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H E A R IN G

BEFO RE T H E

COMMITTEE ON

INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS 

UNITED STATES SENATE

EIGH TY -NINTH CON GRESS

SECOND SESSION

ON

T H E NO MIN AT IO N O F W ALT ER R. H IB BA RD, JR ., TO BE 

D IR EC TO R O F TH E BU RE AU O F M IN ES

JA NU AR Y 18, 19GG

P ri n te d f or th e us e of t h e 

Com m itt ee on In te ri o r an d I n su la r A ffai rs

58-274

U.S. GOVERNM EN T PR IN TIN G O F F IC E

W ASH IN GTON : 19 66
S’ 5 ffc.

COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS

H EN RY M. JACK SO N, Washington, Cha irman

CL IN TO N P. AN DE RS ON , New Mexico

AL AN BI BL E, Nevada

FRA N K CH URC H, Idaho

ERN EST QRU EN IN Q, Alaska

FRANK E. MOSS, Utah

QUENTI N N. BU RD IC K, North Da ko ta

CA RL HA YD EN , Arizona

GEORG E McGOVERN, South Da ko ta

GA YL OR D NELSO N, Wisconsin

L EE ME TC AL F, Montana

THOMAS H. K U C H EL, California 

GO RD ON ALLO TT, Colorado 

LE N B. JO RDAN, Idaho 

MILWAR D L. SIM PSON , Wyoming 

PA UL J. FA NNIN , Arizona

Jerr y T. Verk ler, Staf f Director

Stewart F rench, Chief Counsel

II
NOMINATION OF WALTER R. HIBBARD, JR. , TO BE 

DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF MINES

TU ES DA Y, JA N UA RY 18, 196 6

U.S. Senate,

Committee on Interior and I nsular Affairs,

Washington, D.C.

The committee met, purs uant to call, at 11 a.m., in room 3110, 

New Senate Office Building, Senator Henry M. Jackson (chairman of 

the committee) presiding.

Present: Senators Henry M. Jackson (Washington); Clinton P. 

Anderson (New Mexico); Frank Church (Idaho); Ernest Gruening 

(Alaska); Frank E. Moss (Uta h); Carl Hayden (Arizona); Thomas 

H. Kuchel (California); and Len B. Jordan (Idaho).

Also present: Jerry T. Verkler, staff director, and Stewart French, 

chief counsel.

The Chairman. The committee will come to order.

This is an open, public hearing by the Committee on Interior and 

Insular Affairs on the nomination by President Johnson of Dr. Walter 

R. Hibbard, Jr., to be Director of the Bureau of Mines, a division of 

the Department of the Interior.

Dr. Hibbard appeal’s to be extremely well qualified for the very 

important position to which he has been nominated by President 

Johnson. The basic law governing the functions and duties of the 

Bureau of Mines is found in title 30, United States Code, section 3. 

This statute states in pertinent part:

It s hall b e th e provinc e and d uty of t he B ureau of M ines, s ub ject to th e approval 

of th e Secre tar y of th e In te rior , to conduct inquiries and scientific and tech no ­

logic inve sti ga tio ns con cer nin g mining, and th e pr ep aration, trea tm en t, an d utili za tio n of mi ne ral su bs tanc es with a view to impro vin g healt h con ditions, 

an d incre asi ng s afety , efficien cy, economic dev elo pm ent, and con servi ng resour ces 

th ro ug h th e prev en tio n of waste in th e min ing, qu ar ry in g, me tal lur gic al, and 

othe r mineral indu strie s; to in qu ire into th e econ omic conditio ns affectirg the se 

indu strie s; to in ve stig ate exp losives and pe at, and on beh alf of th e Goveri ment 

to in ve stig at e th e mineral fuels and unfinished mineral pr od uc ts bel cr gir g to, 

or for th e use of, th e United St ates , with a view to their mo st efficien t mining, 

pr ep aration, trea tm en t, an d use; an d to d iss em inate inf orm ati on concerning these 

su bj ec ts in such man ne r as will best ca rry ou t th e purposes of th e pro visions 

of th is Act.

Dr. Hibbard brings to this post a wealth of b oth theoretical and 

practical experience. He was a member of the faculty at Yale University, but in 1951 the General Electric Co. persuaded him to leave 

the ivory towers and come to its research and development center in 

Schenectady, N.Y., where he has served as the manager of metallurgy and ceramics research. Without objection, I will direct that 

a biographical sketch of Dr. Hibbard, supplied by the Department 

of th e Interior, be incorporated in full in the record of these hearings 

at this point.

