The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-06-02

4
to buy atom-generated steam from
the government.
Acc and the Army expect a
least a score of private firms t.
bid on the building of an atomic
power-package plant designed fol
use at remote military bases.
The commission had asked com.
panies which planned to, submit
bids to give notice by March 20.
The notices kept coming in, until
Acc was obliged to extend the
deadline to June Z.
The power-package represents
the Army's desire for a compact
electric plant whose parts could be
flown by plane and assembled on
the spot. But the same kind Of
plant, industry realizes, could pro.
vide energy for remote towns
where conventional power is ex-
pensive.
The Aces five-year program to
develop peacetime reactors has be-
gun to roll. Five different types of
reactor, some designed to pro-
duce fashionable materials as by.
products, will be completed by
1858.
Experts on each Of the five pro.
jects brought optimistic reports a
week ago Monday to an all-day
conference in Washington of the
Atomic Industrial Forum, Inc. The
forum is an association of firms
and foundations having a common
interest in the peacetime use Of
atomic power.
The meeting gave dramatic evil
dence that businessmen are awake
to the importance Of the potent
newcomer in industry. The 400
company officials listened intently
to long reports studded with words
like breeder, coolant, hafnium and
moderator - and then asked ques-
tons showing they understood
what they were told.
Thirty three utility companies
were represented, each trying to
find out which type Of reactor is
most likely to succeed as an eco
nomic producer Of electric power
and how quickly.
Fifteen investment houses had
men on hand, because sooner or
later they expect to be called on
to finance the entry of the utility
industry into atomic power.
The big three aluminium pro-
ducers - Alcoa, Kaiser and Rey-
nolds - sent their men because
a lu m j n u m manufacturing is a
monstrous eater of electric energy.
Five major steel. companies and
half-dozen chemical firms were
on hand.
Those interested in new form
of propulsive power sat in. Among
them were two locomotive build
ers, two shipbuilding concerns, five
aircraft companies and two auto
mobiles producers. :.
The attendance demonstrated
what Acc officials already knew
that hundreds of companies which
haven't yet put up their dollars for
research and development feel
pressed to get into the race. Some
may lose their money. but they
dare not be left behind.
Two years ago Acc was having
difficulty persuading industry to
undertake study projects. Four
teams of two companies each were
finally formed, with Acc putting
I'D three fourths or more OF the
funds they spent on research.
Today, with IS companies al
ready at work in Is groups, Acc
finds newcomers willing to enter
on a self-financing basis.
The pending legislation, besides
providing greater exchange OF
atomic information among the Al
lied countries, would let private
industry own and operate atomic
mower plants under Acc license.
The government would keep IT,
tie. however, to the atomic fuel
the nuclear materials which are
ssburned'' in the reactor like coal
in the firebox of a conventional
loot oud xuot,ld he sole