Evening star., 1951-03-30
Atomic Tests Planned
On Various Buildings
In Defense Program
By Crosby S. Moves

The Federal Civil Defense Ad-
rninistration is planning a pro-
gram for testing various types of
buildings under actual atomic eX-
plosions, it was revealed today.
The program is a part of over
all civil defense operations for the
coming fiscal year. for which Con-
gress is being asked to appropriate
q total of $403 million. 1t was
outlined to members of a House
Appropriations subcommittee hold
ing hearings on the bill.
Committee members were told
that the testing project will con-
sist of the construction of typical
two, three and four story build
ings at the continental testing
ground of the Atomic Energy
Commission" The buildings would
then be crammed with testing IN
struments and Exposed to the
blast effects and an atomic explo-
sion," the statement said.
tests CaIle0 fraCtlcai.
At the hearing, Deputy Civil De-
fense Administration James j.
Wadsworth told the committee
members the tests will be the
only practical means whereby
we can test theoretical structures
developed" by engineers conduct
ing research programs for air raid
shelters.
Mr.. Wadsworth, with Admins
traitor Millard F. Caldwell, jr., and
a corps of experts, provided the
committee with a detailed analysis
of how the total appropriation
would be spent. Broadly, $25 mil
lion would be used for the pro-
curement of organizational equip
ment to be supplied to States and
municipalities on matching
basis; $3.50 million would go to
match State expenditures for air
raid shelter construction. and $128I
million would be needed for op-
erations.
The question of whether Wash
ington's own civil defense organ
ization is being set up as a model
for the rest of the country was
raised by Committee Chairman
Cannon. He said there is an i'm
preston in Washington that the
city has been selected for special
instruction and treatment by the
Federal authorities.
Denies Special Treatment.
Mr.. Caldwell denied this. Wash
ington, he said "is making prog
ress as other cities are making
progress" But the city's civil de-
fense organization is in no way
connected or being given special
treatment by the national agency
he added.
The committee was told that
"the major drawback" to the de-
velopment of a civil defense pro-
gram throughout the Nation isl
the lack of funds to get the pro-
gram started. Many communities
are waiting until the Federal ad-
ministration is ready to match
their appropriations before taking
action themselves, Mr.. Caldwell |
said.
Among the specific matters dis
cussed was the operation of the
civil defense staff training college
and technical school, to be opened /
next month at the former Long
wood School, near Olney, Md. Mr..
Caldwell noted that the English,
who first started civil defense /,
training schools, equipped them ;
lavishly "in magnificent homes +,
with landscaping. lounges and ,
bars" He did not indicate that !,
the American school would be set |.
up along the same lines.
Equipment and Supplies.
Among the items of equipment
that would be purchased by the
Federal agency under the present
appropriation would be 1000 fire
bumpers and hose to supplement
existing fire-fghting equipment in
critical target areas throughout
the country. These would be paid
for on a matching basis by the
Government and the States at
total cost of $13,680,0Oo.
The program also calls for buy
ing equipment for local warden |
services. consisting of 1000 |
pumps and 1000 resuscitators for
$2,773,000 and a stockpile of pip (
ing and water publication equip
ment. costing $11,330,000.
Apart from supplies that would
be made available to local civil
defense organizations in advance
of a disaster, Federal stockpiles
would be housed in 40 to 60 ware
houses, leach located so as to |
furnish reserves of materials
and equipment to several target
areas"
A total of $75 million would be
used for building up stockpiles of
medical supplies and Pathological
monitoring equipment, the COM
mittee was told. Included, would
be vaccines for use in the event
of a biological warfare attack. /
Need To Store Vaccines.
DR.. Norman c. Kiefer, director
of CDA's health and special
weapons defense division, said
that these are vaccines which