Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1921-12-23
WAS NOT ENOUGH
HELIUM FOR zR-2
Worlds Supply of NonexpIosive
Balloon Gas Would Not
Have Filled Gas Bag.
PROFESSOR CADY GIVES FACTS
Tells of Governments Experiments
With HeIum and Cost Of Produc-
ing 1t in Experimental Stages
Found in Three States.


Lawrence, Kap.-All the helium or
nonexplosive balloon gas now avail
able in the world would have been en-
tirely inadequate to lift the ZR-2, the
dirigible that was to have been the
nucleus of Americas air navy, accord
ing to statement by Prof. H. P. Cady
of the University of Kansas depart
ment of chemistry. Doctor Cady dis
covered that helium was constituent
of the natural gas Of Kansas, Okla
homa and Texas, and performed no
table experiments in the early days OF
the World war in developing processes
for commercial production of helium.
Before the war, he said, probably
not more than a hundred cubic feet
of this gas had been obtained in
fairly pure state, and that was secured
at cost Of $1,700 to $1,000 u cubic
foot for experimental purposes. Total
production after extensive expert
ments by the United States govern
ment probably does not exceed 100000
cubic feet up to the present, but while
the cost of production has been re-
duced greatly, still this cost. compared
to the cost of hydrogen, commonly
used for Initiating balloons, is tremen-
dOusly high.
Forced to Use Hydrogen.
ut is not strange, then" said Doc
tor Cady, ''that England used the COM
paratively inexpensive hydrogen for
the ZR-2. During the experimental
stages the gas bag had to be emptied
at times to allow changes in the struc-
ture. Practically the only place to get
the helium is from the natural gas OF
Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, and
thus far processes of reduction have
not been perfected. Only / per cent
or less of the natural gas is helium.
and this helium has to be refined to
purity of 90 per cent or better before
It has the noninfammable quality de-
manded for safety in balloon construc-
ton.
"I am inclined to think helium never
will come into general use for COM
merciaI airships, if such vehicles be-
come common. The limited quantity
of the material, it's high cost and its
value in war balloons probably will
make it imperative for the government
to reserve all helium for its own USE
Doctor Cady explained that even the
best balloon covers did not prevent
entirely the escope of lifting gases, and
1t is necessary constantly to supply
fresh gas. This is more true of hy-
drogen than of heliuin, but the vast
age is there, and the continued opera
ton of even small feet of war bal
looms would demand constant supply
of fresh helium. Experiments at the
University of Kansas showed that the
helium must be nearly go per cent
pure in order to be safe. Similar ex-
periments in Canada showed compare
lively small explosions when mixtures
containing only IS per cent of helium
were ignited.
Find -HeIium in U. S.
The attempts to produce helium in
commercial quantities in the United
States date from 1916 The year be-
fore the English government had
sought samples of gas from America
In its search for helium for use in air
ships The United States was not then
at war and proceeded cautiously. DR..
r. B. Moore of the United States bu-
reau of mines, who had received the
British communication, recalled that
Doctor Cady and his assistant, d. f..
Mcfarland, had discovered the gas in
unusual quantities in the mid-conti-
nent natural gas, and later Doctor
Cady and G. w. Seibel, also of the Uni
versity of Kansas, were employed In
the plans for the construction later of
three helium plants in Texas.
Two small plants were completed in
March and May, 1918, and began the
production of helium. Their output
was not great, but 100000 cubic feet
of helium had been produced and
much of it had been compressed into
cylinders for shipment to France when
the signing Of the armistice made that
unnecessary. A third plant at Petro-
liza, Texas, near Fort Worth, was com
pleted a few days before the armistice.
and experimentation was continued
there after the war until halted by
diminished appropriations.
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