1
2 INTERIOR NOMINATION--- WALTER R. HIBBARD, JR .

(The biographical sketch referred to follows:)

Bio g r a ph ic a l Sk etc h o f W a lte r R. H ib b a r d , J r., D ir e c t o r, B u r ea u of

M in e s , D e p a r t m e n t o f t h e I n t er io r

Dr. Walter R. Hibbard, Jr., one of the Nations’ outstanding metallurgists, 

became Director of the Bureau of Mines on December 1, 196.5, following earlier 

successes as an educator, researcher, and as a n industry manager of scientific and 

engineering research.

Born in Bridgeport, Conn., Jan uary 20, 1918, Dr. Hibbard was graduated from 

Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., and received a doctor of engineering 

degree from Yale University in 1942. Following his military service in World 

War II as an officer in the Navy De partm ent’s Bureau of Ships, he joined the Yale 

faculty as an assistant professor and late r became associate professor.

Dr. Hibbard ’s growing rep utation in teach ing and research attra cted industry, 

and in 1951 the General Electric Co. enlisted him for its research and development 

center in Schenectady, N.Y. There he progressed to the position of manager of 

metallurgy and ceramics research, which he held until he was beckoned to public 

service by President Johnson as Dire ctor of the Bureau of Mines.

As an exp ert in such fields as the plastic deformation of metals and the metallurgy of copper and its alloys, Dr. Hib bard has won wide recognition from many 

professional societies. In 1950 he received the Raymond Award of the American 

Institute of Mining, Metallurgical & Petroleum Engineers. From 1957 to 1961 

he served as a director of the institute , and is now its preside nt-elect for 1966. In 

addition, Dr. Hibbard belongs to the British Ins titute of Metals and the New York 

Academy of Sciences, and is a fellow of both the American Academy of Arts and 

Sciences an d the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He also 

is a member of the Materials Advisory Board of the National Academy of Science, 

and is currently its Chairman.

Dr. Hibbard has been elected to many honorary and professional fraternities 

including Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, Alpha Chi Sigma, and Gamm a Alpha. He 

is the autho r of more than 70 scientific pape rs and has been widely recognized as 

a major contributor to the science of metallurgy.

Dr. and Mrs. Hibbard have three children and reside in Rockville, Md.

The Chairman. Unless some member of the committee wishes to 

make some comment a t this time, I will call upon Assistant Secretary 

Cordell Moore, who is in charge of Mineral Resources, to present the 

nominee to us.

Secretary Moore, would you wish to present the nominee? And we 

want to extend to you, Secretary Moore, a warm welcome this morning.

You may be seated.

STATEMENT OF CORDELL MOORE, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE 

INTE RIOR

Mr. Moore. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, it is 

with great pleasure tha t I am here this morning representing Secretary 

Udall to present to you the President’s nominee for Director of the 

Bureau of Mines, Dr. Walter R. Hibbard, Jr. As the chairman has 

stated and the record bears out, Dr. Hibbard is well qualified for the 

post and we at the Interior Department are fortunate indeed to have 

him working with us.

I am glad to have the honor of presenting him to you.

The Chairman. Dr. Hibbard, we will be very pleased to have any 

statem ent you wish to make a t this time. I think it would be well to 

give your background, and to have your comments regarding the duties 

and responsibilities, as you see it, of the office of Director of the Bureau 

of Mines.
INTERIOR NOMIN ATION — WALTER R. HIBBARD, JR . 3

STATEMENT OF DR. WALTER R. HIBBARD, JR.

Dr . H ibbard. I was bo rn in B ridgep ort, Conn. I we nt to school at 

Wesley an, in Middletow n, Con n., whe re I stu die d chem istry and 

geology. I the n we nt to Yale, where I too k grad ua te work in the 

school of engineering and was awarded a docto r of enginee ring degree 

in the field of metallurgy.

From the re, I went into the Na vy and spent 4 years here in Wash ­

ington in the Research Division of the Bu reau of Ships, working on 

problems concerned with ma terials and their appli catio n to na val 

vessels. I was pa rti cu larly concerned with the conserv ation of scarc e 

ma ter ial s at th at time and the su bs titution of alt erna tiv es.

