and minor tactics. Examination is required in but three of the subjects of the advanced group to be selected by the candidate.

Candidates for appointment in the Air Service, Engineers, Signal Corps and Ordnance Department are required to satisfy certain technical requirements, either by examination or by having graduated from technical schools.

Each candidate is permitted to express his first and second choice of the branch of the service in which he desires to be appointed. In making appointments, however, while the preferences of candidates will be given due consideration, the War Department reserves the right to assign them to such branches of the service as may be necessary.

THE MATHEMATICS OF CHAIN LETTERS.

There is now in circulation in our midst a "chain letter" inviting us to smile through the coming year. Good! Let's all smile! But let us glance for a moment at the mathematics of this genial propaganda.

The letter coming under our purview was headed by the names of 34 smiling gentlemen who had supposedly carried out instructions and sent nine copies to their friends with the request that they go and do likewise.

Let us suppose that 34 links in the chain remain unbroken-a thoroughly reasonable assumption of course, as the recipient failing to spread the good news is threatened with bad luck-THE SMILE PROPAGANDISTS WILL THEN HAVE BROUGHT ABOUT A SERIOUS SITUATION IN WORLD FINANCE.

By the time this avalanche has spent itself there will have been sent out in the thirty-fourth step alone, not to mention the myriad intervening epistles, 278,128,389,443,693,511,257,285,782,792,761 letters. At two cents each, there will have been expended for postage $5,562,567,788,873,870,225,145,715,655,855.22. If international postal agreements could be effected providing that the letters might be sent for one Russian ruble (value 1-20,000 of a cent) each, the bill for postage would be $139,064,194,721,846,755,628,642,891.40. This amount, distributed equally among the 1,500,000,000 inhabitants of our planet, would mean $92, 709,463,147,897,837,085.76 for each woman and child.

WHERE WILL THEY GET THE MONEY? The editor, for one, positively cannot stand the strain.

THE ENGINEERS' TABLE.

Somebody took a straw vote of the table the other day, on the question, "Are you or are you not in favor of the present primary election law of Missouri?" The dozen diners present voted “no” unanimously.

"Waiter," said a disconsolate individual as he seated himself at the Table, "bring me some fried eggs and a few kind words.' The eggs appeared in due course. "Now, waiter," said the gloomy one, "I have

the eggs, but you haven't given me the kind words." "All right, boss," said the waiter, "heah dey is. DON'T TOUCH DEM AIGS!"

Von Maur appeared at the Table a few days ago looking remarkably dressed up. Sartorially, the part of him appearing above the Table was perfect. Congratulatory comment was well under way when Sam appeared. "Mr. Von Maur," said he, "a genTman in de wash room says you done took de wrong coat."

Mont Schuyler dropped in for a few days recently. He is doing propaganda work for an Autonomous Industrial Colony in central Siberia, where there is special need for engineers and mechanics. Mont will spend the coming winter in "Kuzbas." He has agreed to come out next Spring and tell us about it.

How does your personal analysis check up? Fill in below:

% Moisture (Your useless habits).

% Volatile (Your ambition and pep).
% Fixed Carbon (Capacity for work)
% Ash (Ignorance and lack of training)
B. T. U. (Genuine accomplishment).

Kinsey and Von Maur induced Roach to come out of his absorption in rail stresses long enough to attend a ball game a couple of weeks ago. Beyond some slight difficulty with the translation of the box score the occasion passed off with considerable eclat.

A wise old owl lived in an oak;
The more he saw the less he spoke:
The less he spoke the more he heard.
Why can't we all be like this bird?

We enjoyed a short visit from our old college chum, J. W. Woermann, the other day. It was like old times to see his smiling countenance at the head of the Table.

Have you gone radio yet?

F.A.E.S. BULLETIN

Creation of Division of War Minerals Supply in the Bureau of Mines. This division has been charged with responsibility for matters relating to the supply of strategic minerals involved in war plans of the Government, the maintenance of a proper balance of trade among the mineral industries of the nation and other related duties. II. S.

