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Measures for Progress: A History of the National Bureau of Standards

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XIV CONTENTS<br />

Chapter Iii. ELECTRICITY, RAILROADS, AND RADIO<br />

(1911—16)<br />

Page<br />

STANDARDS FOR THE AGE OF ELECTRICITY 103<br />

<strong>Progress</strong> in electrical measurements between 1903 and<br />

1910—International agreement on new values <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

ampere, ohm, and volt—Congress feels that <strong>Bureau</strong>'s<br />

electrical research is completed—Construction <strong>of</strong> East<br />

building—A program <strong>of</strong> electrical measurement<br />

research.<br />

STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC UTILITIES 110<br />

Need <strong>for</strong> standards <strong>of</strong> quality, <strong>of</strong> safety, and <strong>of</strong> service<br />

in public utilities—Rise <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> public service commis-<br />

sions—Waidner and Burgess' standard <strong>of</strong> light—Specifi-<br />

cations <strong>for</strong> incandescent lamps—<strong>Standards</strong> <strong>of</strong> gas<br />

service—Resistance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> public utilities—<strong>Bureau</strong><br />

track scales and test cars—Railway accidents—The<br />

trolley car, electrolysis, and underground corrosion—<br />

NBS as clearinghouse <strong>for</strong>' scientific and technical<br />

problems <strong>of</strong> public utilities.<br />

TESTING GOVERNMENT MATERIALS 124<br />

Rapid growth <strong>of</strong> - Government testing—The cement<br />

testing program—Cooperation with industry—Metallur-<br />

gical research—Electroplating and electrodeposition—<br />

Burrows' permeameter—Physical constants—Fire resist-<br />

ance properties <strong>of</strong> materials—Materials testing and<br />

<strong>the</strong> consumer.<br />

STANDARDS FOR THE CONSUMER -<br />

The problem <strong>of</strong> <strong>Bureau</strong> testing and <strong>the</strong> ultimate con<br />

sumer—Three circulars <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> "Meas-<br />

urements <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> household," "Safety in <strong>the</strong> house-<br />

hold," "Materials <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> household"—Thomas Edison<br />

discovers <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bureau</strong>.<br />

133

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