Evening star., 1953-03-16
Jet Engine Demands
Cut Nickel StockpiIe
U. S. Civilian Use Bunned
After World Resources Study
By Thomos R. Henry

NhASs VVItu NSSVutSSS SluUy
By Thomos R. Henry
Nickel-the metal a little of which is
supposed to be In five-cent coins-now
is major strategic metal.
Despite slightly increased supply
the stockpile Is far short Of attain
ment and no more can be allocated
to civilian uses.
This is the decision of the National
Production Authority after q survey
of the existing free world resources
of material which has become essen
tial for jet engines. It is needed to
make the alloys which must be used
to Withstand the high temperatures
generated in jet-engine operation.
The silvery white metal. it Is
pointed out in a Production Author
ity report, has an unusual combi-
nation of qualities which makes it
indispensable for defense purposes.
These qualities include strength,
hardness, toughness, ductibility, re-
siStance to rust. and maintenance Of
strength at high temperatures. It's
most important use is in the alloy
ing Of carbon steel.
World Supply Limited.
The world supply is quite limited.
Before the goth century the major
producer was the French island Of
New Caledonia in the South Pacific.
Then Canada took the lead and until
quite recently was responsible for about
three-fourths of the total. The United
States has produced relatively small
amounts, mostly as bi-product Of
the copper industry
During the last Is years, the re-
port points out. Russia has become
a major producer. The amount Of
its output is not reliably reported.
In any event, it is confined entirely
to the Soviet Union and its satel-
lite states.
In 1850 Canada produced SO per
cent Of the world total. There are,
however. several large reserves which
have not been exploited. Largest Of
these is in Cuba, where it is esti-
mated, about "a million tons may
be available. It is contained in iron
ore deposits. Utilization will be diff
ficult and cannot be counted on for
the present.
Canada ranks next with reserves
containing an estimated four million
tons. A large increase in production,
however. cannot be quickly arranged.
Moderate increases are being provided
by the two principal operators.
There are also nickel deposits in
South Africa, Burma, Greece and
Norway.
Stone Findings in Virginia.
Curiously Clipped stone javelin heads
characteristic of some of the earliest
known inhabitants of the New World
have been recovered along the Roam
oke river in southern Virginia.
These are so-called Folsom points
named for site near Folsom, N. M,
where they first were found in close
association with bones of long extinct
mammals. The Eastern type, however
differs slightly from the Western and
presumably is of a somewhat later
period.
Excavation Of eleven sites was car
ried out in an $4,000 acre tract flooded
by a recently completed reservoir. The
work was done by Carl F. Miller of the
Smithsonian Institutions Bureau Of
American Ethnology.
The findings indicate. according to
the report, two major cultural hori-
IONS in southern Virginia. The first Is
characterized by these Folsom points.
believed to be at least 10000 years old.
They presumably were the handiwork
of nomad hunters.
The second was that Of a pottery
making people who came much later.
They cannot be identified, however,
longed with the general Eastern wood
lands people from whom the tribes
which occupied the East at the time Of
the first white settlements presuma-
bly, were derived. They settled here
as much as 1000 years ago.
Other Peoples Indicated.
In the interval between the Folsom
occupation and the pottery - making
people, Mr.. Miller says, other groups
probably were present. This is indicated
by projectile points considerably diff
ferent from Folsom points but compar-
able to somewhat similar objects which
have been found scattered through the
West.
When white men first came into the
area it was inhabited by q group of
Indians of Siouan stock, the Occa-
neechi. Here Indian trade routes be-
tween North and South met and the
Occaneechi became important middle
men, piling up wealth to the point
where they were looked upon covet-
ously both by the other Indians and by
English settlers in Virginia.
They soon realized that their posi-
ton was untenable. After first moving
to North Carolina they eventually
found refuge among the Six Nations of
the Iroquois in northern New York and
southern Ontario.