The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-08-20
Teachers From All u. S.
Cities Are In War Zone

ally the only center for the manufac-
ture OF radium, and consequently
many OF the contracts for the deliv-
cry OF American-manufactu radi-
um have been made with foreign hos
pitfalls and medical authorities.
Since the beginning of the war OF
tho european nations not only have
these contracts been Cancelled, but
foreign manufacturers, who produce
the bulk OF the finished product at
the present time. will be compelled
to close down. The carnotite ore-min-
Ing industry In the United States,
therefore, has no market for its out
put, and its very life Is threatened,
according to officials lof the United
states department Of the interior.
Miners and prospectors In the
american carnotite fields at the pres
ent time are absolutely dependent
upon foreign markets for the sale OF
tneir ores. The American company
which produces radium mines the ore
from Its own deposits and has pur-
chased very little from independent
miners. II appears, therefore, to
Secretary Lane and members OF the
senate and house OF Representatives
who are interested In radium legisla.
ton that the sale Of the carnotite ore
VIII greatly diminish because OF the
war and perhaps will altogether
cease. as there will be no buyers.
The natural thing to be expected
would be that the American company
would purchase carnotite ores 1t q
much lower price from the indepen-
dent miners who have lost the BUSH
ness OF the foreign markets, but this
Is said to be offset by the probability
that the American manufacturers or
radium will lose their chief market
for the finished product-Europe.
Before both houses Of congress,
Secretary Lane and government ex-
perts testified during the past winter
In favor OF measure now pending
which gives to the government q
preferential right to purchase radium
ores from public land at prices to
be adjusted every six months by the
secretary OF the interior, and i'm
poses conditions that will require the
full and prompt development Of the
carnotite fields for the benefit Of the
general public. This bill Is drawn
TO encourage prospecting and mining,
as well as TO stimulate domestic
manufacture or radium for American
hospitals, and will give the men who
discover the carnotite ore q steady
market for their product and will in
sure prompt payment for the material
when sold.
The situation as viewed by interior
department experts il so serious that
unless congress steps In and acts
quickly upon the bill now pending,
which provides for the government
purchase or the carnotite ore from
which radium Is extracted, the in
dustry will be crippled beyond hopes
OF recovery for many months, and
perhaps. years.
This, II Is said, means q heavy loss
to all those who are interested In the
carnotite fields Of the west. But an
aspect OF the situation which appears
even more serious to the interior de-
partment and public health service
officials Is the fact that the hospitals
In this country will be delayed for
many months in acquiring an ade-
quate supply OF radium for. the treat
ment OF cancer and other dangerous
growths, and that humanity will have
to undergo untold suffering because
OF the lack Of provisions for the man.
ufacture OF an adequate supply OF
radium
At the present time there Is only
approximately three grams OF radium
In the United States. The European
hospitals have at their disposal ap.
proximately 40 to 80 grams. Surgeon
generals of the army and navy can
use a supply OF approximately 10
grams OF radium In the army and
naval hospitals, and the United States
public health service has asked for
20 grams for it's 81 hospitals.
The radium bill now pending In
the senate and house provides for
the construction Of government
plant to extract radium from the ores
which are produced, and Secretary
Lane and DR.. Joseph A. Holmes. d.
rector Of the bureau Of mines, be-
lieve that the government can pro-
duce its own radium at one-third or
the amount which II will cost at pres
ent market rates. The governments
chief mineral chemist. DR.. Charles L.
Parsons, says that the processes
which have already been experiment.
ed with by the government prove
that this can be done. The present
cost of 80 grams OF radium needed
by the government hospitals alone
would be approximately $4,000 900.
Oficials point out that the passage
of the radium bill would not only
mean a saving Of two-thirds of this
TO the government In the pur-
chase OF manufactured radium, but
would at the same time give the
miners and prospectors in the carno-
lite fields an Immediate market for
their ores.
Among the ~ employees Of the
Pennsylvania railroad who retired on
pension April Of this year was one