The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-10-16
Interesting Exhibit of Radiant
Metal in the United States Gov
eminent Building = American
Sources of Radium Ores.

WRITTEN FoR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
To inform the popular mind OF the Won
ders of the latest scientific mystery, radi-
um: to show the location of its ores in the
United States. and to explain its possible
uses and practical limitations. the Depart
ment OF the Interior is making an exhibit
at the Worlds Fair which probably has
no equal anywhere.
Not only are shown specimens Of all
known radium-bearirs minerals. with de-
scriptions OF their location and compost
ton. but the effects of the new element
on animal and plant life and or certain
diseases are exhibited In specimens and
photographs. and there are daily lectures
on the general subject of radioactive sub
stances. with special reference to the rays
of radium.
That the efforts of the Government TO
disseminate knowledge of this straIigest
of elements is appreciated is amply proved
by the eager attention Of the crowds Y hich
daily pack the auditorium in the Govern
ment building. where the lectures are
given. and by the thousands Of questions
daily p~ropounded to attendants about the
exhibits. In charge of the display is Mr..
j. c.. Boykin, chief special agent of the In
terror Department. who modestly disclaims
being an expert on radium. but possesses
an extensive store of information about
the new element.
Several noted scientists nave given
courses of lectures on radium, under Mr..
Boykin's mana cement. among the earliest
having been Doctor Alexander H. Phillips
Of Princeton University. che of the most
progressive Investigators of radium in the
United States. and the first 10 produce a
specimen OF radium salt from carnotite. an
American ore. Through August the lee
lures have been given by Professor Will
liam McKim Marriott Of the University o.
North Car Dina.
Each lecturer finds it necessary 10 go
into a somewhat extent led explanation of
how racfum came to be discovered. for
an appreciation of the achievement de-
pcnds upon a knowledge OF the difficulties
that had TO lie overcome. ~,'e.ssier tubes
are shown in manifold forms. In these
tubes and electric current, passed through
a vacuum. produces marvelo.is streams OF
light. capable of being varied IN color by
the use OF different igases III The tube. and
of defect on by the approach Of an electro
magnet. For years Geissler tubes appeared
to be simply a scientific curiosity. Lcthing
more.
EARLY DISCOVERIES.
Sir William Crookes experimental with
similar tubes. with a much higher vacuum.
and discovered several new and highly in
teresting phenomena. but little of in ne
date practical value. Then pane Pro-
lessor William c. Roentgen. Of WurtZ-
burg. Germany. who made a study of
SrOokes tubes. as those first made by the
English scientist are called. and discovered
BILE. He found that they were wonderful
in their power of penetration, but frankly
admitted. In naming them X-rays. that he
did not understand tneEI.
AT this point. among many others. Pro-
fessor Henri Becquerel Of Paris. took up
the investigation He found that certain
chemicals. notably compounds of uranium,
which became luminous (fuorescentD under
their own also. This became a certainty
when a specimen was left in a dark box
In close proximity to a Photographic plate
which had never been exposed. The plate
showed beyond doubt that some sort of
radiations from the chemical had produced
upon it the effect of light.
became wider. The new rays. which were |
properly attributed to uranium. were |
named after their d%iscoverer. But it re-
manned for a woman to carry the Same
iins OF Investigation further to the dis |
covery of a new element. by which the
whole scientific world was set agape and |
all accepted theories of the composition
Of matter we're rudely shaken to their
foundation.
Madame curie. a native of Poland. ex-
trenely poor. had come to Paris filled witt |
ambition TO study chemistry. and she sue
ceeded far beyond her hopes. Opportunity |
offered for an investigation of Bec1uerei
rays and her conclusion soon was reached
that uranium was not the only highly |
radioactive substance contained in the |
ore uranium oxide. %uraninite, pitchblende) |
from which the salts OF uranium were ex-
tracted. Careful tests showed that there
was even a greater degree of radioactivity |
in the residue of pitchblende after the |
uranium had been extracted than before |
The residue had hitherto been regarded as |
a waste product by the Bohemian glass |
manufacturers who had uses for the ura-
MUM Madame Curie believed that this |
radio-activitv might be due to a hitherto
undiscovered element.
1t remained to isolate. IL possible, this
new eieGlent; Funds were lacking even
for the purchase of the iridium bearing !
ores which were necessary. But ultimately |