Production was proved feasible in 1917 by the experiments of Prof. E. F. Burton, of Toronto University, who is still at that institution, and by the late Sir John McLennan, for the British Admiralty, and helium produced in Toronto in 1917 and 1918 is still being used in the Toronto University laboratories in low temperature work, The possible supply of this gas from Alberta sources might encourage the British Government, it is pointed out here, to proceed with plans for airship development which were dropped in 1930 following the tragic crash of the R 101.
About $1,400,000 (£280,000) is the value of the helium wasted with each million cubic feet of gas. The helium content of natural gas on the North American continent is said by scientists to decline from about 3 per cent. in Texas to 0.3 per cent. in Southern Alberta, and 0.1 per cent. round Edmonton, Even if other gas fields farther north should be exploited in future, it is not likely these will contain helium in sufficient quantity to pay for separation, considering its vanishing quantity northward.
While this wastage of this unique product goes on it should be remembered that the process for the separation of helium from natural gas has already been perfected in Canada in connection with this very gas in the Turner Valley by the Imperial Government, The final estimates of the cost of the process is about a shilling per cubic foot Gf helium, Steps could be taken to impound ihis helium gas for future commercial uses. The United States has, since the Hindenburg disaster, removed the ban on export of helium io foreign countries, but here in Alberta is a valuable British supply fast going to waste through lack of conservation and foresight.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.