Evening star., 1943-03-14
10 Decide Soon
On Metals Expansion
ForLong-War Needs
Nelson Is Prodded by
Western Senators for
More Production
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

w
War Production Chairman Dom
aid M. Nelson will decide soon
whether it will be necessary to ex-
pand greatly the Nations output of
raw materials in order to produce
the weapons needed to win the war,
1t was learned last night.
Mr.. Nelson's major policy decision
is tied closely to military strategy,
involving the question of whether
the Nation should embark on long
range development program in an
ticipation of a long war. Special
attention, 1t was understood. is be-
Ing given the possibility of expand
ing mining of copper, zinc and the
non metallic minerals, mica and
quartz crystals.
Mr.. Nelson was described as won
over to the necessity of expanding
mining to the extent that he thought
a great deal of exploratory work in
minerals should be carried out"
Should it be decided to expand
raw-materials production, it prob
ably will result in a reversal of
WPB policy. in effect for nearly
year, OF cutting back construction
OF plants which cannot be brought
into munitions production quickly.
Last spring Mr.. Nelson announced
elimination of nearly all projects
which would not be in production
by June 80 of this year. A tre-
mendous number of blueprints were
pigeon-holed.
Plans for Long War.
Tied in with the curb of new fa-
cilities was the policy of concen-
trating manpower and materials re-
sources for greater production of
finished weapons which could be
used for knockout of the enemy
IN 1943. Recruiting plans of the
armed forces running full scale
through this year, however, indi-
cate preparations for a long war,
and many officials believe develop
ment Of mineral resources should
be projected further ahead.
Interior Secretary Ickes' Bureau
OF Mines and Senators from the
Western mining States long have
advocated more exploratory and de-
velopment work looking toward in
creasing the output of raw metals.
They have warned that it takes 18
to "a months to bring a new mine
into production and that many
smaller mines may be exhausted bv
h1gh-speed operation if the war lasts
two more years.
Mr.. Nelson and Vice Chairman
Charles E. Wilson were called be-
lore group of Western Senators
Thursday for discussion of the min
ing problem, it was learned. Senator
McCarran, Democrat of Nevada,
was quoted as mot satisfied" with
existing machinery in WPB for ham
ding mining. He proposed strength
ening the agency's mining branch
while leaving 1t under the guidance
OF DR.. Wilbur Nelson, the present
chief.
Promise Consideration,
The WPB officials promised the
Senators that careful consideration
would be given the proposal to ex-
pand non-ferrous mining activities.
AMY WAiA ACPOiJ dSdul W CIle O6nd-
tors within a few weeks.
Unless ney' deposits can be un-
covered, whatever expansion in min
ing copper, zinc and the other min
erals TO be made must take the
form OF development of low-yield or
marginal mines. This work is ex-
pensive and poses serious manpower
problems since the output of miner
In marginal deposits yields only
half to sixth Of what it does in
richer ore.
This country has been able to
conserve its stocks of copper, one
official pointed out, since so far we
have not been engaged in shoot
ing war" Should the invasion of
Europe require more Shooting"
than anticipated, we shall be called
upon to "scrape bottom" of our
copper resources. Considerable re-
lief is expected in the use of steel
for shell castings. Should that metal
prove not too satisfactory, he said,
1T might be necessary to salvage all
possible copper in the country. in
cluding such items as brass door,
knobs.
The official pointed out that due
to increased emphasis on air power
and mechanical equipment, a mini
mum OF shells has been consumed
II, fha