The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1958-08-15
BONNER'S WORK ACCLAIMED
FOR MAKING POSSIBLE AN
ATOM ICEBREAKING SHIP
National Recognition Given North Carolina Con-
gresham For Legislation For Larger Ship; Rus
slams Already Constructing Vessel Of This
Type; Ours Would Be Larger.

District, for his part in legislation
making it possible for America to
build large atom-power icebreak-
ing ship. The New York Times on
Sunday gave extensive publicity
to his work, and said eff the
United States proceeds with the
construction of heavy atomic ice
breaker, it will be in large part
the result of the enthusiasm of one
man Herbert C. Bonner -
The announcement follows close
on the heels of a widely acclaimed
achievement of the voyage under
the North Pole of Americas
atomic powered submarine on the
week end. Mr.. Bonner was also
interested in the developed of this
sub, and has made undersea trips
aboard it.
The Senate last week passed
and sent to the White House a
measure authorizing an atomic
powered ship that would be super
Tor in it's service possibilities to
any ice ship now in the Navy or
Coast Guard. With almost unlimit-
ed cruising range and endurance a
nuclear-powered icebreaker would
greatly advance this country's mil
itary, commercial and scientific
operations in polar regions.
The craft would be at least $50
feet long, larger than any now in
service, and it might cost in the
neighborhood of $60,0O0,OOO.
An odd legislative history is in
the background of the proposal.
Mr.. Bonner, who is chairman of
the House Committee on Merchant
Marines and Fisheries, has long
felt that the Coast Guard needed
a construction program. Last year
when he began personal study
of the question, he came to the
conclusion that this country was
seriously ill-equipped to meet the
challenge of expanding polar acti-
witty and responsibility.
The deeper he delved the more
he became convinced that an
atomic icebreaker was imperative
for the United States Fleet. Last
December, Soviet Russia launched
the hull of a 435-foot icebreaker,
the Lenin. In January Mr.. Bonner
held hearings on a committee bill,
obtaining extensive testimony
from polar experts and officials
of the Department of Defense.
Mr.. Bonner said the idea, first
came to him when he heard about
the Russian ship.
"There was something very
pointed in the fact that the first
Soviet atomic vessel was to be
an icebreaker," he said. "There
was some meaning in that and
l wanted to find out what it was.
"Also, l felt that the Coast
Guard has been in an unfortunate
position. 1t is under the Treasury,
which thinks about money and
perhaps looks on the Coast Guard
as only police force. Actually it
has many important functions, but
it is just about a shell, living on
the crumbs of other agencies. They
are going to have to rebuild, and
they now have many friends and
supporters in Congress-
In the beginning Mr.. Bonner
was in the unusual position of be-
ing more enthusiastic about the
icebreaker than most of the mill
tary experts.
But the cumulative testimony
began to develop serious picture.
In pressing for the legislation Mr..
Bonner was joined by two Repub-
leans from the State of Washing
ton,. Representatives Thor C. Toll
lefson and Thomas M. Pelly. In
the Senate, Senator Warren G.
Magnuson, also of Washington, in
troduced a similar bill.
Polar experts who testlfled at
the House hearing said that even
with the eight icebreakers now
used by the Navy and the Coast
Guard, ideal methods of operation
were denied to the United States
by inadequate or insufficient ice
breaker facilities.
The most modern United States
flag ship, the 311-foot Glacier, can
stay in polar area for maximum
of three months, after which she
must turn back and get out of the
ice or face the prospect of run
ming short of fuel and being
caught.
Atomic energy would give the
proposed new vessel several major
advantages over the conventionally
powered craft. Nearly a third Of
the loaded displacement Of an ordi.
nary icebreaker is taken up by the
fuel, measured in thousands Of
tons. BY saving fuel space, the
power Of the propulsion machinery
can be increased, as can thu
] strength Of the hull.