Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-08-03
HELIUM SUBTRACTED FROM
NATURAL GAS NEAR
. FORT WORTH.
Is Non Inflammable, and Makes
Impossible Such Disaster as
That at Chicago.

That at Chicago.
Fort Worth, Texas, Aug. 2.-Men
who were willing to sever all connec-
lions with their families and the rest
of the world, and spend the period
of the war at hard labor, under dam
gerous surroundings, were taken into
the now famous "rat trap" near
Cleveland, Ohio, about the time Amer
lea got into the world conflict, and
it was not until armistice was signed
that the world knew what was be-
ing done there. 1t then developed
that at this mysterious plant there
had been perfected destructive
agency that would have made proud
German cities mere holes in the
ground if it had been put in use.
But the "rat trap" was not the
only mysterious plant operated by the
government during the war. About
three mile north Of Fort Worth, in
closed in tight fence over which SOL
diers or sailors stood guard through
out the period Of the war, was plant
concerning which there was quite
as much mystery and which was quite
as closely guarded.
No word of it's establishment was
ever printed. Persons who learned of
its establishment knew of it merely
as "the government gas plant.
There were no details to be had. Of
fees in the First National Bank
building bore the legend "U. S. Navy
Argon Gas Plant" Navy officers in
charge were silent as the tomb.
Balloon Gas.
Eventually it became known that
the government was extracting from
the natural gas brought by the Lone
Star Gas company FROM the Petrolia
fields, substance known as helium.
This, if developed, was a non inflam-
mable balloon gas. 1t also was dis
covered that the government regard
ed the product as of the highest mill
tarfy Importance.
Somewhat later came the announce
ment that large plant for the ex-
traction of helium for the gas would
be built. A contract was let for a
fourteen-inch pipe line from Petrolia
and it was announced that after the
helium was extracted the gas would
be turned back into the mains of the
Lone Star Gas company, it's value
in no wise diminished and it's quantity
by only 10 per cent.
The bureau of yards and docks
Of the navy department advertised
for bids on the pipe line and plant
There was expended for the pipe ST.
! GOO, 900 and $500, 900 was the contract
price for laying it. The line is now
complete.
Recently the Central Contracting
company of Houston was awarded the
contracts for the buildings, which
will cost $4,000. Equipment will
bring the total cost of the plant and
pipe line up to $4,00O,00O. Building
contracted for include the following
One two-story frame and stucco Of
flee and labatory, 62x40 feet; one one
story concrete compression building,
j 290x47 feet; one-one-story concrete
warehouse 4O0x40 feet; one one
story concrete separation building,
Z 19Ox68 feet; one one-story concrete
boiler and pump house, 49x49 feet; one
one-story concrete nitroglycerin cyl
inder house, 1Ox10 feet; one .. one
story carbon dioxide removal build
ing, 86x20 feet; one one-story wood
lime mixing shed, 19x19 feet; steel
transformer towers 66x48 feet and
20x10 feet.
Produced in Quantities.
At this plant helium will be pro-
duced in quantities never before at
tempted. With it inflated balloons will
be safe against explosives. With the
balloons construed in compartments,
as is now the custom. an explosive
bullet may be fired into them with
out serious damage. This safety
against explosion is regarded as of
enormous value not only for war time
use but for commercial use.
Hehum was first discovered by
means Of the spectroscope in 1868 as
one of the gases surrounding the sun.
In 1895 it was first obtained on earth
by treating the mineral uranite with
acid. A few wears later it was found
to be part of the atmosphere hut in
such small quantities that is could not
be extracted profitably. Nothing de-
finite concernin" its orion is known
but it is the opinion of DR.. G. Sher-
burne Rogers of the United States
geological survey that it resules from
the decomposition of radium contained
in the rocks of the earth's crust.
Dexter, Kan, was tho first town
in the country at which helium in
natural gas was discovered. In 1903
q great gas we'll was drilled in at
cred frdl vbgk vbgk vbgk vbgkoj hgk
Dexter. The nearest gas production
had been some distance awav and
there was great excitement in the
little town when the we'll was BROUGHT
in. A great celebration was arran-
ged and it was MANNED as rart of the
ceremonies, to LIGHT the we'll.
A great crowd assembled. Tho
cap was removed from the we'll and
a lighted torch was applied It was
promptly snuffed out An investiga-
ton was made. Prof. H. P. Cary of
49, IY..s,,a,c:k,, Kc~ooc fo,,rJ A. -