The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-01-01
BY STERLING F. GREEN


Congress may. give the atom a
job in civilian life.
Within two or three years, Off
Gals estimate, a small pioneer
package" atomic plant could be
producing limited quantities of
electric power for industry.
In five years or less, a large Gen.
trail atomic plant could be built,
generating energy by the millions
of kilowatts instead of thousands,
and also turning out plutonium for
atom bombs.
But today there are no plans
to construct either.
Industry is not ready to risk
millions Of dollars OF stockholders
money in experimental plants that
hold little promise Of profits for
many years. The Atomic Energy
Commission is not yet ready to
divert the money or resources
from defense.
These proposals and others, how
ever. are almost certain to be
heard carly IN the new year be-
fore tie Joint Congressional Com
T,.ttee on Atomic Energy. Rep.
C>ri -. Durham tD-NC), outgoing
chairman, has announced he will
ask for hearings quickly on in
dust al - -ticipation in the atomic
r-c IRAN, now a government mon
oposy.
u may require anywhere from
10 to 50 years, according to ex-
pert estimates compiled in 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 or water
power.
TO shorten the time, officials and
industry experts agree, it probably
will be necessary to gain expert
ence from the erection and opera
ton Of experimental plants and
prototype reactors. They estimate
the cost at five million dollars or
more for the little package" pow
err plant and SO to so million dol
lars for the large plant that would
turn out both power and plutonium.
Pressure is building up on Con-
gress and the Acc to break the
ice--to work out some kind of in
dustry government partnership
which will enlist the driving force
OF private competition in atomic
development. The idea of a per-
pctuel government monopoly is not
accepted by Acc. Congress or in
dustry.
The Acc is writing a report on
its views for the proposed con.
gressional hearings. II also Gre
ated this fall an office of industrial
development, with orders to plan
for a day when industry will car.
ry on its own a substantial part
Of the national atomic program"
The immediate detectives are
limited. Real.lifc prospects do not
indicate early fulfillment 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 costs counts little, as in
matters Of national security won
ders are possible. An atomic sub
marine is on the way and an
atomic wsrplane may be in the
air whiting decade. These could
lead TO atorn-powered ocean liners,
air transports and even locomo-
lives.
But atomic reactorS are bulky
and costly.
They present enormous problems
In the conversion Of heat TO power
and in DISPOSAL Of radioactive
waste. They must be walled be.
hind six feet Of concrete or the
equivalent.
l.. r. Hafstad. Aces chief Of re.
actors development. illustrates as
follows one flaw in the popular
conception Of the atomic age:
Even IL the government gave
away power generated from the
atom, the consumer Of electricity
could expect a saving Of not mere
than Is 10 20 per cent on his cleo
tric bill.
That is because the reaetor is
merely the equivalent Of the fuel
box and boiler in a eoal.fueled
plant u produces only the heat.
To make electricity requires heat
transfer equipment mot yet per.
teeted for atomic planisl. turbines,