement exhibit was located the fueltesting plant of the United States Geological Survey. The investigation of fuels during the exposition was carried on under an appropriation of $60,000 made by Congress in April, 1904, and was under the direct supervision of Mr. Joseph A. Holmes, in charge of the technologic branch. The valuable results obtained in the cement laboratory and the great need of more reliable information concerning the various structural materials suggested the advisability of having these investigations carried on by the Government. Accordingly, when the Director of the United States Geological Survey asked Congress for an appropriation for the continuance of the investigation of fuels he also asked for a small appropriation for the continuation of the work begun by the Association of American Portland Cement Manufacturers. In the spring of 1905 the sum of $12,500 was made available for this purpose, with the understanding that heat, light, and power were to be supplied from the fuel-testing plant. The work was placed under the direction of Mr. Joseph A. Holmes, Mr. Richard L. Humphrey being appointed in immediate charge of the structural-materials testing laboratories.

Upon the passage of the bill appropriating funds for the continuation of the work it was arranged, through the courtesy of Mr. R. W. Lesley and Dr. Edgar Marburg, professor of civil engineering, University of Pennsylvania, that the equipment might be retained by the Geological Survey. Permission was also granted by the city of St. Louis to continue the work in Forest Park.

NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD ON FUELS AND STRUCTURAL

MATERIALS..

ORGANIZATION.

In order that the money available for this work might be so expended as to secure the most efficient results, it was thought desirable to create an advisory board composed of members appointed by the various national societies directly interested, to whom could be

referred the scope to be covered by the investigations and the methods to be used, and from whom could be obtained a critical opinion of the results. Accordingly an invitation was extended by the Secretary of the Interior, with the indorsement of the Secretary of Agriculture, to the various national societies, requesting that the president or some other representative of each society be appointed to serve on the national advisory board for the investigation of fuels and structural materials.

In response to this invitation a meeting was held in Washington, D. C., June 3, 1905, in the office of the Director of the United States Geological Survey. Later the personnel of this board was slightly changed, and in March, 1906, the members received direct appointments from President Theodore Roosevelt. In addition, a representative was appointed from each of the several Government bureaus interested in the investigations.

PERSONNEL.

The original advisory board consisted of the following representatives of the various national societies and Government bureaus. The American Institute of Mining Engineers: John Hays Hammond, past president,

New York; Robert W. Hunt (Robert W. Hunt & Co., testing engineers, Chicago, Pittsburg, and New York), Chicago, Ill.; B. F. Bush, manager and vice president, Western Coal and Mining Company, St. Louis, Mo. The American Institute of Electrical Engineers: Francis B. Crocker, professor of electrical engineering, Columbia University, New York; Henry C. Stott, superintendent of motive power, Interborough Rapid Transit Company, New York. The American Society of Civil Engineers: C. C. Schneider, past president, chairman committee on concrete and reinforced concrete, Philadelphia, Pa.; George S. Webster, chairman committee on uniform tests of cement, city engineer, Philadelphia, Pa.

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers: W. F. M. Goss, dean of the School of Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Ill; George H. Barrus, steam engineer, Boston, Mass.; P. W. Gates, Chicago, Ill.

The American Society for Testing Materials: Charles B. Dudley, president, Altoona, Pa.; Robert W. Lesley, vice president, Philadelphia, Pa.

The American Institute of Architects: George B. Post, past president, New York; William S. Eames, past president, St. Louis, Mo.

The American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association: H. G. Kelley, past president, Minneapolis, Minn.; Julius Kruttschnitt, director of maintenance and operation Union Pacific Railroad, Chicago, Ill.; Hunter McDonald, past president, chief engineer Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railroad, Nashville, Tenn.

The American Railway Master Mechanics' Association: J. F. Deems, general superintendent of motive power, New York Central lines, New York; A. W. Gibbs, general superintendent of motive power, Pennsylvania Railroad, Altoona, Pa. The American Foundrymen's Association: Richard Moldenke, secretary, Watchung, N. J.

The Association of American Portland Cement Manufacturers: John B. Lober, president, Philadelphia, Pa.