Evening star., 1948-09-26
Stockpiling
Of Materials
OffSchedule
Critical Goods Supply
Lags Behind the
Projected Plan
By Clarke Beech


tegic materials you've heard SC
much about.
II new war should begin the
next year or so, we'll be caught
short, Just as We were in the past
two wars.
The stockpiles project never was
conceived on a very ambitious scale
1t is far behind schedule and OF
balance. Until recently, the pile con-
tanned no supply whatever OF hall
the 60-odd materials on the critica
list.
Today, only about 20 per cent OF
the total projected pile has been ac-
cumulated.
These facts were freely presented
by Munitions Board members in tes-
timony before congressional COM
mittees last session and In the
boards recent publications.
Congress Supplies Finds
The Board has the job Of acquir-
ing materials for the stockpile. But
Congress and the administration sci
the goals and provide the funds.
Some members Of Congress fee
that the operation Is badly con-
ceived, that it depends too much or
buying in foreign countries and toe
little on developing supplies here.
Six bills were introduced to pro-
vide Government subsidy to expane
American mining enterprises. None
got far, but 1t is expected they l.
come un again next session.
Oficials began talking abou
stockpiling in 1914. Congress asked
the Munitions Board to propose OBJ
jectives, which 1t did in January
1s45. It presented two plans, ont
with minimum and the other with
maximum objectives.
Minimum Plan Adopted
The board says the larger plar
would have laid aside an ampi'
supply OF essential materials o
which we produce relatively little o
none. With the pile, 1t says, w
would have to depend very little OF
foreign sources during a war, ant
we would never have had to U.s.
extreme measures, as we did in th'
last war. to furnish essential indus
tries with materials.
The minimum plan was chosen
The board says it provides JUS
enough to skimp by In case we ge
in a war that lasts five years-tha'
we'd have to depend heavily on for
eign sources and exert great pressure
on the civilian economy.
1t is costing s3,403 100000, Some
officials privately estimated that the
maximum plan would cost about
$4,000 100000 Buying Of material!
was started IN 1916, on small scale
so as not to drive up prices or de-
prive industry of supplies needed fol
reconversion.
Funds Doubled This Year
Last spring the operation was pu
into high gear. For the fiscal yeal
ending next June Congress has pro.
vided about twice as much none.
and contracting authority as IN tht
first two years OF the program.
OF the 70 per cent of the stockplle
accumulated, most came from Gov.
ernment surplus property. Contract
have been signed for about 7 pei
cent more. Ii the Munitions Boarc
uses all it's buying and contracting
power, by the end OF June, l949, Il
will have deliveries or contracts fol
about 40 per cent.
The original plan was to get thu
pile assembled within five years
Now Rear Admiral Roger w. Paine
former Navy member of the board
sees no way the coal can be reachee
in less than seven years.
Some Materials Lag
I'VE are in a bad condition as fal
as our stockpiling operations arr
concerned" the Admiral told {
House Public Lands Subcommittee
last session.
He cited particularly the files lacl
OF balance-some materials Tagging
far behind others.
Thomas j. Hargrave, formel
chairman of the board, told Hous'
Appropriations subcommittee las
January that the board had pur'
chased practically no tin, lead O.
zinc. Industry needed the entir
available supply.
A board official says, however
that the pile now contains at leas
a little of everything on the critica
list except certain oils. Their perish
able nature makes them difhcult Il
handle.
Marshall Plan Helps
The Economic Cooperation Ad
ministration is seeking to increas
foreign production by using Marshal
Plan funds to build up certain in
dustries.
The Munitions Board is trying t
stimulate raw material production
In this country and abroad by tn
use of long term contracts, providin
delivery within three to Ave year,
This assures the producer marke
and helps finance new equipment.
Some mining-State Representa-
tives and Senators, assisted by
few farm bloc legislators, conten
the safest procedure would be t
develop American production i
fields in which we are now deficien
They propose a premium-price plal
such as the Government provide
for copper. lead and zinc during tn
may m Guarantee the producer