Evening star., 1944-03-13
Truman Report
Hits Magnesium
Project
Committee Urges
Use of Metal for
Civilian Goods
BY the Associated Press.

~SSSS
BY the Associated Press.
The Truman War Investigat-
ing Committee of the Senate
today released a report charg-
ing "extravagances and ineffi-
ciences" in a giant s133, ,000, 900
Government-financed magnesi-
um project at Las Vegas, New,
but reported production of that
metal has reached poNat where
its use for civilian goods manu-
facture should now be permitted.
The report urged the War Pro-
duction Board to cancel its order
limiting the use of magnesium to
war and essential civilian items.
Such a step, the committee said,
would lay the foundation for new
postwar industry through Develop
ment of new uses for the metal and
protect the Governments $500 ,O00,-
600 wartime investment in the mag
nesium plants.
Further research should be un-
dertaken at once, the committee
said, to develop magnesium for such
uses as the making of photoengrav-
ing plates, automotive parts, port
able tools, conveyors, vacuum clean
iers, typewriters and business ma
chimes. Magnesium is metal one
third lighter than aluminium.
Cost Doubles Estimates.
In charging waste and inefl-
ciencies in the construction and
early operation of the Nevada de-
velopment, described as the worlds
largest, the committee said its actu-
al cost as of last November 80 was
in excess of $129, 900, 900, and that
its final estimated cost of $133OO0,-
900 was almost double original esti-
mates.
The project was authorized by the
Defense Plant Corp. in 1941 under
contract to the Basic Magnesium
Corp. of Cleveland, but since Octo-,
Der OF 1912 has been managed by
the Anaconda Copper Mining Co.
Referring to the original contract
awarded to Basic Magnesium, Inc,
the report said in part:
I'm the opinion of the committee,
this was one of the most unjusti-
f1ed contract which was proposed
In connection with the war pro-
gram, and represented a wholly
unwarranted advance of Govern
ment funds to a newly organized
corporation which had no financial
resources and only the most meager
experience and talent. -
/ Extravaganza Charged.
/ aside from the lack OF co-ordf-
mated engineering, extravagances on
the project, general inemciences,
foveroptimistic attitude with respect
to the ore reserves both as to quail
ity and quantity, errors in ef1cient
layout and design occurred to such
a degree that they not only prompt
ed the committees interest but cul-
minated in the removal Of Basic
Refractories (parent of Basic Mag
nesium, Inc) from the management
of the project"
The report added, however, that
the plant reached it's 112,000,0 600
pounds yearly production capacity
by July last year under Anaconda
management and that it's output
was vital factor in reaching the
metal requirements for war pur-
poses, principally aircraft manufac-
turing and the production of bombs
and munitions.
The committee also criticized Gov
ernment agencies for delay in ap-
proving process for producing
magnesium from serpentine rock in
California.
1t said the Idaho Maryland Mines
Corp. of Gross Valley, Calf, evolved
a process for producing, the metal
from the rock at cost of 10 cents
a pound but that, despite the ad-
vantages of the process, the spon-
sors had difficulty in creating any
interest, even though they were
willing and able to bear all expenses
involved and were. only requesting
permission to obtain some additional
materials to add to those already
at the mine"
Deplores Lack of Encouragement.
Failure to explore any of the ad-
vantages claimed to be offered by
this process until attention was
called to it by the committee caused
loss of many months of time"
! the report continued.
ANY process contemplating the
production of magnesium at 10 cents
per pound. sponsored by business
men of substance willing to proceed
at their own expense, and approved
by we'll known and reputable SCI
entific labatory should have received
instant and full encouragement,
despite the possibility of over
optimistic claims on the part of the
| proponents and a radical departure
from previous scientific opinion"
Senator Wallgren, Democrat. Of
Washington, chairman of a Truman
subcommittee which was in charge
! of the investigation, said the in
luiry was undertaken because the
committee was concerned over the
! fact that United States magnesium
production before the war was only
one sixth that of Germany. The
Dow Chemical Co. was described as
the only producer of magnesium in
this country Immediately prior to
the war.
Dissatisfied With Explanation.
The committee believes that
whenever any corporation obtains
monopoly in the United States in
the production of any basic COM
modify that company should be
called upon to explain why smaller
foreign nation produced several
times more than we did and de-
veloped new and improved methods
of fabrication faster than we did.
Dow Chemicals explanation was
not very satisfactory. and I do not
believe that we should permit any
such monopoly to be established or
Continued in the future
| In testimony before the Truman
Committee last week DR.. Willard
lu Dou nreSident of the Dow firm