53. Develop and test an improved portable type of pitot-tube velocity meter and study the errors that may be caused on this under practical conditions by waves and twists of current. 54. A study of the hydraulic jump or standing wave phenomena. 55. A study of "fall increaser," for use in economizing water power on rivers subject to high backwater in floods. 56. Study of various types of energy absorber for the foot of overfall dams, to lessen danger of scour on soft river beds downstream therefrom. 57. Develop best type of baffle piers for foot of an ogee overfall. 58. Develop a Venturi type of sluice gate for the head gates of irrigating canals and other waterways. 59. Develop the best form of bell mouth for tunnels for the by-pass of dams. 60. Determine the most efficient angle of divergence for a Venturi tube, both with smooth current of approach and with disturbed and twisting currents of approach, as in the draft tube of a water wheel. It is possible these studies would aid in the economics of power development. 61. Study the limiting conditions for precision of measurement with Venturi meters of various types with disturbed currents in the approach. 62. Experiment on the laws of centrifugal pump discharge over a wide range of velocities and with throttled inlet and throttled outlet. 63. Determine the overturning effect of currents at various high velocities upon bridge piers and similar structures of various shapes. 64. The weir flume would be useful as a naval test tank for certain conditions of currents, where holding the model still while the current flowed swiftly past. It would be particularly instructive for cases of high velocity and too brief a run in the ordinary naval tank. WOULD IT NOT BE PREFERABLE TO HAVE THE HYDRAULIC LABORATORY NEAR THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER? There are unquestionably some arguments so far as the Mississippi problem alone is concerned in favor of locating the hydraulic laboratory near the river: (1) Materials typical of the river banks could be obtained more readily; (2) the laboratory staff would be nearer to the field engineers; (3) the staff would have an opportunity to observe the river in action. But the fact must not be lost sight of that a hydraulic laboratory is needed not for the Mississippi alone. The Missouri, the Colorado, the Ohio, the Connecticut all have their own problems. Nor is the field of useful and necessary work by any means confined to river problems. The protection of shore lines against wave action, the protection of harbors from deposits of sediment, the prevention of bars at harbor entrances, the determination of the proper size and location of breakwaters are all matters of grave concern to many of our coastal cities. Finally, the myriad of problems arising in the design of engineering structures for generating water power and for irrigation have a just and economic claim for consideration. The need for a hydraulic laboratory is thus seen to be of nation-wide importance. Its function is hydraulic research carried out by laboratory methods, and it is believed that this could be realized most effectively by establishing a national hydraulic laboratory at the Bureau of Standards. That the importance of the proper laboratory surroundings and the proper personnel far outweighs the advantages of proximity to the work may be illustrated by the experience of the Karlsruhe laboratory in Germany. To this laboratory have been brought problems in harbor construction from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, problems in irrigation canals from the Puira River in Peru, problems in river construction from the Lisi River in Italy, and problems in canal spillways from the Nile in Egypt. These, however, were problems for which it might not have been profitable to construct a local laboratory and it might seem that where a long series of experiments were to be carried out over a number of years the obvious advantages of contiguity to the problem might be the major consideration. Here again the experience of the Karlsruhe laboratory is informing. The closing of the Zuider Zee involving the expenditure of over $100,000,000 by the Dutch Government brought with it problems in hydraulic engineering of a magnitude unprecedented even in the experience of Dutch engineers familiar for years with similar problems of reclamation of land from the sea. The investigations were of such magnitude and the program of tests so large that it might well have seemed that the best thing to do would be to erect a hydraulic laboratory near the site of the work. This however, was not done. In Karlsruhe there existed a group of men familiar with similar types of investigation, and to Karlsruhe several hundred miles away and in another countrythe work was taken. There, from 1922 to date, one model experiment after another has been carried on, two at a time and sometimes three or four, solving one problem after another in connection with the locks in the canals, the outflow channels for the pumps, and the methods of closing the great dike. No more striking illustration could be given that in the establishment of a hydraulic laboratory the proper surroundings of laboratory facilities and experimentally trained men are of more importance than the minor advantages of closeness to the work. WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF LOCATING NATIONAL HYDRAULIC LABORATORY IN THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS? There are a number of advantages in locating the proposed national hydraulic laboratory in the National Bureau of Standards. 1. A suitable site is available, involving no additional expenditure for land. 2. Power facilities for driving the pumps and other equipment are adequate. 3. The bureau already possesses a concrete flume 6 feet wide, 7 feet deep, and 400 feet long, used for testing water-current meters, which can be made an integral part of the hydraulic laboratory. 4. The water supply at the bureau is adequate, because the steadiest conditions are obtained by recirculating the water. 5. The hydraulic staff would have the advantage of contact with men engaged in related lines of work, such as aerodynamics and structures. 6. The facilities for the development of instruments are excellent. Three different types of strain gauges, which were extensively used in the measurements made on the Stevenson Creek Dam and its model, were designed by members of the bureau staff. Shop facilities at the bureau are adequate. 