Evening star., 1955-03-18
Atomic Kitchen Ronoes
Not Just Around Corner
NucIeur-Powered Curs Would
Have Tenders 3 Feet Thick
By Thomos R. Henry

Atomic energy has a long way to go
before it can compete with coal and oil
in transportation. heating or the pro-
duction of electricity.
This is the conclusion Of DR.. Robert
E. Wilson. chairman of the board Of
Standard Oil of Indiana and former
chief of Standard Oil research and
development.
irresponsible predictions of atomic
automobiles, locomotives, home fur
naces and the like are close to fantastic
in their improbability. he says in the
Technology Review of Massachusetts
Institute of Technology. He predicts q
quarter century. at least, before atomic
power can possibly enter such fields, If
ever.
Many HandicapS
The only use in land TRANSPORTATION
discussed as practical possibility, he
says, is large locomotives. But" he
says, "even if this should prove safe and
economical in normal service, which is
doubtful, can you imagine either the
railroads or the regulatory authorities
being willing to risk a possible wreck on
an atomic engine in one of our large
cities A theoretically safe package
might be designed, but psychological
factors would bar 1t for many, many
years.
For cars. trucks or buses the idea Is
fantastic. Even supposing people could
afford the minimum conceivable cost of
tens of thousands of dollars for an
Qtnn1ip oroino l.
at least three-foot concrete dashboard
to protect the passengers from danger
GUS radiations, and front tenders three
feet thick to protect passers by. For
commercial airplanes the shielding
problem seems to constitute an almost
lnSuperable bar although the greater
distance of the pilot from the power
plant would help to some extent"
1t has been suggested, he says, that
electricity might be manufactured in
some central atomic plant and used to
charge some new kind of highly efficient
storage battery for automobiles. Even
II this were practical, he points out, it
would be expensive power
No Use in Homes
For house and plant heating. he saws.
atomic energy seems to be ruled out by
its unusual handicaps, the need for
heavy shielding, the problem of ham
ding radioactive wastes, and the high
cost of equipment"
Either for producing electric energy
or heat, he stresses, atomic power would
seem to be attractive only for some
place like northern Greenland where
fuel oil, owing to expense of transpor-
tatlon. may cost ST gallon instead of
little more than 10 cents.
So far as marine power plants are
concerned, he holds that use of atomic
energy will be confined for long time
to come to specially constructed naval
vessels. High costs and radiation risks
make their installation on commercial
ships quite improbable.
He is combining his predictions. DR..
Wilson stresses, to the next quarter
century. After that. if population con-
tlnues to increase and fuel reserves 20
down at present rates, atomic energy
may come into wide use for all sorts of
purposes, despite its dangers, If no other
energy source is found in the meantime.
So far as the oil business is con-
cerned, he holds, it will be help rather
than a competitor. The danger from
atomic bombs in war will require more
and more decentralization of cities and
Industry. Moving will require a lot of
coal and gasoline.