Evening journal., 1913-10-10
RADIUM FOR
The MASSES
DUPONT PLAN
purchase Of fitChbIendeMineS
Was Made to Benefit
Humanity
OWNER HAS NO
IDEA OF MONOPOLY

Alfred I. DUPONT, vice president OF
the dupont Powder Company, an
nounced last night that his motive in
buying four mines in Colorado is the
production Of radium in such quanti-
ties and at such a cost that It can be
utilized by surgical experts in their
search for a cure for cancer. A re-
porter for THE EVENING JOURNAL
endeavored to find Mr.. DUPONT yester-
day to interview him about his pur-
chase of the pitchblende mines, but
he could not be located. Mr.. DUPONT
issued a statement last night and de-
MED the rumors that he is trying to
form a worldwide monopoly in
radium. Mr.. DUPONT said:
Il have owned these mining prop
critics for several years. During this
time development work has been go
ing on to establish such uranium val
ues as the properties may contain.
Pitchblende. which is uranium oxide,
is the best source from which radium
can be produced, of which there is
very little in the world.
"As a matter of fact the particular
deposits in these mines are the most
valuable discovered up 70 this time,
although new mines may be discover
ed.
"I have been doing this develop
ment work with the idea that II a
large enough deposit could be To-
Gated to warrant the erection Of a
concentrating plant and the establish
ment Of a radium laboratory / would
erect this laboratory, the main OBJ
ject being TO produce radium bro
mide, the salt Of radium most COM
monty used for medical purposes, at
a price which would bring II within
the reach OF the masses. The indica-
tons at present are that such a sup
ply of ore will shortly be developed.
There has been no corporation
formed TO market radium. We have
taken out of our mines about 200 tons
worth about $4,000 a ton. have
entered into no negotiations with
either the American government or
the French government, or effected
any combination in the radium mar
ket, nor shall I effect any such COM
bination unless II be 10 the interest
of the citizens Of the United States
and not of a foreign country. have
nothing to do with the proposal men,
toned in other countries of forming
a worldwide monopoly in radium.'
Mr.. DUPONT took from a cabinet II
hts private office different specimen
of uranium oxide ores which hav'
tested as high as 80 per cent. TIT
pres range in percentage tests as loV
as 2 per cent Ores of the loves
quality. he explained, are brought al
% 10 per cent. ores by concentra
ing process. at which point extrac
ions can be made. The process o
producing radium from the ores, b.
explained is one Of fractional distilla
ion, requiring at least 1000 such dis
citations. II requires one year 10 ex
ract a gram of radium from a givei
quantity of ore, there being roughl,
about 10 to 10 grams in existence
Mr. DUPONT added.
Utilizing the principle Of radio.a
dvity. Mr.. DUPONT has devised
unique method of testing the qualit,
Of radium producing ores. The i'm
pressions made on Photographic plate
bv the light waves emanating fror
pitchblende of high percentage IN
dark room is the method he is EN-
ploying. Mr.. DUPONT showed a mum
Der of photographs Of radioactive
taken by himself. A key placed o.
high grade pitchblende ore in
dark room will be reproduced dis
tinctly on a Photographic plate. Tn
distinctness Of the picture depend
on the amount Of radio-activity in tn
ore, which ! n turn depends on tn
percentage Of uranium oxide II cor
tains.
Il is said that Mr.. DUPONT has al
ready invested s1s0,000 in operatin
expense. and that at least $4,000
more would 60 into buildings and ap
paratus before the first gram of radi
um will be extracted.
Hermann G. G. Thafehrn, note
French metallurgist and a represen
tative Of the French government,
now at the mines.
One of Mr.. duPont's intimate as
sociates in. his radium producin
project is DR.. Howard Kelley, of Ba'
timore. one of the noted surgeons {
the country, who is on the stan {
Johns Hopkins University. DR.. Ke
ley's experiments have led him to b'
lieve that radium treatment woul
prove the ultimate cure of cancer.
was largely on account Of the succes
Of DR.. Kelley's experiments that NJ
DUPONT became interested in the d.
Telopment Of radium from uraniul
oxide, or pitchblende, as It is con
monty known.