May 12, 1916. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 899 commercial success. Further examples are given in the production of the various alloy steels, for example, tungsten, vanadium steels, and so on, with their extremely valuable properties. Then we have illustrations in inventions which have made the internal combustion engine, aeroplane, steam turbine, wireless telegraphy, the polyphase alternator, and asynchronous motor such epoch-making appliances. Whilst the initial ideas in these things were all the out- come of genius, their development has required the steady application of the scientific method and the com- mercial ability to find the means of doing it. The really important question is : What are the condi- tions under which we can stimulate this originative power? It is partly due to natural gifts; partly to effec- tive training; and partly to the possession of sufficient appliances and means. The true answer to this ques- tion is that originality stimulates originality. A really great investigator not only discovers himself, but imparts something of his powers to his associates. Hence we require to establish and strengthen those research insti- tutions such as the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, or the Royal Institution, London, where notable scien- tific investigators have established schools of research and imparted some of their great powers to students and colleagues. The engineer requires scientific assistance first in the accurate determination of certain constants and data concerning materials and structures. Also certain very- accurate gauges and measuring tools, the work of furnish- ing which must be accurate and authoritative, and there- fore can only be done in a national institution like the National Physical Laboratory. The Engineering Stan- dards Committee of the various engineering institutions has, however, rendered invaluable service by settling specifications for materials, and sizes to be used in engineering, and in securing for them general acceptance. There are still problems in connection with electro- metallurgy- and engineering which await solution for which our present appliances in private or university laboratories are insufficient ; and we need in addition to the present resources of the engineering department of the National Physical Laboratory an increase in the facilities for metallurgical research' work on a large scale, such as that conducted with valuable results in Univer- sity College, Sheffield. The engineering laboratories of some London colleges, such as University College, should have their accom- modation and appliances largely increased, to specialise in certain lines of research and get into closer contact with the problems requiring solution in connection with actual engineering work. Industrial Co-operative Research. In Germany much of the technical research work is carried out privately by private associations of the trades concerned. In Great Britain manufacturers in the same trade are far too prone to regard one another as rivals, whereas in the future they will have to stand much more shoulder to shoulder against their common and German antagonists who will be united against them. Hence in many matters it would pay British firms in the same business to promote scientific research in common on certain problems of manufacture, subscrib- ing together the funds to undertake it either at a national technical laboratory or at some technical college or university which may be provided with the proper equip- ment. Such information when obtained would then only be communicated to the members of the association or union. The same principle of common action might also be brought to bear upon the collection of information as to what is being done in certain branches of manufacture; the establishment in fact of an information bureau common to certain firms or manufacturers, on the lines of the British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers’ Asso- ciation (B.E.A.M.A.) and many other kindred organisa- tions, which are doing and could extend this work with great effect. As a rule, British technical firms do not expend any- thing like the same labour or money oyer I heir intelligence departments as German firms. The latter gather in from all countries every scrap of information which can assist them, both from scientific and technical papers and patent specifications. This is carefully digested and classified so that they are able to keep careful watch on progress in their own subject. The smallest valuable novelty' is then carefully tested in practice.. The first direction in which our advances should be made is in improving the means for obtaining this early information' on possible improvements and advances. In gathering in and bringing to early notice technical improvements greater assistance might, perhaps, be rendered by our technical papers and the Proceedings of our technical institutions. The field of knowledge is now so vast and technical literature so voluminous that it is becoming increasingly difficult for the busy engineer to keep himself apprised of new departures in his own special work, even with the aid of all our ably conducted technical journals. Successful invention always involves three things; first, a new idea or fortunate observation; secondly, the pensistent following out of this idea to its logical issue by persevering work. The first step is always a stroke of genius, the second stage involves generally skilled assistance by persons of competent technical training. The third stage, viz., the translation of the process or discovery into a commercial manufacture, requires capital outlay and often large preliminary expenditure before any return can be obtained, but also it involves and necessitates high ability in applying the scientific method to the commercial problem. Everyone has known cases of scientific manufacturers or industries which have been nearly brought to ruin under one man- agement and rescued and reconstructed by another. Hence no amount of official organisation of scientific research will necessarily produce successful results unless the men with right judgment and initiative are brought to the front. The Engineering Institutions and Industrial Research. The point which requires consideration is whether the scheme promoted by the Board of Education will meet these requirements of technology and manufacture, and especially of engineering. It is desirable that the advisory, council should have on it members who repre- sent the constructive and manufacturing side of engineering in various branches. As at present con- stituted, it is chiefly representative of eminence in pure scientific knowledge. It 'is satisfactory to find, from the latest report of its decisions and work that-as regards assistance given to industrial research, its aid will be given through the intermediation of the established professional and technical institutions or societies, because they embody in their membership the know- ledge of the most necessary requirements in the way of such research. AMurther reason for it is because many important