Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-01
Our Atomic Progress

The Atomic Energy Commission, in its 18th
semiannual report to Congress, has been at
pains to be as uninformative as possible about
its work in the military field. Even so, it has
said enough to make clear that the Nation is
continuing to score important cumulative and
qualitative gains in arming itself with numerous
types of superweapons, including the hydrogen
bomb.
AS for the atoms military uses, the
latest Acc report-in contrast to its sparse
comment on weapons-is fairly loquacious And
what it has to say adds up to picture Of en-
couraging and highly promising progress in
many phases of pure physical research, biolog
ical-medical applications, and work on "devel-
oping improved reactorS for industrial nuclear
power and for naval and aircraft propulsion"
This last field of activity, of course, has
already led to an achievement of very great
magnitude-the recently launched Nautilus, the
worlds first atomic submarine. In turn, the
lessons learned in constructing this potentially
revolutionary vessel 1.-TWO others are in the max
ing. with different types of nuclear engines)
have served to bring nearer the day when it will
be economically feasible to build reactors de-
signed for such peaceful purposes as lighting
up cities, giving central heating to homes and
producing power to turn the wheels of industry
AS matter of fact, according to the Acc,
ical use of atomic heat will soon be realized at
Hanford, where specially equipped production
reactor will supply number of buildings with
enough warmth to save an estimated is million
gallons of fuel oil annually. Similarly, with the
participation of several groups of private utility
companies, the Acc has been making slow but
steady Roadway toward developments that
should eventually make it possible to harness
the atom for industrial power on even competi-
tive terms with coal and other conventional
sources of energy.
1t is because of the great promise implicit
in all this that the Acc with Westinghouse
acting as the prime contractor, Is now in the
process of building the worlds first full-scale
reactor designed solely for non-military use
The project is to have an electrical output
capacity of at least 10000 kilowatts, and when
1t is completed in the next three or four years
it will represent major advance toward the
production Of economically sound and profitable
industrial nuclear power. In the same field,
moreover, scientists have developed battery"
that may help man to figure out a revolutionary
way to achieve large-scale and direct conversion
of atomic energy into electricity without the aid
of big turbines or other costly equipment.
Thus the Nation is continuing to move for
ward on all nuclear fronts, ron-military as well
as military. But the pace Of its advance is inhib
tied by the severe legal restrictions still imposed
on the participation Of private enterprise in
most of our atomic projects. Accordingly, when
the Acc submits its plan for an easing of those
restrictions Congress should respond afirma-
lively. Secrecy makes no sense when security
does not require it and when its only effect is
to put checkrein on progress.