Mulliken, formerly special assistant to the Director of the Bureau, has been given charge of the work of this division. He will work in cooperation with the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, the General Staff of the War Department, the U. S. Geological Survey and a special committee of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers. He will also serve as chairman of the Committee on Strategic Minerals of the Economic Liaison Committee, and will be in administrative charge of activities in the production of helium as they devolve upon the Bureau of Mines.

Mississippi River Commission. Legislation has been introduced. in both the Senate and the House of Representatives extending the jurisdiction of the Mississippi River Commission to St. Paul and to include certain areas at outlets and tributaries near the Mississippi River. The disastrous floods in Illinois during the recent high water is given as the reason for extending the jurisdiction of the Commission. Legislation which will take care of the Mississippi levee situation is being formulated and will be introduced in the near future.

Revision of Mining Laws. Representatives of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers and other prominent mining engineers have appeared before the Committee on Mines and Mining of the House of Representatives to discuss the bill providing for revision of mining laws. They endorsed the bill and urged the Com

mittee to expedite the matter. The Secretary of the Interior in a letter to the Committee has expressed the opinion that sweeping changes in the mining laws are not advisable, in view of the fact that they have been interpreted by rulings of the courts and by Government departments for a long period of years, so that changes would result in confusion.

Highway Construction. The Bureau of Public Roads has completed its apportionment of the $50,000,000 which is to be expended for highway work during the fiscal year beginning July 1. Those interested in the allotments made to the various states can secure a copy of the full statement on application to the office of the F.A.E.S.

Federal Power Commission has received an application from the municipal authorities of Louisville, Ky., for a preliminary permit to cover the power developments at the U. S. Lock and Dam in the Ohio River at the Falls of Louisville. The city proposes to install 50,000 horsepower when the dam is reconstructed.

Reclamation Service Twenty Years Old. On June 17th the twentieth anniversary of the approval of the reclamation act was held in the office of Director Davis. History shows that the Service has constructed over 100 storage and diversion dams, 13,000 miles of canals, ditches, etc., 27 miles of tunnels, costing over $133,000,000 and increasing the value of land about $500,000,000.

Development of Lower Colorado River. The Swing bill providing an expenditure of $70,000,000 at the Boulder Canyon and along the Colorado, has been sanctioned by Secretary Fall. Secretary Hoover has

also appeared before the Committee. This measure will provide 166,900 acres for ex-soldiers and affects the entire stream system of Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and Mexico.

National Forest Highway Construction involving an outlay of approximately $10,000,000 for 1,170 miles of road in 23 states has been approved by the Secretary of Agriculture. About $6,500,000 will come from the forest highway fund provided by the Federal highway act and $1,000,000 from other national forest road appropriations. $2,500,000 will be contributed by states and counties.

American Produce Museum will tour the United States for the purpose of exhibiting German and other foreign manufactured products with the corresponding American product. This is being done during the Congressional recess so as to give a visualization of the tariff rates based on American valuation. The tour is being planned by the Republican members of the House.

Study of Tractive Resistance of Roads. Initial results from an investigation of the tractive resistance of roads indicates that information will be secured of great value to the highway engineers, and users of motor transportation. The investigations are being carried on under the auspices of the recently created Advisory Board on Highway Research of the National Research Council, with which the Bureau of Public Roads and Quartermasters Corps are co-operating. Dr. Hatt. who is on leave from Purdue University, is directing the work.

St. Louis Terminal Situation Studied by Engineers' Committee. At the special direction of the Chamber of Commerce, in co-operation with other civic associations in St. Louis, a special committee was appointed to investigate the railway terminal situation in the St. LouisEast St. Louis industrial districts. The report includes descriptions of present facilities and methods of operation with conclusions and recommendations for improvements in the movement of traffic. Transportation requirements of this district are anticipated for many years to

J. T. GARRETT, Pres.

R. P. GARRETT, V.-Pres.

MISSOURI BRIDGE AND IRON CO.

MANUFACTURERS and BUILDERS of STEEL BRIDGES. BUILDINGS and OTHER STRUCTURAL STEEL WORK. We Carry a Large Stock of Steel in Our Yard for Orders Where Quick Delivery is Required. 1000-1001 Fullerton Bldg.

Contracting Office

ST. LOUIS, MO.