Evening journal., 1913-10-10
RADIUM FOR
The MASSES
DUPONT PLAN
purchase OF PitChbIendeMlneS
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 radfum in such quanu-
ties and at such a cost that II 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 10
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 10 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 lne WOIl0
"As a matter OF fact the particular
deposits in these mines are the most
valuable discovered up to 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 70 warrant the erection OF a
concentrating plant and the establish
nent 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 Il within
the reach of the masses. The indica-
tions 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 $1,000 a ton. I have
entered into no negotiations with
either the American government or
the French government, or enected
any combination in the radium mar
ket nor shall l effect any such COM
bination unless it be TO the interest
OF the citizens of the United States
and not OF a foreign country. I have
nothing 70 do with the proposal men
toned in other countries Of forming
a Worldwide monopoly In radium.'
Mr. dupont took from a cabinet ir
his private office different specimen
Of uranium oxide ores which hav'
tested as hish -as 40 per cent. Th'
ores range in percentage tests as Low
as 2 per cent. Ores Of the loves
luaiity. he explained. are brought VI
% 15 per cent. ores by q concentra
ing process. at which point eNtrac
ions can be made The process o
producing radium from the ores. h
explained is one Of fractional distilla
ion. requiring at least 1000 such die
citations. II requires one year TO eX
ract a gram OF radium from a giveI
1uanuty OF ore. there being roughl.
about 10 to u grams in existence
Mr DUPONT added
Utilizing the principle Of radioac
hvlty, Mr. DUPONT has devised
unique method Of testing the quality
Of radium producing ores. The i'm
pressions made on Photographic plate
by the light waves emanating iron
pitchblende Of high percentage In
dark room is the method he Is EN-
ployine. Mr.. DUPONT showed a mum
ber Of photographs Of radioactive
taken by himself A key placed ol
a 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 III
ore which / turn depends on IN
percentage Of uranium oxide Il con
tains.
Il is said that Mt. DUPONT has al
ready invested S1s0,000 in operatin
expense and that at least $4,000
more would go into buildings and ap
paratus before the first gram OF radl
um will be extracted.
Hermann G. c. Thafehrn. a note
French metallurgist, and a represen
tative Of the French government,
now az the mines.
One Of Mr. duPont's intimate as
sociates in his radium producin
project Is Or. Howard Kelley, Of Bal
timore. one Of the noted surgeons {
the country. who Is on the star {
Johns Hopkins University. DR.. Ke
ley's experiments have led him 10 b'
lieve that radium treatment woul
prove the ultimate cure Of cancer.
was largely on account Of the succef
Of DR.. Keileys experiments that NJ
dupont became interested In the d
velopment Of radium from uraniul
oxide, or pitchblende, as It is con
monty known.