Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-04
F1ELIUM EXPERT BEGINS SEARCH
OF ROCKIES FOR NEWER FLOW
Experiences of Lieut.. Bottoms in Texas.
Oklahoma and Utah Have Revived
Interest In Balloon Gas.

Once in a while one hears human
story that challenges interest in an
otherwise unromantic element or in
dustry. Such story is that of Lieut..
r. r. Bottoms, u. S. N. r., a helium
engineer, who believed, and whose faith
in that belief led him to seek and find
the richest supply of helium-bearing
gas the world has ever known.
Helium is one of five rare atmospheric
gases, characterized by their compare
tive rarity. their chemical inertneSS and
the fact that they are monatomic ele-
ments. Back in 1895 the first helium
was located Tin test tube) and named.
For Is years the gas was the plaything
of scientists the world over. And at
the end of that time 1t was determined
to be existant in minute quantities in
many gases. as well as in the atmos-
pl1ere to the extent of one volume in
1856 1000. Most scientists had questioned
its existence In large enough quanti-
ties, or rich enough quality, to make
publication on large scale practical.
Helium was first suggested for use
for imitation of lighter -than-air ships
in England in 1914. Heliun1, next to
hydrogen, is the lightest known gas, and
while 10 per cent heavier than n.y.
drogen. will not burn, as does hydro
gen. The question Of its use for aero
nautics was taken up seriously In
England, but 1t was not until during
the war that it was brought to the
attention of the United States Army
and Navy officials, where 1t met with
favorable reception.
Funds were allotted for three ex-
perimental plants, and these expert
ments pointed out that helium produce
ton was not only feasible, but could
be accomplished at practical price.
Then the Government built a large
helium plant at Fort Worth, Tex, under
jurisdiction of the United States Navy,
later transferred to the Bureau of
Mines OF the Department Of Commerce.
Cause Of Enthusiasm.
The natural gas used for helium ex-
traction at this plant produced about
It's per cent heliun, not very rich
return, but the good qualities of helium
for lighter-than-air operations were
such that enthusiasm was manifest.
Recently the Bureau of Mines aban-
doned the Fort Worth plant, due to the
completion of vastly larger plant at
Amarillo Tex. During the life of the
Fort Worth plant about SO 900, 900 cubic
feet of helium were produced. So much
for governmental production of helium.
In 1928 Lieut.. Bottoms was in charge
OF the United States Nays helium re-
publication plant at Lakehurst, N. j.,
and wide awake to the possibilities of a
development he had made-a process
for the economical separation of helium
from the natural gases on which it is
borne
Hitherto the attitude of the aeronau-
tical engineer toward helium had been
"Helium gas is fine, but since 1t Is so
rare, where will we find enough to make
it economical for use, even considering
the extra safety factor, due to nom
inflammability?"
Bottoms credo was something like
this: my process will make 'helium
cheaper. AS long as there is any
helium, this will be true. II we can
make it cheap enough, its possibilities
for use In airships are infinite. There
is a real field for commercial indus
try able to produce helium enough to
meet the demands. If the available sup
ply Is not great enough, should be
able to locate an adequate supply by
thorough survey OF existing natural gas
sources"
So Bottoms had two gifts-his pro-
duction process and his credo. ADO 10
this the discernment to realize that
both we're worthless without hacker
through whom he could get action. He
hunted a backeT-New York, Phila-
Celphia, Henry Ford, the Marland on
Co. and other oil companies and gas
manufacturers. Nowhere did he ma
the desired financial support.
Disheartened, the project was drop
ned for a few months. Then q friend,
the secretary Of the Gas Manufacturers
Association, suggested that he see the