Af ter the war, I retu rn ed to Yale on t he f aculty as an assista nt pro ­

fessor in the school of enginee ring in the field of m eta llurgy , and staye d 

there for appro xim ately 6 ye ars. Du rin g t his perio d I ta ug ht stud en ts 

and engaged in research, an d became a ctive in the professional society, 

the American Inst itute of Min ing, M etallurgical & Petro leu m En gineers .

Also during this period I became a reg istere d professional engineer 

in th e St ate of Co nnectic ut, in 1948. In 1951, I moved to Gen eral 

Elect ric, largely because I ha d thr ee children who were becoming of 

school age and I could n’t afford to stay at Yale un de r the unive rsity 

salary conditions at th at time.

At GE I became con cerned with research and develop me nt in the 

field of me tallur gy and ceramics, and pa rti cipa ted bo th active ly as a 

scien tis t and subsequentl y as a manag er. Fo r th e last 6 years at 

Ge neral Ele ctric, I was manager of m eta llu rgy and ceramics researc h, 

which was conc erned with research and dev elopment in the use and 

appli catio n of ma terials. Subsequently th at res earch was also concerned with the so urces of ma terial, parti cu larly in t he fields of copper 

an d stee l, of which the Ge neral Electric Co. is a ve ry large user.

Du rin g this period, I also beca me more act ive in the AI ME and 

served as the ir vice presiden t and on their board of dire ctors. I 

bec ame more and more knowledgeable throug h association with 

professiona l people from othe r area s of the miner al resources indu stry ; as for exam ple, petro leu m and mining. I also had the oppo rtun ity to serv e on a numb er of Go vernme nt adv isory panels. 

Th e Na tio nal Academy of Sciences and Na tio na l Resea rch Cou ncil 

has a ma terials advisory board , and I served on a numb er of their 

pan els, and on the B oar d itse lf, and subseq uentl y bec ame cha irm an.

I was also active on th e enginee ring panel of the Na tio nal Science 

Fo un da tio n and on several a dvisory panels of the B ureau of Stand ards 

and the Dep artm en t of Defense.

Du rin g this p eriod I bec ame more knowledg eable ab ou t some of the 

mineral resources pro blems of the Federal Go vernm ent, and became 

very inter ested in their s olu tion. In pa rticular, I ha d the feeling th at 

servin g on an advisory pa nel gives one an op po rtun ity to recognize the 

problems, bu t really doesn ’t p erm it one to pa rti cipa te in t heir solu tion . 

And , so, in add ition, I bec am e in volved in the lead ers hip in the A IM E.

About a year ago, I was ask ed if I would become the preside nt of the 

AIM E, an d I serve as pre sid ent-elec t in 1966 a nd am scheduled to be 

pre sid ent in 1967. This also was as a result of my bro ader intere sts 

in the mineral indu str y field. Du rin g m y association s w ith the AI ME,

I met Jo hn Calhoun, who was the science advis er to the Secre tary of 

the Inter ior, and in the au tum n of 1965 he called me and asked if I
4 INTERIOR NOMINATION— WALTER R. HIBBARD, JR .

would be interested in being considered for the position of Director of 

the Bureau of Mines. Because I had this interest and desire to help 

in the Federal Government, I said “Yes, I would,” and I came to Washington and visited with the Secretary and his associates and described 

my qualifications and my interest. And it appeared to them and to me 

tha t there was a real opportunity here to help with some of the chai - 

lenges and some of the needs and problems in the mineral resources 

area by bringing to bear the kind of experience that I have had in the 

management of research and development, and in particular to develop a program of research activity related to broad national goals 

and with some rewards and returns in the national interest.

With this challenge and this opportunity, and having looked at the 

people in the Department of Interior, and they having looked at me, 

I said I would be very pleased if it could be arranged and I could have 

the opportunity to serve in this position.

Subsequent to that, I talked to John Macy in the Civil Service 

Commission, whom I had known since my days at Wesleyan, and to 

others in the Federal Government, and eventually in late October 

President Johnson submitted my nomination to you.

The Chairman. Dr. Hibbard, while you have not been in the 

mining business, do you feel tha t your background in metallurgy 

qualifies you for the duties and responsibilities of this office?

Dr. Hibbard. The field of mineral resources is so broad that I 

think it would be very difficult for any one individual to have experience in the entire breadth of this activity. I have been generally 

familiar and generally associated with the mining area. I have not 

had mining operating experience, b ut I think that my association has 

brought to me an appreciation of the problems, and the needs, and the 

goals of the mining industry. And on this basis 1 believe I can handle 

it.

