Evening star., 1961-06-25
NucIeor DYNAMITE

At moment when hopes for an
effective teSt-ban agreement seem more
forlorn than ever, the Atomic Energy
Commissions latest report on Project
Chariot serves as timely reminder
that nuclear explosions types
OF them, that iS-can be good for
mankind.
Chariot, which is part Of the Aces
Plowshare program to investigate and
develop the peaceful uses of atomic
hydrogen dynamite" has as an OBJ
jective the creation of an artificial
harbor near Cape Thompson on the
northwest coast Of Alaska. To that end,
according to present plans, five nuclear
devices would be detonated Simultane-
ouSly. One of these would be equivalent
to 100000 tons of INT, and it would be
set off under ground at a depth of
800 feet; the four others, each equiva-
lent to 10000 tons of INT, would be
exploded at depth Of 400 feet.
The immediate result Of this "geo-
graphical engineering" would be a
mammoth excavation which would
produce, according to expert estimates,
a channel 900 feet wide and about a
half mile long, with an 1,800-foot
turning basin. In a strictly commercial
sense, there is considerable doubt that
such a barber in that particular area
of Alaska could be profitable. But there
Is no doubt whatever that the creation
Of it would be of immense value as an
ho fA
tacularly successful uses of nuclear
explosives for nonmilitary purposes
Thus, by way of example, the Acc
has indicated that Project Chariot
when and if it is. carried out-Should
supply new knowledge and new tech
niqueS of tremendous potential" in
terms of making possible huge ex-
cavations which are not feasible or
economically juStifiable with conven-
tional methods" A special study shows,
for instance, that a sea-level canal
across the ISthmus of Panama could
be excavated with nuclear explosives
for about one-third the cost, in about
half the time, required for conventional
methods and that the resulting canal
would be wider, deeper, less vulnerable
to destruction, and otherwise better
than would be the case II conventional
methods were used"
But the building of harborS and
canals is only part of the significance
of nuclear dynamite" Other possibil-
tiles include: Q) The inexpensive
crushing of massive ore bodies in mining
operations; (2) the opening up of huge
underground mineral supplies; (3) the
unleashing of Subsurface steam for the
production of electrical power; az the
freeing Of great sources of oil now
locked in rock; and (5) the creation of
vast subterranean reservoirs of water
1t is because of this prospect that DR..
Willard F. Libby, while still member
of the Acc, warned as follows:
There is a natural law which requires
us not to turn our back on nature. If we have
chances to discover new things about matter
and its behavior, and new ways of doing
things and do not grasp these opportunities,
we pay very dearly for having committed what
is essentially an unnatural act. think no
man or nation can disregard that fact and
remain healthy very long. We must proceed
nuclear explosions under any conditions!
These words are as much to the
point today as when DR.. Libby first
spoke them in 1858, Certainly, whether
or not the Kremlin ever agrees to an
acceptable, adequately policed military
test ban, "nuclear dynamite" should be
exploited to the full for the benefit of
peoples everywhere.