Evening star., 1952-12-29

millions of kilowatts instead o1
thousands, and also turning ou1
plutonium for atom bombs.
But today there are no plan:
to construct either.
Industry is not ready to risE
millions Of dollars of stockholders
money in experimental plants thai
hold little promise of profits fol
many years. The Atomic Energy
Commission is not yet ready tc
divert the money or resources
from defense.
These proposals and others
however, are almost certain to be
heard early in the new year before
the Joint Congressional Commit
tee on Atomic Energy. Repre-
sentative Durham. Democrat, OF
North Carolina, outgoing chair
man. has announced he will ask
for hearings quickly on industrial
participation in the atomic pro-
gram. now a Government mo-
nopoly.
10-tO-5O Year Project.
It may require anywhere from
10 to so years, according to ex.
pert estimates compiled in a re-
port this month by the congress
sional committee, before atomic
generated electric power can be
made cheaply enough to compete
with energy from coal, oil ol
water power.
To shorten the time, officials
and industry experts agree, il
probably will be necessary to gain
experience from the erection and
operation of experimental plants
and prototype reactors. They es-
innate the cost at SIS million OF
more for the little package
power plant and so to 80 million
dollars for the large plant that
would turn out both power ano
plutonium.
Pressure is building up on Con-
greSS and the Acc to break the
ice-to work out some kind Of
industry Government partnership
which will enlist the driving force
of private competition in atomic
development. The idea of a per-
petual Government monopoly is
not accepted by Acc, Congress, OF
industry
The Acc is writing a report or
its views for the proposed con.
gressional hearings. 1t also ere.
ated this fall an Office of Indus.
trial Development. with orders tt
plan for a day when industry
will carry on its own substantial
part of the national atomic pro-
gram"
Industrial Cooperation Urged.
A former Acc commissioner, T
Keith Glennan, president o1
Clevelands Case Institute o1
Technology, urged chemical manu-
facturers a few days ago to help
set up an association of COM
panies in all fields related tc
nuclear fission. This group coulo
put forth industry's views at the
important congressional hearings
Mr.. Glennan said.
The immediate objectives are
limited. Actual prospects do not
indicate early fulf1llment of any
dreams of autos which operate
for their lifetime on one atomic
pill, or cities which are fueled
lighted and heated by an atomic
storage battery.
Where cost counts little, as in
matters of national security, Won
ders are possible. An atomic SUBJ
marine is on the way and an
atomic warplane may be in the all
within a decade. These could
lead to atom powered ocean
liners, air transports and even
Locomotives.
But atomic reactors are bulky
and costly.
They present enormous prob
lens in the conversion of heat to
power and in disposal of radio
active waste; they must be walled
behind six feet of concrete or the
equivalent.
Power Would Be Costly.
L. r. Hafstad. Aces chief ot
reactors development. illustrates
one flaw in the popular concep-
tion Of the atomic age:
Even if the Government gave
away power generated from the
atom, the consumer of electricity
could expect saving of not more
than 25 to 80 per cent on his cleo
trio bill.
That is because the reactor is
merely the equivalent of the fuel
box and boiler in a coal-fueleo
plant. 1t produces only the heat
To make electricity requires
heat-transfer equipment mot YET
perfected for atomic plants, tur-
bines, generators and the same
type Of distribution system used
in conventional power plants.
The coal. oil and gas industrie:
therefore are not quaking in theil
bootS-even though uranium re.
serves contain 10 times the energy
of United States oil reserves ane
a pound Of uranium holds energy
equal to 2.6 million tons Of coal
The utility companies are anxious
to see a start on an industrial
atomic program,
Management of the program re.
quires unraveling a web Of lega
obstacles under the Atomic En-.
ergy Act. Industry would like the
Government to foot most of the
development bills. It wants ar
assured supply Of uranium fuel
from the sole owner, Uncle Sam.
The Acc on its side must decide
among a host of vital questions
whether it can relax it's emphasi.
an military problems sufficiently
to delve into civilian matters
whether it can write terms under
which private interests are ad.
mitted into an industry developed
with public funds, and how to sub
SidiZe an industry which aimoS