The Chairman. You feel research is a very important aspect of the 

office?

Dr. Hibbard. Yes, sir; I think in the mining field particularly, as 

has been shown in the coal mining area where there are some very 

substantial problems with the use of coal, a vigorous research program 

has led to new uses and revitalized the whole coal industry. Similarly, 

I believe in those minerals and materials which are in short supply, 

where there is a need to develop and expand the resources, that the 

application of appropriate research on methods of mining extraction 

can develop new technology which will expand and augment the 

mineral resource base.

The Chairman. As far as the mine safety program is concerned, I 

take it tha t you feel tha t you can carry out those duties and responsibilities fairly and objectively.

Dr. Hibbard. Yes, sir. Health and safety have always been a 

concern of mine in the activities at General Electric, where we had a 

strong health and safety program.

As you know, in the field of experimental research and development 

one frequently is doing things which have never been done before, 

and considerable regard for the safety of the scientists and technicians 

is of great importance, since these people are the most valuable resources in research.

With respect to health and safety in coal mining, there are people 

in the Bureau with whom I have worked for the past 6 weeks such as
INTERIOR NOMINATION— WALTER R. HIBBARD, JR . 5

Deputy Director Fran k Memm ott and James Westfield, Assistant 

Director responsible for health and safety, who are experienced in this 

field. I find that these people are very fine people to work with, and 

with guidance from Mr. Memmott and my associates, I believe 

this important activity will be vigorously handled.

The Chairman. I want to say for the benefit of members of the 

committee, in accordance with our practice, Dr. Hibbard has submitted a statem ent of his finances. When we go into executive session, we will have an opportunity to discuss with him a t that time any 

possibilities of conflicts of interests. I did want, however, in the 

public session, to ask you, Dr. Hibbard, if you have any plans, directly 

or indirectly, to return to the General Electric Co.

Dr. Hibbard. No, sir. I have resigned from the General Electric 

Co. with the idea tha t-----

The Chairman. I mean upon the completion of your duties in 

this office or any other public office you might hold.

Dr. Hibbard (continuing). This is a career. There has been no 

discussion of my returning, and I have no intention of doing so.

The Chairman. Did you have any plan when you left General 

Electric, written or unwritten, or an understanding of any kind tha t 

you would return?

Dr. Hibbard. No, sir.

The Chairman. And the severance tha t you have made is one 

that is unconditional?

Dr. Hibbard. There is no condition involved; it is a complete and 

utter resignation.

The Chairman. Senator Anderson?

Senator Kuchel?

Senator Kuchel. What was your salary, Dr. Hibbard, when you 

terminated your employment with General Electric?

Dr. Hibbard. My salary at General Electric was $38,000 a year, 

and I had an annual bonus of about $15,000.

Senator Kuchel. And wha t is your salary in your present public 

position?

Dr. Hibbard. $26,000.

Senator Kuchel. What was your basic motivation to come into 

public, service?

Dr. Hibbard. I think the basic motivation is that I have seen 

some of the problems in this area, and it is of tremendous importance 

to the Nation, to my profession, and therefore to me, to solve these 

problems. The opportunity to help is here and I think I can be of 

service. I would like to do this very much.

Senator Kuchel. All I can say, Mr. Chairman, is, I don’t know 

Dr. Hibbard but I have heard of his reputation. I have read his 

biography. My own view is tha t men like you, Dr. Hibbard, who 

are willing to take a s ubstantial decrease in compensation to perform 

a service for the people of this country, are entitled to respect. Surely 

the ideas you express ought to be the basis on which people want to 

serve this country.

I am not unmindful of the fact tha t we have two political parties. 

I belong to the outs. And I am not unmindful of the fact tha t on 

occasion matters of political consideration affect in one degree or 

another decisions which are made. You, however, a re in a position 

where your responsibilities ought not only to be relatively free, but
6 INTERIOR NOMINATION— WALTER R. HIBBARD, JR .

completely free from matters of partisan political concern. What 

is your registration?

Dr. Hibbard. I am a Republican.

Senator Kuchel. Well, you jus t got one vote from the minority. 

