Evening star., 1948-01-12
Atom Plants May End
HydroeIectric Power,
Told
Rv Irrae R;rrhfieId
By james BirchfieId
Star Stoff Correspondent

OLD POINT COMFORT, Va, Jan.
12.-Gigantic electric power plants
that will operate on atomic energy
may soon replace the need OF build
ing hydroelectric plants that are
threatening the fish life in American
rivers.
This was brought out by conser-
vation scientists who took part in a
round table discussion of the impli-
cations of atomic energy on con-
servation at the opening session
here last night OF conference spon-
sored by the Southern Association
of Science and Industry.
Representatives from Is Southern
States will attempt during the three
day conference to outline program
for the wise utilization of the
South's natural resources.
Sees Natural Resource Lost.
Kenneth A. Reid, executive di-
rector of the Izaak Walton League
of America, told the Southern con-
servationists that unless some means
is devised to replace the hydroelec-
trio projects now being planned on
the Columbia and other rivers, a
natural resource worth millions of
dollars will be lost forever.
"The Army engineers" he said,
"act too much like engineers. They
like to build dams that are monu-
ments to their engineers. If the
dams that are now planned for the
Columbia are built, it will mean
goodby to the salmon industry in
the Northwest"
DR.. John H. Yoe, professor OF
chemistry at the University of Vir-
ginia, said it is possible that atomic
energy will be used in the COM
mercial manufacture of electric
power within the next 10 years.
Engineers Aiding Scientists.
DR.. Frank C. >Vilbrandt. head the
Chemical Engineering Department
at Virginia Polytechnic Institute,
said mechanical engineers are work.
ing with atomic scientists. This, he
added, should speed the develop
ment of effective commercial use of
atomic energy.
while the cost of atomic power
may prevent it's use in small scale
projects" DR.. Vilbrandt said, there
is little doubt that large electric
power projects will be built before
long to utilize atomic power"
Addressing this mornings session
on the management of Southern
waters, Mr.. Reid complained there
is no uniformity in the antipcllu-
ton laws of the various States, and
even less conformity in the degree
of enforcing.
"The only way that pollution con-
troll will ever be effective" Mr.. Reid
continued, will be by uniform ap-
plication of control measures in all
parts of the country-and the only
way that can be achieved is by Fed
eral authority, at least in the back
ground
Soil Problem Discussed.
| In a discussion of the South's soil
problem, DR.. T. B. Hutcheson, dean
of agriculture at v. P. l., said much
of the exploitation of the soil in the
South directely after the Civil War
was from stark necessity" rather
than ignorance.
Since the essential soil elements
for profitable production have been
exhausted at the expense of the soil
in building our Nation" Dr.. Hutche-
son said, II can see no incongruity
in the State and the Nation assist
ing in their restoration"
The essentials of restoration, he
said, are proper land use and CROP
ping, the application of lime and
minerals, the building up of organic
matter in the soil and the establish
ment, where necessary, of mechani-
cal controls of water.
| George F. Cant, general manager
of the Tennessee Valley Authority
in discussing the effective use Of
regional resources, said the iva is
an example of the application of
scientific knowledge to the use of
resources and of the ability of people
to make necessary adjustments in
order to advance the well-being of