The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1921-10-14
Manning Says Rare Gas Is Men.
Explosive, and Therefore
Safer Than Hydrogen.
MOST ABUNDANT IN U. S. A.
u 10 Now Recovered From Natural
oas-More Experimental Work In
tho Production of Helium
Urged by Van r. Manning.


Observation-Disclosures experimental
work In the production of helium ms
substitute for hydrogen gas for
dirigibles Is urged by Van Il. Man
ming. former director Of the United
States bureau of mines and new di-
rector Of research for the American
Petroleum institute. The terrible loss
or life In the ZR-2 disaster at Hull.
England, Mr.. Manhiag declared, ac-
cenfuates the need for an intensive
development of helium here.
The military and commercial use
or heiium for dirlgibles," said Mr..
Manning. "is generally recognized, al
though to date no practical utilization
OF this gas has been made except by
the government. In the spring of 1917,
as the director of the bureau of mines
1 approved preliminary investigation
as to the possibilities of the produc-
ton OF helium as war measure, and
as a result cooperative effort was
instigated by the Interior, Army and
Navy departments looking toward the
solving Of a problem which was i'm
portant to our own and our allies In
terests. Prompt and quick results
were desired.
Results Satisfactory.
1T can be said to the credit of
these branches of our government
that satisfactory results were OBJ
tainef, although not In time to put
into actual service dirigibles filed
with helium. Ample funds were al
loted by the Army and Navy depart
ments to the bureau Of mines. Inte-
flor department. and experiments were
Immediately begun with three proc
esses. One process was proved to
DO successful. another not wholly sue
cassful and the third plant has been
operating experimentslly up to few
weeks ago. The fact is that the gov
ernment Is now operating a large
helium production plant, with ca
pacity Of 10000 cubic feet of helium
per day.
MAI. L. q. Van Nostrand of the
United States army, who was to have
beer one of the officers on the i'll
fetea ZR-2, was one Of the collabora-
tors I'm the development of this work
snd fully appreciates the Importance
% helium for drigibles and balloons,
ID credited by the press with the state
nient that had the ship been filed
With helium 1t is doubtful IL such an
accident could have happened
Expense Justified.
AS one who had to bear the respon-
aibility for the experimental work
until a year ago, cannot emphasize
too strongly the statement that the
government expenditures, large ms
they were, In separating helium from
natural gas for use In dirigibles.
whether for military or commercial
purposes, have Thoroughly justi-
f0d. and It wilr be obvious to any
one who has even a superficial idea
n the uses for helIum that ample
finds should be forthcoming from the
government and private sources to
CURRY on further experimental work.
The government Is now the chief user |
Of helium, and should like to direct |
the attention of our country to the |
Importance Of continuing active and |
development of the rigid
airship and helium programs previous
" undertaken by congress to the end
that the officers and men who forfeited
their lives may not have died in vain"
The story OF helium was described
b. Mr.. Manning as zone of the ro-
lnances of science" at may be Of
Interest at this time." he said. ito