I can only repeat I am delighted. I am delighted, because in the era 

in which we live people from the academic community many times 

have shied away from Government service. The relationship between 

people in the business of government and people in the business of 

teaching has not been an especially close one in many areas. So, all I 

can say, Mr. Chairman, is: I am delighted at the opportunity to meet 

this gentleman and to listen to his testimony. I trust the frankness 

with which he answered my question will not be misinterpreted by 

my brothers representing the majority.

The Chairman. Merely an indication of objectivity.

Senator Anderson?

Senator Anderson. Dr. Hibbard, you could have told Senator 

Kuchel that the only political experience you have had was under a 

Republican administration; is th at correct?

Dr. Hibbard. Excuse me, sir.

Senator Anderson. I say, you could have told Senator Kuchel the 

only public activity you had was under a Republican administration.

Dr. Hibbard. I have had no public activity as a Republican Par ty 

member. I voted regularly, both in the primaries and in the regular 

elections, but I have had no participation in political activity.

Senator Anderson. Did I understand you to say somebody named 

John Calhoun had called you about this job?

Dr. Hibbard. I met John Calhoun through the AIME. He 

was active in the American Institu te of Mining, Metallurgical 

& Petroleum Engineers. This is the professional society in which 

I have also been active, and we met each other through this professional activity. And when the vacancy occurred, he called me and 

asked me if I was interested. •

Senator Anderson. The provisions of the Federal laws covering 

the responsibilities of the Director of the Bureau of Mines state: 

“ The Director shall be thoroughly equipped for the duties of said 

office by technical education and experience.” Have you had any 

experience in mining?

Dr. Hibbard. I have had no operational experience in mining. I 

have had educational courses in this activity.

Senator Anderson. Have you visited a coal mine?

Dr. Hibbard. Yes, sir; I have.

Senator Anderson. Many times?

Dr. Hirbard. 1 visited one once.

Senator Anderson. Once?

Dr. Hibbard. Yes, sir.

Senator Anderson. One day?

Dr. Hibbard. One day; yes, sir.

Senator Anderson. That is the basis of your experience in tha t 

field?

Dr. Hibbard. This is the extent of my experience.

Senator Anderson. Within a mine?

Dr. Hibbard. Within a mine.

Senator Anderson. How about metal mines?

Dr. Hibbard. I have also visited metal mines. When I was vice 

president of the AIME, I made a tour through Utah and Idaho and
INTERIOR NOMINATION— WALTER R. HIBBARD, JR. 7

Washington, and I visited the large open-pit mine in Salt Lake and I 

visited lead and zinc mines in the Coeur d’Alene area.

Senator Anderson. There is another section of the Federal Code 

tha t concerns investigation of lignite and peat. Have you had any 

connection with or experience with lignite?

Dr. Hibbard. No, I have had no experience with lignite.

Senator Anderson. Still another section is on potash, so dear to 

some of us. Have you had any experience with potash?

Dr. Hibbard. No, sir; 1 have not.

Senator Anderson. Then the section of the Code dealing with the 

responsibilities of the Bureau of Mines says—

conduct inquiries and scientific and technologic investigations concerning mining, 

and the preparation, tre atmen t, and utilization of mineral substances with a 

view to improving hea lth conditions.

Have you had any experience with health conditions?

Dr. Hibbard. Oh, yes, sir. My experience with health and safety 

has been associated with my activities in research. We had an extensive health and safety program in connection with our research 

laboratory.

Senator Anderson. There is something about quarrying here in 

the law. Have you had any experience with quarrying?

Dr. Hibbard. I visited a quarry; yes, sir. I have had no operating 

experience in a quarry.

Senator Anderson. You say you visited a quarry. This talks 

about quarrying as a business.

Dr. Hibbard. I thought you asked whether I had visited a quarry.

Senator Anderson. You have visited a quarry?

Dr. Hibbard. Yes, sir.

Senator Anderson. Many times?

Dr. Hibbard. On several occasions: one up in Vermont, and also 

when I took mineralology and visited quarries in the Connecticut area 

in connection with my course program.

Senator Anderson. Some of us have had quite an interest in lead 

and zinc and have introduced some bills concerning the matter. Have 

you had any experience with lead and zinc?

Dr. Hibbard. No, sir; no practical operating experience.

Senator Anderson. I have no other questions.

The Chairman. Senator Jordan?

Senator J ordan. Dr. Hibbard, I am impressed, and I think we all 

are, with your fine background in research. I am pleased too th at you 

have been in the Coeur d’Alene area, that great mining region in Idaho 

that produces lead, zinc, and the greatest amount of silver of any 

State of the Union. I hope you will come back again and come often. 