7. The underlying idea of the proposed hydraulic laboratory is research. Furthermore, it is essentially research of a laboratory character, as distinguished from field work. For its most effective development, a continuity of thought and action on the part of the staff is essential. The staff should have the advantage of the inspiration, the incentive, the suggestions that come from contact with research workers in allied fields. These conditions are found in the Bureau of Standards, and here the work of a national hydraulic laboratory can be carried out to the advantage of the Federal services and the Nation. 8. In the Bureau of Standards the laboratory would be under civilian direction and would be staffed by professional men with civilian status and permanent tenure. 9. In the Bureau of Standards the laboratory will be centrally located, accessible to the other departments and will be a service laboratory for them. 10. The bureau has had a long and successful experience in cooperating with other Government establishments and the public. For further data on the subject matter of this bill the Members are referred to the hearings held before the Committee on Rivers and Harbors during the Seventieth and Seventy-first Congresses, and to Senate Report 718, Seventieth Congress, first session. о LOAN AERONAUTICAL EQUIPMENT FEBRUARY 28, 1930.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed Mr. WAINWRIGHT, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 1420] The Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 1420) to authorize the Secretary of War to loan aeronautical equipment and material for purposes of research and experimentation, having considered the same, report thereon with the recommendation that it do pass. This is a measure to permit the Secretary of War to loan to American manufacturers, designers, and others engaged in the work of development of aeronautics, models, etc., that will aid the said manufacturers, designers, and others in research or experimentation in aeronautics. Its purpose is set forth in the following letter of the Secretary of War requesting the legislation: Hon. W. FRANK JAMES, Acting Chairman Committee on Military Affairs, APRIL 9, 1929. House of Representatives, DEAR MR. JAMES: The draft of legislation submitted herewith, "A bill authorizing the Secretary of War to loan aeronautical equipment and material for purposes of research and experimentation, " is proposed in order to provide authority whereby numerous requests from manufacturers and others engaged in experimentation and development of the means of aviation and aerostation can be complied with. This legislation is identical with S. 2611 (Calendar 576, 70th Cong.), with amendments as reported to the Senate, March 19, 1928, which failed of enactment. It has been held by the Judge Advocate General of the Army in an opinion dated July 15, 1922, that while, under existing law, there is no legal objection to turning over War Department supplies or equipment to manufacturers, when a contract or purchase order has been made, and the supplies or equipment are furnished for the purpose of assisting production, and provided it is necessary to furnish models for the articles contracted for, or to prospective bidders for their use in the preparation of bids; on the other hand, there is no authority of law to lend, or lease, such supplies or material to manufacturers for use in development or experimental work when no contract or purchase order has been made, the provisions of existing law on this subject as indicated in United States v. Nicoll (1 Payne U. S. Cir. Ct. 646) being applicable to the latter case. HR-71-2-VOL 2- -43 The changes that will be brought about in existing law by the proposed legislation and the effect of such changes, stated hereby are as follows: It will authorize the Secretary of War in his discretion and under regulations prescribed by him, and without cost to the Government, to loan to American manufacturers, designers, and others engaged in the work of development of aeronautics, suitable aeronautical equipment or material to further the purposes of such research or experimentation. The passage of this act is favored because it will foster research in aeronautics by extension of facilities to independent experimentors. There are no apparent reasons against enactment of this legislation. There will be no expense to the Government if the bill is enacted into law. If any additional information from the War Department is desired, I shall be pleased to furnish it. If the Committee on Military Affairs wishes to have hearings on the proposed legislation, the following-named officer is designated to appear before your committee: Maj. Douglas B. Notherwood, Air Corps. The proposed legislation has been submitted to the Director of the Bureau of the Budget who advises that it is not in conflict with the financial program of the President. A similar letter has been addressed to the chairman Committee on Military Affairs, United States Senate. Sincerely yours, O JAMES W. Good, Secretary of War. STUDIES OF CONDITIONS IN PALO VERDE AND CIBOLA VALLEYS AND VICINITY ON THE COLORADO RIVER FEBRUARY 28, 1930.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. SWING, from the Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 9442] The Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation, to whom was referred H. R. 9442, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to make engineering and economic investigations and studies of conditions in Palo Verde and Cibola Valleys and vicinity on the Colorado River, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon, and recommend that the bill do pass without amendment. The bill has the approval of the Department of the Interior as will appear by the annexed communication. Hon. ADDISON T. SMITH, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Chairman Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation, House of Representatives. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: In response to your request of February 5, for an opinion as to the merits of H. R. 9442, there is transmitted herewith a memorandum submitted by the Commissioner of Reclamation. After a review of the situation I am in agreement with Commissioner Mead in his favorable report upon the bill. Very truly yours, RAY LYMAN WILBUR, Secretary. Memorandum for the Secretary. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Attached letter of February 5, from Hon. Addison T. Smith, chairman of the Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation of the House, requests report on H. R. 9442, a bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to make engineering |