The New York herald., 1922-02-23
CONGRESS CUT OFF
FUNDS FOR HELIUM
Continued from First Page.

in this manner. Something r1ust be
done to prevent these giant airships
from being a menace. We must either
quit spending millions on them or make
them safe"
In direct opposition to this view is
Representative Kahn, chairman OF the
House Military Affairs Committee. who
declared such disasters mean that the
United States should continue its activi-
ties in all forms of aviation and there
fore MAINTAIN mastery OF the air.
"The thirty-four men who lost their
lives in the catastrophe are martyrs to
the cause" said Mr.. Kahn. Their sac
rifice must not be In vain and America
cannot permit other nations &c continue
development of aircraft while she stands
idly by. We must keep abreast of the
world.
1T is to be hoped that enough helium
gas can be produced for all our lighter
than air craft. Probably this substance
would have availed for the Roma. Had
1. been used this terrible accident would
not have claimed such toll Of lives.
Lieut. c. S. Tinker of the United
States Naval Reserve force. who was
detailed as one of the naval observers
in bringing the ZR-2 TO the United
States was outspoken in his con6emna-
tion OF the failure of Congress to pro-
vide enough funds for the full opera
tion of the helium plants at Fort Worth
and Petrolia, Texas. Lieut.. Tinker was
not aboard the ZR-2 when the airship
collapsed, but was in London, preparing
10 make the trip across the Atlantic,
when the proper time arrived.
AS soon as l landed in the United
States" Lieut.. Tinker said to-day, u
started an agitation to prevent any
lighter than air craft from going eff
the ground unless filled with helium.
Soon afterward the CT was put in
shsp.. filled with helium and tested.
However, Congress would not approprl-
ate the money 10 run the fine S7,000,0O0
plants Mt Fort Worth and Petrolia.
Everything there is in readiness for
the development of a large heljum
supply. Pipe lines have been laid be-
tween the two stations for the purpose
of piping the helium from Petrolia TO
Fort Worth. Enough could be develoed
there 90 fill twenty airships as large
as the Roma. The great flasks, or tanks,
at Potrolia arc sufficiently large to hold
20, 900. 10000 cubic feet of helium.
Congress Is responsible for allowing
this valuable gas TO go by unused, and
II Is responsible for any loss OF life
which occurs through the burning Of
hydrogen filled envelopes
"The appropriation of $4,000 would
permit the working of these plants to
their full capacity, and the helium
could be stored for future use. Helium
once recovered will last forever There
is no loss and It does not evaporate. 1t
Is an inert gas and does not evaporate."
'ITeHum Is taken from natural gas
which, as II comes from the wells, is
piped into a refrigerator. The other
gases liqucfy. but the helum remains.
Then the other gases are run off and
used
Congress should act immedia tely to
start up these helium plants. because
when the supply OF natural gas I'm
Texas Is exhausted the supply OF helium
also will be gone. Then the plants will
have 20 be moved 10 some other point"
Congress- provided s25o000 last year
for the operation OF the hellum plants.
br' the works had 90 be shut down on
. ,ember 20 because the funds were in
Sufficient. The appropriations had been
cut down $4,000 Representative Lam
hum Dem. Texasl intends to ask that
$4,000 be provided in tho appropriation
bills this year 30 that there may be n
full operation OF the plants and also
provision for storage. The plants are
operated Jointly by the army and navy.
Immediately after the accident 20 the
Roma War Department officials UNDER
stood that helium had been In the III
fated airship's gas bags. n had been
said that the gas was removed be-
cause there was not enough % u. II
now develops that the only heiium
which has been used is IN tho navy
dlrgibe CO. an airship much smaller
than tho Roma.
Major-Gen. Patrick. Chief OF the
Army Air Service. will arrive In WASH
ington tomorrow morning on the Nor
folk boat 20 report IN person 10 Secrc-
tary Weeks on the details OF tho dis
aster He made the strip from Wash
ington TO the scene OF the accident by
airpane as soon az he heard that the
airship had met with mishnp.
Cen. Patrick informed the War Dc-
partmcnt to-day that board OF Of
ficcrs had been designated TO fix the
cause OF the disaster. They arc Majors
Davenport Johnson, president: John IT,
Jouett ana Joseph p. McNarney. all of
tho air service
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