I am impressed to hear also one statement in the press release which 

accompanies your biography, and I am reading now:

Dr. Hib bard considers the carcasses of cars a valuable resource th at should be 

recovered instead of left to lit ter the c ountryside or concealed in abandoned coal 

mines (as some Penn sylv ania Congressmen have suggested).

I think if you could make a contribution in this area you would be 

one of the most popular men in the administration, if not in the whole 

United States. Would you elaborate on tha t a little bit, Dr. Hibbard?

Dr. Hibbard. Well, I believe that we should use and reuse our 

mineral resources as efficiently and as effectively as we can. I was
8 INTERIOR NOMINATION— WALTER R. HIBBARD, JR .

delighted to find, when I came to the Bureau first in December, tha t 

they had an extensive research and development program aimed at 

utilizing the steel scrap from cars by roasting it with nonmagnetic 

taconites, with the object of transforming these taconites from nonmagnetic to magnetic. If this process can be handled commercially 

and effectively, such a development would be an opportunity not 

only to reuse the steel and the iron in th e scrap auto bodies, but also 

to open up the resources in the nonmagnetic taconite area.

This research has progressed to the point where it is being evaluated 

and it looks very promising.

Senator Jordan. I hope that research can be pressed to an early 

and satisfactory conclusion, because we certainly need that kind of 

research. It would seem to me that the advantage of transportation 

cost, both shipping in and shipping out, would certainly have a bearing 

on the success of this venture.

Dr. Hibbard. Yes, sir.

Senator J ordan. I appreciate the fact tha t you are eminently well 

qualified for the research end of this job. I look forward to talking 

to you more in closed session.

The Chairman. Senator Gruening?

Senator Gruening. Mr. Chairman, I have had the opportunity to 

become acquainted with Dr. Hibbard, and I am pleased with his 

appointment.

As we all know, mining has been a kind of a stepchild in th e national 

family, and we are particularly concerned about the development of 

mining in Alaska. Just recently in the first Alaska field committee 

report, not yet officially released—and tha t committee was really 

born out of the efforts of Senator Anderson after the earthquake 

to get a long-range comprehensive study of Alaskan resources and 

recommendations for their development—there was a very interesting 

chart which I showed Dr. Hibbard. It made clear tha t right across 

the border from Alaska in British Columbia and in Yukon Territory 

there is tremendous mining activity. This chart shows tha t this 

geographically related region right across the border from Alaska is 

more or less peppered with mining activities. The implication, of 

course, is clear; namely, tha t these same mineral deposits or similar 

deposits exist in Alaska, but they haven’t been developed. And this 

is one of th e issues with which we are very much concerned and to 

which we hope you and Assistant Secretary Cordell Moore will turn 

your attention and try to promote appropriate action. We must 

find out why what is being done in Canada cannot be duplicated in 

Alaska, and what needs to be done to bring about this desirable 

result.

Mining has been in the doldrums in Alaska, and yet we are informed 

that we have 31 out of 33 strategic minerals. We know that there are 

problems in transportation that have militated against their development, as well as other adverse factors, but I think we really need 

intensive research to ascertain wha t can be done practically to make 

them available and thereby to help Alaska’s economy.

I would say also tha t I once read a column written by my friend 

Heywood Broun, who was in Harvard when I was there, which was 

entitled “Some of My Best Friends Are Yale Men.” The column 

went along to indicate the tolerance and breadth of spirit of Harvard 

men in regard to the graduates and faculty of our New England
INTERIOR NOMINATIO N— WALTER R. HIBBARD, JR . 9

junior institution. And I want to assure Dr. Hibbard tha t tha t is my 

spirit also. B

The Chairman. You mean to say you are not biased?

Senator Gruening. No t at all.

The Chairman. We are glad to have such continuing objectivity in 

these deliberations.

Senator Moss?

Senator Moss. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also have had the opportunity to meet and talk with’Dr. Hibbard, and 1 am impressed with his a ttitu de in undertaking this assignment, and impressed with his background. As he responded to Senator Kuchel on the salary that he left at GE, it seems to me he will be getting just a little over 50 percent of the amount of money tha t he was earning in order to ta ke this position as Director of the Bureau of Mines. I think this ought to impress some of our citizens with the fact tha t we do have people in this country who are willing to render public service at a great personal economic sacrifice, and apparently 

Dr. Hibbard is one of those. I commend him for that. In your response, Dr. Hibbard, to the questioning, it appeal’s t ha t your area of expertise is in research and in technical matters dealing with metals and mineral substances rather than in the practical 

operation of extraction. Is that what it comes down to?