problems will require the assistance of many experienced men. Such problems are the conservation and more economical use of our national coal supply; the universal adoption of gas or of electric heating in place of the wasteful combustion of raw coal in domestic fire places, the electrical transmission of power from coal fields to great cities, are examples. The coal question in its various aspects is especially important. Of all European coal fields, Germany has the largest known reserves, though of inferior quality. There are three great coal bearing districts in Germany, viz., the lower Rhine and Westphalian basin, Silesia, and the Rhenish district near Saarbriicken and Aix-le-Chapelle. The life of these fields has been estimated at 2,000, 1,200, and 4,000 years respectively, whereas the figures given by the Royal Commission on Coal Supplies in Great Britain fixed the life of ours at about 200 years. We have, however, the advantage of superior quality of material. Nevertheless, we must bring, at once, the highest scientific knowledge to bear upon the subject of our more scientific coal con- sumption and use. These, are matters quite beyond any individual or small committees to deal with, they demand the conjoint consideration of many minds. Hence it is to be hoped that the principal engineering GV __ *** -W Aft r'.. ••. - ■ ■ ii Ore and Lime Bunkers at Brymbo Works. institutions will unite in a strong request to the Govern- ment, if they have not already done so, to place repre- sentative engineers upon the advisory council and also that in the disbursement of funds allocated to the assistance of industrial research, these institutions, as bodies, shall be to a considerable extent the avenues through which it is dispensed, The existing scientific and professional societies, if properly organised, would supply all that is required. These engineering institutions and societies should take a leading part in guiding the fortunes of the industries they represent. The head of the group concerned with pure scientific research should be the Royal Society, acting through all its fellows. At the head of the technical research an organised body selected from the professional and tech- nical societies. At present, the Government prefer to ignore the existing societies, and create fresh bodies of their own selection. The result will be to weaken these existing institutions and societies. It is essential to guard against the bureaucratisation of science, and the safest and most simple method of avoiding this would be to make the great technical and professional institutions the means of advising upon the most important steps to be taken in aiding technology. Suggestions have been put forward for the creation of a Ministry of Science. It is difficult to see how any such step will assist matters at present, whilst, on the other hand, it might be the beginning of a system of bureau- cratic control, which would involve a cumbersome and expensive machinery, with much inertia and delay in giving assistance to genuine research. We have first to create a great change in the attitude of the public mind towards, scientific knowledge and research, and develop the conviction that until it is regarded as a most serious pursuit, we shall fail to make any firm advances towards victory in industrial war. The Scientific Organisation of the Business Side of Engineering. No one who has studied German methods can fail to admit they have realised fully in commercial matters the truth that union is strength, and have adopted every possible means to weld together all portions of their commercial enterprise into one great machine. Our ideal has been largely individualism and competition, theirs has been organisation and co-operation. The first condition of success in future must be asso- ciation and combination, and the second the scientific method in all things. Our information about foreign markets must be greatly increased, our consular reports must be improved, foreign agencies must be staffed with men who have the necessary linguistic and scientific accomplishments, and the study of foreign markets and of the nature of the foreign demand for goods must be carried on scientifically. In Germany, besides the assistance of their complete consular reports and the help of carefully devised legis- lation and low export rates on railways, there are special institutes founded in connection with the universities for the scientific study of the problem of international com- merce. Private firms also associate themselves into export societies. Thus manufacturers, shippers, and financiers interested, say, in the Russian or South American trade, will club together to obtain informa- tion, support agents, and obtain facilities. We, in turn, must bring to-bear scientific knowledge of all kinds upon the manufacture and distribution of goods, and obtaining foreign markets for the same; and the subsi- disation of private or national •scientific research by- Government funds is only a small part in the matter. We need to bring the scientific method of collecting the facts and drawing inferences from them to bear upon all the commercial problems of obtaining the markets and securing custom for the manufactured article. FERRO-CONCRETE BUNKERS AT BRYNIBO WORKS. Referring to the description of the ferro-concrete bunkers for the storage of ore and lime at the Brymbo Works, on page 845 of our last issue, we are now able to give the accompanying photograph of the bunkers, showing their relative position to the high and low level sidings. Hull Coal Exports.—The official return of the exports of coal from Hull to foreign countries for the week ending Tuesday, May 2, is as follows :—Amsterdam, 153 tons; Calais, 836; Christiansund, 152; Dunkirk, 793; Gothenburg, 2,492; Leghorn, 3,194; Naples, 504; Rotterdam, 1,913; West Coast Africa, 2,450—total, 12,487-tons. Corresponding period May 1915—total, 87,234 tons. These figures do not include bunker coal, shipments for the British Admiralty, or the Allies’ Governments. Japanese Coal Trade — The Japanese coal market is emerging from the depressed condition that has long oppressed, it, and already in some quarters the advisability of abolish- ing the short-time agreement which coal field owners con- cluded some time ago for the relief of overstocking is discussed, though it may be some time before it will be formally taken up by mine owners, the Japan Times states. In discussing the improved situation, the paper says that the war dealt a blow to the coal trade by restricting industrial activities in Japan, and decreasing the calls of foreign ships at its ports. Once the visible stock at the principal ports amounted to more than 1,800,000 tons, when it was decided by mine owners to go on short time. The effects of this decision to cut dowm the production by 20 or 30 per cent, were soon felt. When domestic demand sprang up again, a remedy was offered. Since last spring, when a rally was introduced in industrial circles, the visible supply has gone on decreasing, and now the total stock is estimated at 900,000 tons or lower. The price, too, has steadied slowly in all lines.