The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-06-22
Walls of Lead Protect 1t and
Shield Passers-by From Per-
lis of Its EmanationS.

New York.-New York has the only
radium reservoir In the world. For
greater safety 1t is hidden away on top
OF one of the highest and most isoiat-
ed of the upper Broadway buildings, at
Fifty-seyenth street, facing Central
park. 1t Is swept by the four winds
OF heaven, without any nearby build
ing to interfere.
From this reservoir is continually
pumped the emanation which the ra-
dum produces and which is supplied
to physicians and hospitals every
where, provided they are competent to
use IL as an instrument in the allevia-
tion of human suffering.
As closely guarded as the United
States treasury, the reservoir contains
the largest supply Of pure radium un-
der individual control. Extraordinary
precautions are taken TO insure its
safety. as well as for the safety of
those who come in contact with the
emanation.
To gain true conception of the en-
taneous disintegration one must re-
member that the emission is unceas-
ing-almost perpetual motion. Year
In and year out, radium, without gen
orally consuming itself, emits energy
at a rate constant in proportion to its
amount-a feat which no nonradioac-
live substance can begin to accom-
blish. Radlum Is the direct parent Of
the emanation, and while II Is changing
more than a hunded thousand times
slower than its product, 1t constantly
maintains an equilibrium with its ema-
nation, the life of which is compare
lively fleeting.
An observer standing on the rise Of
ground in Central park beyond the
Fifty-ninth street and Columbus circle
entrance, II his gaze happened to dwell
on the upper parapet OF the tallest
building In his direct line division,
mct wonder. Looking southeast on a
sunny day he would observe bril-
liant reflection playing in and about
the windows of the western angle of
one Of the topmost stories. AT first 1t
might seem that some occupant was
trying with mirror TO concentrate the
SUMS rays on some one below In the
street. but the more the onlooker gaZed
the more perpleSing the problem would
become. 1t was solved by the writer
after he had traced the flashes to the
reflection of the suns rays on a num-
ber of bright-barred windows behind
which Is housed portion of the
worlds most precious element.
Under Strict Guard.
There was no "welcome" sign on
the door which gave access to the
place Of mystery. A visit was more or
less of an intrusion, for the reservoir
Is under watch and ward of physicists
and scientists who are not concerned
with advertising its existence. How
ever, they are not afraid of newspaper
investigation, and here in this high
section of building towering almost
to the skies, the most out-of-the-way
place conceivable for laboratory,
there was no resentment toward Wis
ltor who happened to have a nose for
news and followed II along novel
and interesting trail In crowded Broad
way.
From the beginning the visitor Is I'm
pressed with the fact that rndium at
all times Is a dangerous thing, and
that 1t Is fortunate such powerful
kgent therapeutically has, by virtue OF
It's own intrinsic value, been kept from
the hands of unskilled operators. The
scientists engaged In the work Of in.
vestigation behind the barred windows
showed by their demeanor that they
were conscious of their responsible
tiss. Since the discovery Of radloac-
tivity by Henri Becquerel In 1896 and
the finding Of radium by NJ. and Nine.
Curie, a moderate store of the ele-
ment has been accumulated. Doctor
Kuppelweiser Of Vienna gave the Ra-
dunn Institute Of Vienna to the Aca-
DENY OF Sciences of Austria, which
turned II over to the department of
physics OF the University Of Vienna.
The institute Is research Institution,
Offering no courses Of instruction and
accepting only investigators Of recog-