Dr. Hibbard. That is correct, sir. Senator Moss. But you have as Deputy Director, as you have 

mentioned here before the committee, Mr. Memmott, who comes from my State of U tah, whose experience is on the practical side of the actual operation of mines and safety and matters of tha t sort, so would your response be tha t this happens to be a good relationship of a director and a deputy director who have expertise across the board, 

as it were?

Dr. Hibbard. Yes, sir. I have been very pleased with the opportun ity to work with Mr. Memmott. We seem to complement each other. We have worked very closely together on all matters so far and intend to continue to do so. I think his experience, and knowl­ edge, and practical activities in mining complement my own background very well, and th at this makes a really first-rate team. 1 am 

very pleased to have the opportunity to work with him. Senator Moss. 1 think there has been a feeling in the committee 

and elsewhere tha t perhaps the Bureau of Mines has sort of lagged in the research area, has at least slowed down quite a bit. Would it be your proposal to emphasize a strong research program, such as was 

mentioned by Senator Jordan in this area of taconite and old, used 

metal?

Dr. Hibbard. Yes, sir. I believe that there is an appropriate 

balance between research and other activities. I think, as you say, 

research has lagged a little bit. I have been very pleased with the competence of the scientists and engineers whom I have met in the Bureau of Mines. I think that with appropriate direction, guidance, and planning this research 

activity can be strengthened and enhanced and can be brought to bear in a more effective way for expanding and improving our minerals resources base and tackling some of the mineral resource problems 

which we are facing today.

Senator Moss. Than k you, Dr. Hibbard.
10 INTERIOR NOMINATION--- WALTER R. HIBBARD, JR .

I am personally pleased that you have been nominated for this 

position, and I expect you to tackle it with enthusiasm and vigor; a 

new man to inject new spirit, as it were, into the Bureau of Mines.

As Senator Gruening has mentioned, we who come from mining 

States have felt tha t perhaps we have been sort of left at the end of 

the line on national interest, and yet the development of our minerals 

and our mineral resources is one of the very fundamental ingredients 

of the economy of this country of ours.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The Chairman. Thank you, Senator Moss.

I believe Senator Anderson had a question or two.

Senator Anderson. I only wanted to explain my interest in the 

fact tha t you have had a limited experience in mining itself. 1 think 

there is a new awareness of the importance of mining in this country. 

The Bureau of Mines ought to be a leader in stimulating interest and 

support. J appreciate everything tha t Senator Gruening said because I think in Alaska there are tremendous opportunities for development and they ought to be realized as rapidly as possible with 

every help we can give them and every suggestion for help.

In my own state of New Mexico, the Kaiser Co. came in and bought 

the old Dawson Coal Products organization. A. new railroad is now 

almost finished. They have been talking about shipping several 

thousand tons of coal a day, and the Bureau of Mines seemingly 

doesn’t care a hoot if this development takes place. The people 

in our part of the country, do care, and care greatly.

Efforts are now being made to develop coal on the Navajo Reservation. Plans for transporting coal from our State to the west coast 

are under discussion. I don’t find the Bureau of Mines is doing 

anything to aid this project. I would like the Bureau of Mines 

sometime to be interested in development projects such as those 

underway in New Mexico.

The coal opportunities of our country are tremendous right now 

and ought to be utilized and ought to be developed every way they 

can. 1 would hope that in addition to interest in metallurgy and 

pots and pans you get interested in actual mining of coal and see 

what can be done to develop these areas tha t I think need to be 

developed.

Phelps Dodge closed down the Burro Mountain properties many 

years ago. Now they are talking of possibly reopening on a very 

large scale. They talk about it and the people of our State are 

enthusiastic about it, but the B ureau of Mines hasn’t been interested. 

I think the Bureau of Mines ought to be interested.

Dr. Hibbard. I agree, sir. I think the Bureau of Mines should 

be concerned with the technology and development of all of our 

mineral resources where they are of importance and significance to 

our national economy.

Senator Anderson. I am very glad that somebody who has the 

background and training can be appointed to head the Bureau of 

Mines so that he can assist us in developing our resources. The 

Bureau needs to exercise leadership to this end.
INTERIOR NOMINATION— WALTER R. HIBBARD, JR . 11

The Chairman. Any fu rther questions?

