Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-29
Radium Supply Limited.

dppSdlS W bt III the L uilcu
States less than two grams of radium-
that is, less than Il of an ounce" the
Secretary says. This is valued at S120,-
0Go gram, and all of 1t has been pro-
cured from Europe, where there exist
in France. Austria. Germany and Eng
land laboratories for its manufacture.
, Three-fourths of the radium produced in
the world during the year 1912 came from
American ores. yet We have up to this
time taken no steps whatever to pre-
serve for our own people this invaluable
metal. and our physicians and hospitals
are dependent upon European labora
tories for such supply as they can pro-
cure. and are subject TO whatever
monopoly charge the European labora-
tories demand for their product.
1t is not possible to procure at the
present time SO much as additional
gram of radium. One American physician
informs me that after a search of Europe
he has been promised a gram in the
course of the next year. which was the
earliest time it was possible to secure a
promise of even this slight amount.
1t appears to have been established
that radium, when applied in time, is
"a cure for superficial cancer and some
of the highest authorities advise that
there is no reason to doubt the ef-
fectiveneSs of radium cure for
internal cancer. but that so far we
have not been able to secure a suf-
onstrate how far within the body its
rays will be effective. One of the two
expert medical authorities in the
United States upon this subject has
said that with larger supply of the
mineral he believed it possible to reach
anywhere within the body and effec-
lively eliminate the diseased cells. Be
cause, however OF the small amount
of the mineral available it cannot be
used in such experiments so great is
the necessity for it in cases where a
cure is known to be possible.
Cancer Cases Numerous
AT present those who have radium
are forced to the awful alternative of
selecting between patients Oh whom it
will be used. Inasmuch authorities
have estimated that one person out of
ten in the United States over fifty years
of age suffers from cancer it would APP
pear to be difficult to overestimate the
necessity for securing Immediately as
large d supply as possible of this mys-
terious remedy. and especially is this
burden cast upon this country, wherein
thus far have been found the largest
deposits of those minerals in which it
is borne.
"Radium is found in ores carrying
uranium and vanadium. which are used
extensively in the arts, and the proc
esses by which it is extracted are
secret. process has been invented
by the chemists in bureau of mines
which promises, from the laboratory
experiments thus far made, to be sue
cessful. Under the endowments of two
Americans a building is now being
erected in Denver (Which, with it's
equipment will be opened for work in
the coming February. in which an eff
fort will be made to prove the CONNER
cial possibility of this American proc
ess. If successful, this process will
be given to the world. and all of the
Il
minimum viii be the property of the
United States, and will be put into the
hands of the United States hospital
service for public use
Withdrawal of Lands Recommended.
Under all these circumstances it seems
to me that the only prudent course that
the United States can follow is TO with
draw such of its lands as are supposed
to contain radium from public entry
This will guard against these lands be-
ing taken up by those who would not put
them to their highest and most beneficial
use Ii would be inhuman to deprive
other nations of access TO our radium
deposits il they alone were masters of
the secret by which this mineral could
be secured. and il is believed that there
is a sufficient amount of carnotite and
pitchblende already in private ownership
in this country to permit of continued
European experimentation and production.
The people of the United States. how
ever. should be entitled to protection
against the exhaustion of this resource
and its exclusive control by the scientists
of other lands.
IF the proposed joint resolution can
be promptly enacted into law 1 am ad-
vised by the geological survey that ii
will be possible Immediately to withdraw
a considerable area of public land be-
lieyed to contain radium. Unless prompt |
acffnn is taken. however, there Is !
to fear that these lands will become the |
ba sis of private speculation