The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-09-05
USE OF HEL|UM
OPENS UNLIMITED
AVIATION SERVICE

NEW YORK-The increasing pro-
duction Of helium gas is opening a
new field for American activity, says
Lieutenant M. F. Eddy, of the navy
recruiting station, "a East Twenty
third street. That field is found in
ment of dirigibles and nonrigid air
ships. Men who enlist in the navy
now will be virtual pioneers in learn
ing what promises to be one of the
great industries Of the future, says the
Evening Sun.
The discovery of quantities of he
lium gas in Texas was one of the in
tereSting secrets of the war If the
Germans had had helium to initiate
their Zeppelins for air raids. experts
figure, the bravery Of the allied avi.
ators would have counted for little.
The weakness Of the Zeppelins lay
In the inflammable nature Of the
gases they used and it was this fac
tor which led to calling off their Yep
pelin campaign. 1t was this factor,
too, which played havoc with observa-
ton balloons along the front.
Helium Is heavier than oxygen and
lighter than nitrogen. 1t was found
to the extent Of l percent Of certain
natural gases in Texas. To produce it
everything else has to be liquified
the helium alone remaining gaseous
1t was first identified by Sir Joseph
Norman Lockyer in 1868 during OBJ.
servation of an eclipse of the sun
Professor Ramsey found 1t on the
earth in clevite in 1895 and it occurs
also in other minerals associated with
argon and nitrogen. 1t is also found
IN the earth's atmosphere, in gases
from certain mineral waters and in
lmeteoric iron.
The discovery OF the gas In Texas
was kept secret until after the arms
tice, being shared by the American
navy department with the British ad
miralty. The production was In the
hands Of Admiral Griffen.
School for Mechanics.
In the balloon service today men il
almost every trade will find opportun
ity to develop their talent, whether
fabric workers, machinists, wirework
ers, carpenters or metal workers
Training is not essential, for these
trades, the navy maintaining a schoo
for aviation mechanics at Great Lakes
ILL.,, where young men with ambition
and aptitude may receive instruction
Or they may decide to which air sta
ton they wish to be sent and there be
trained on active duty.
From the Hampton roads air station
Lieutenant John G. Paul has been sen,
for recruiting duty to "a East Twenty
third street, to talk with candidates
and explain to them what the service
offers. Lieutenant Paul was detailed
by the navy department to furnish
and maintain all balloons for the flee
during maneuvers last winter in Gu
ban waters. At that time had it no
been for the zeal and initiative O.
many inexperienced men furnished
from the ships, he would inevitabl!
have failed. But these raw men tool
hold with such will that he was en-
abled to make his work successful.
: At Hampton Roads the navy has es
tablished its most important air sta
ton. Here the fleet assemblies ant
carries out maneuvers on the water
of Chesapeake bay, making the Hamp
, ton Roads air station base for aeria
operations in conjunction with the bat
tie fleet. The Hampton Roads station
has likewise been chosen as the avia
ton experimental station. Here new
. types of plane are tried out, new de
| vices tested; the men engaged on thi
work are on the inside; the mysterie
! and secrets of their service to then
lare an open book. Here also is to b,