Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-05
HYDROGEN BLAST
NATURAL HAZARD
Bureau of Mines Engaged in
Producing HeIium for U. S.
Military Balloons.

The hydrogen explosion which de-
stroyed the giant British dirigible R-l0l
and 46 of her crew over France yester-
day was foreseen by the Bureau OF
Mines as the type of hazard which must
be guarded against if lighter-than-air
development is to be successful.
The bureau. which is engaged in the
production of helium gas to replace
hydrogen for the imitation of American
military balloons and dirigibles, declared
that the only hope for transoceanic
flights by dirigibles lies in the universal
use of helium, which is non-inflamable.
So far as is known, the Bureau Of
Mines pointed out, the United States
is the only nation having sufficient re-
sources of helium to develop CONNER
cial supply for aeronautics.
Following one of the recent flights
Of the Graf Zeppelin and the an
nouncement that construction has been
begun on two giant dirigibles for the
Navy which will exceed in size even
the ill-fated R-1O1, the Bureau of
are to offer the real assurance of
safety necessary to their successful use
they must depend for buoyancy on a
non-infiammable gas.
Hydrogen Extremely Explosive.
1.-THE only gas of this description
having the requirement of lightness is
helium, that very rare element which
is found, in small proportions. in Ger
tain natural gases" the Bureau stated.
LAS Is well known, the hydrogen gas
used as the lifting agent of the Graf
Zeppelin is extremely explosive, and the
accidental ignition of hydrogen has
been responsible for disasters to various
airships in the past.
The dirigibles operated by the Army
and the Navy of the United States are
provided with helium, but all foreign
owned aircraft must depend on the
highly inflammable hydrogen for their
buoyancy. This situation Is due to the
fact that the United States is the only
nation, so far as known, having suf-
ficient resources of helium TO develop
a commercial supply for aeronautics.
1T requires. however, great amount
of helium to fill the gas cells Of big
dirigible, a little over two and one-half
million cubic feet of helium being
needed for the Los Angeles. In those
rather rare natural gas deposits which
contain any helium at all, no more than
between l and 2 per cent by volume
of the gas can be extracted as pure
helium.
Petrolia Field Near End.
1.-THE known natural gas fields to
which the United States can look for
obtaining its helium are not inexhaust-
ible. In fact, the Petrolia field in
northern Texas, which has been the
principal source of supply, Is now in the
last stages Of its life after producing
gas for more than 20 years. Where,
then, are to be obtained the large sup
plies Of helium which will be necessary
for the continued safe operation of the
two air monsters recently contracted
for by the Navy and ether ships which
will be built from time to time
The maintenance of these vital
helium supplies is one of the jobs which
nave been put up to the Bureau of
Mines. the scientific bureau which has
kept the United States in helium for the
past several years. For years the chem
lists OF the Bureau of Mines have been
analyzing samples of natural gas OBJ
tanned from many gas fields located
throughout the country, always in quest
OF the characteristic bright yellow line
which, viewed through the spectroscope,
announces the presence of the priced
helium. This analytical work has re-
suited in accommodating valuable 6ata
regarding our helium resources, and the
answer to the question as to where
Uncle Sam is to obtain his helium, for
some time to come, at least, has been
found, 1t is considered, in the Cliffside
natural gas structure lying to the north
west of the city of Amarillo, in the Pan
handle district of Texas. A big helium
production plant, embodying in its
helium separation cycle the results of
thorough research on the part OF the
bureaus specialists, is nearing compile
ton near the town site of Soncy. about
six miles west of Amarillo, and from
the natural gas of the Cliffside struc-
ture, which has been found to have a
helium content of about 134 per cent
by volume, will be extracted the supplies
of the wonder gas which will keep aloft
our giant air cruisers of the future"