Document BkJ9xV8mbEeM2XX8X04rLKaL

December 29, 1938 V .** ' Mr. B. B. Heller, Managing Dlreglusj -- *v, ^djp-'lyglShe" Foundation of America,Inc. * AAOO Flftb-A*nua Pittsburgh, Penna. Dear Harry* I talked with Hr. Wharton Clay of the National Mineral Wool Association shortly after receiving your letter of December 22nd. I find he is discouraging your making the trip to lev Tone to talk with him because, in his opinion, the proposed survey of the industry is slated for rejection at the next meeting of the members of the Association. It appears that you may have been aisled con cerning the point to which the proposal had progressed within the Association. As a matter of fact, I was not myself aware of the exsot state of affairs. It seems that one member. Standard Lime k Stone Company, of Balti more, Maryland, has been urging that the Secretary of the Association present a proposal for a survey of this type to the membership, with an estimate as to the expenditure that would be Involved. On other occasions such a pro posal has been made in general terms and without detailed information as to shat would be done and what the cost would be - and on eaeh occasion has met with defeat* It also developed In the course of ay talk with Mr. day that, when the name of the Foundation had been suggested to Standard Lime A Stone Company, they had in dicated a belief that we were not aet up to do this sort of work and that the Foundation was merely a clearing house* for Information derived from the work of others. I hastened to disabuse Mr. Clay's mind of this idea and pointed out that, while the Foundation would make U*P|^Q|JQ[) 2 4 Si the various agencies in the wadical, engineering and Roentgen- j olegioal fields who wight otherwise be consulted, they would contribute largely to the success of the surrey through di recting the activities of the various experts and through cor relating the results of their separate investigations. I nade these points clear to Hr. Clay and obtained his prowlse that no eowwltwents would be wade elsewhere with out first giving you the opportunity of cooing to low York and presenting your proposition. I feel this assurance on i his part is the best that can be done at the present tlae * under the circumstances, and Z believe you will agree that a trip by you to lew York at this tlae wight prove a waste of tlwe and aoney. I think, however, that it will not be aaiss for you to write Hr. Clay and endeavor to correct the lwpression of the Foundation he received from the Standard Lima and Stone Co. representative, as you could probahly do this wore effectively, than Z. It wight also be helpful if a very rough estimate - so labeled - of the probable expenses of the survey could be provided Hr. Clay in the event the proposal is brought up at the January 13th seating of the Association. id, With aindest regards and best wishes for the lew Year, I aw Sincerely, YB:y % Vandiver Brown, General Attorney. produced JM-S3