SCIENTIFIC TRIUMPH.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1923, Page 4

SCIENTIFIC TRIUMPH.

CANADA SCORES AGAIN

VANCOUVER, Jan

C’nnsulisui moil ot scioiioo nave put ;iu„l her leather iii their bonnets with tin- announcement that Professor .). C . McLennan has succeeded in liquefying helium gas, which is one ol Canada’s valuable” natural resources. It is heralded as another triumph for the research worker, and if the laboratory experiments can be repeated in commercial practice, and at the cost which Professor .McLennan predicts, there are fascinating possibilities in the discovery. ~ T Tho success u! lVolossor McLennan follow ill" so closely on Ihe triumph of the experiments with the diabetes cure |, v moans „f the pain-real ie extract now known as Insulin, drive home the lesson that a few lar-sighted and loyal citizens of the Dominion ol ( anada have been preach,,>g ever since Hie early vears oi the world War. H took lbe voitlliiT of armies to mobilise Britain's scientific knowledge for the benefit of the nation, and the same struggle woke Canada to a full realisation ot the priceless importance of research work. Efforts were made in Canada alter the war to continue the work ot the Research Council, but with danger over, iioatliv and selfishness relaxed nn- ., la’s efforts and sterilised her good resolution. So it happens tliui year altei A l,ll the leading engineering. chemical, electrical. and other linns ol Die l'nit<*» 1 Stall’s pounce down upon van.,d.,’- universities about graduation time and steal from the Dominion her most promising pupils by offering t hem (asalaries and opportunities lor the continuation "I their chosen " ol, “ Canada i- losing the best brain- ol her vmntg maiilioiiii because she raiuiot oiler equal inducements to these young men ii> slav at Imme. 11l the liavs ol peace, Toiouto is showing the ' whole North American ( imtimmt dial Britishers are not yet in the background when research work is mentioned, for the discovery ol Insulin has aimy.ed the whole medical world of the continent, and also all Europe. Liquefaction of helium ga- was accomplished in the btl oratory ol loro" to Cniversit v, by Professor doloi ( unnmobam M cl.oii iia n. the feat never tiaviiig been performed. lie fore oiitsi-to

, . Holland. This achievement is re,raided as another slop toward the soli,; in , f mans problems cniinootod v,ib ref ricerat ion. The experiments Wore begun two years ago. followin': l|„ discovery made hv Prole- -or M- ; ( ~ni,an i bat helium , uulil be obtain. -o ~, b, r ouantilies from Hi" natural Canada, e-peciully ... the dislr,.t near Bow Island, about 2PT miles settlli-easl „f Calgary. Alberta. Helium was 1 i llll elii - 1 1 ill small quantitios bn Hi- I',,'st time in 1008 bv Professor K a in merlingli flnnes. of Holland. "» Hiiie little helium was available and d was exceedingly expensive costing at the rale of about I-TO nollri - per cubic foot. I |(i|p Professor McLennan dc-mu- ' od and operated a plant at Calgarv lor Hv oxt'-K'iion of helium Iroio natural * eas „„ |" showed that it could be Produced at a cost considerably los* U'.'i.i Icn cents (‘>d per cubic lent. ! ,>x ' reriment- which terminated so suec-ss-i f,,|| v in the Toronto University lebora- . , olv regarded as the beginning ol ■ no at ten, lit lo utilise iedust riall y a gas ' I.ops-Giutes olio of Canada s na- ! nral resources. Helium is noii-lhini-i timble. non-explosive, and po-se>ses )~ I per cent of the lifting power ol hvdroi gen. making it a most suitable I'llmg j for airship envelopes.