If not, in accordance with the practice of the committee in connection with nominations, the committee will stand in recess briefly for 

the purpose of resuming in executive session.

Before closing, I have received a statem ent from Senator Byrd of 

West Virginia endorsing this nomination and a telegram from Senator 

Allott of Colorado which was sent to him by Mr. Robert S. Palmer 

director of the Mining Industrial Development Board, Denver, Colo., 

also endorsing the appointment of Dr. Hibbard. Without objection, 

they will be placed in the record at this point.

(The statement and telegram follow:)

Statement of Hon. Robert C. Byrd, a U.S. Senator From the State of

West Virginia

I wish to lend my support to the nomination of Dr. Walter It. Hibbard, Jr., to 

become the uew Director of the U.S. Bureau of Mines. I cann ot stress too 

strongly the im portance of the Burea u of Mines to my Sta te of West Virginia, and, 

in Dr. Hibbard, I feel t ha t the vital work of this agency will be carried out with 

foresight regarding the adv anceme nts and progress th at m ust be made.

The need for this foresight in b oth the o perations of the Bureau of Mines and in 

new research was broug ht home t o me most vividly just this week. It followed an 

anno unceme nt th at a recent stu dy by the U.S. Geological Survey had discovered 

vast untap ped deposits of valuable oil shale underlying our country, and, of 

importa nce to West Virginians, it was noted th at this shale can conceivably be 

mined someday in most western sections of the S tate .

I do not know of any ann ouncem ent th at has stirred more inte rest in West 

Virginia t ha n the thou ght of th is new natural resource and of its value.

I was informed t ha t the B ureau of Mines is now engaged in preliminary research 

to convert this shale into oil—b ut only in locations where the shale is found to have 

a high prod uctiv e potentia l. I believe this is one of the fields in which Dr. Hibbard 

will tu rn his attention in order to expand and p erfect the research and to produce 

the oil necessary for our industry and the other needs of our expanding population.

Dr. Hib bard served as t he m anner of the Meta llurgy and Ceramics Research of 

the General Electric Research and Development Center in Schenectady, N.Y., 

prior to coming to Washington. In this field, I am told, he directed the work of 

more than 100 scientists in fun dam ental and applied research. He has also had 

experience as an associate professor in the Yale School of Engineering and was a 

member of th e National Academy of Science’s Materials Advisory Board, which he 

now serves as chairman.

Upon his selection to become the Director of t he Bureau of Mines, I wrote to 

Dr. Hibbard welcoming him to thi s agency and emphasizing some of the work

F

erformed by the Bureau of Mines which is of extrem e inte rest to West Virginia, 

believe his reply should be noted here. It said, in part:

“Although new in my present capacity, I am well aware of the importance of 

our Burea u’s work in t he development of the natur al resources of West Virginia, 

notably the Morgantown laboratory and th e health and safety activities thro ugh ­

out y our S tate.

“I have been told abo ut the joint work of the Bureau with the Public Health 

Service on dust control and you may be sure of my continued supp ort of this 

undertaking. The importance of coal to West Virginia and the Nation is well 

known to me. You can be sure th at I shall enth usiastically support the efforts 

of the Bureau in fu rthering the technology of coal and the economic well-being of 

the coal mining industry, inclu ding those whose livelihoods depend upon it.”

In this day of changing technology, we find not only a g reater demand for those 

ageless n atu ral resources— coal, oil, and gas—but also an ever-expanding need for 

newer, more convenient, and more economic development of them. I have g reat 

hope t ha t Dr. Hibbard will lead the Bureau of Mines along the road towa rd reaching these goals.
12 INTERIOR NOMINATION— WALTER R. HIBBARD, JR .

Denver, Colo., January 12, 1965.

Hon. Gordon Allott,

Senate Office Building,

Washington, D.C.:

The Colorado Mining Association endorses the app ointment of Dr. Wa lter 

Hibbard, Jr., as Director of the Bureau of Mines.

We app reciate his wide inte rest in mineral production.

Robert S. Palmee,

Director, Mining Industrial Development Board, State of Colorado.

The Chairman. Thank you very much, Dr. Hibbard. We appreciate having your forthright comments and candid responses this 

morning.

(Whereupon, at 11:44 a.m., the committee recessed, to reconvene in 

executive session.)

o