March 1, 1943
Dr. E. P. Stevenson
National Defense Research Committee
1530 P Street, NW.
Washington, D. C.
Dear Dr. Stevenson:
I have spoken with Dr. Beckman about your letter of February 19, and have found that he is planning to make a business trip East early in April, and would like to visit two or three laboratories using the oxygen instrument, such as Wright Field and the Naval Research Laboratory. He is not able to take time enough, however, to make thorough survey of the situation with respect to the performance of the instrument in use, and so I have asked Dr. Reuben E. Wood, who has been primarily responsible for the design and construction of the instrument, to carry out the survey. It is planned that Dr. Wood will leave Pasadena late in March or early in April and visit as many as possible of the plants and laboratories where the instruments have been used. He will try to be present with Dr. Beckman at the places visited by Dr. Beckman.
Dr. Wood will obtain as much information as possible about the performance of the instrument in use, and will also gather information about possible suggested changes in design. After completing the trip he will prepare report about it.
Dr. Beckman will make his trip without cost to the government. I plan that Dr. Wood's travel expenses will be taken care of out of our contract OEMsr-584. I trust that your office can make arrangements for Dr. Beckman and Dr. Wood to visit the various plants and laboratories, and I have asked Dr. Wood to write directly to you about this. I think that this survey will give valuable results, and I thank you for suggesting that it be made.
Sincerely yours,
Linus Pauling
LP:mu
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