Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1921-12-09
Manning Says Rare Gas Is Non-
Explosive, and Therefore
Safer Than Hydrogen.
MOST ABUNDANT IN U. S. A.
;. !. Now Recovered From Natural
c..-More Experimental Work In
tho Production Of He''um
Urged by Van r. Manning.

wosbington.-Further experimental
cork in the production Of helium as
substitute for hydrogen gas for
d,r,gibles Is urged by Van II. Man.
s,no former director of the United
states bureau Of mines and new d.
actor of research for the American
petroleum institute. The terrible loss
of life in the ZR-2 disaster at Hull.
england. Mr.. Manning declared, ac-
centuates the need for an intensive
development Of helium here.
1.-THE military and commercial use
Of helium for dirigibles," said Mr..
Manning, "is generally recognized, al
though to date no practical utilization
Of this gas has been made except by
tho government. In the spring Of 1917,
os the director of the bureau of mines
approyed a preliminary investigation
nc 70 the possibilities Of the prOduc-
tion of helium as a war measure, and
as result cooperative effort was
instipated by the Interior, Army and
NAVY departments looking toward the
solving Of problem which was i'm
portant to our own and our allies in
terests. Prompt and quick results
we're desired.
Results Satisfactory.
aft can be said to the credit Of
these branches of our government
that satisfactory results were OBJ
tanned, although not in time to put
into actual service dirigibles filled
with helium. Ample funds were al.
loted by the Army and Navy depart
ments to the bureau of mines, 1nte-
rior department, and experiments were
Immediately begun with three proc
esses. One process was proved to
be successful, another not wholly sue
cessful and the third plant has beer
operating experimentally up to few
weeks ago. The fact is that the gov
eminent is now operating large
helum production plant, with ca
pacity Of 10000 cubic feet of heliun
per day.
Maj. p. e. Van Nostrand of the
United States army, who was to have
been one of the officers on the i'll
fated ZR-2, was one Of the collabOra
tors in the development of this worl
and fully appreciates the importanc,
of helium for dirigibles and balloons
is credited by the press with the state
ment that had the ship been filled
with helium 1t is doubtful If such al
accident could have happened
Expense Justified.
"As one who had to bear the respon
sibllty for the experimental worl
until year ago. l cannot emphasize
too strongly the statement that tn,
government expenditures. large a
they were, In separating helium iron
natural gas for use In dirigibles
whether for military or commercial
purposes, have been thoroughly JUST
fed, and it will be obvious to an,
one who has even superficial ide;
of the uses for helium that ampl,
funds should be forthcoming from tn
government and private sources (,
carry on further experimental work
The government is now the chief use
Of helium, and | should like to direc
the attention Of our country to tn
Importance of continuing active an,
Immediate development Of the rigt,
airship and helium programs previous
~ undertaken by congress to the en-,
mat the officers and men who forfeite,
helr lives may not have died in vain.
Inc story of helium was describe,
by Mr. Manning as zone of the ro
n''hces or science" ut may be o
interest at this time" he said, 81