54 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



Satterly, E. F. Burton, H. F. Dawes, Captain H. A. McTaggart, and 

 from Mr. John Patterson of the Meteorological Office, Toronto, and 

 Mr. R. T. Elworthy of the Mines Branch, Ottawa. 



In the course of these investigations, which were carried out with 

 the co-operation of L'Air Liquide Co., it was found that large supplies 

 of helium were available in Canada which could be produced at a cost 

 of about one shilling per cubic foot. 



In the preliminary work of development, an experimental station 

 was established at Hamilton, Ontario, to treat the natural gases of 

 Western Ontario. This phase of the work was placed in charge of 

 Professor Satterly, and with him were associated Mr. John Patterson, 

 Professors E. F. Burton and H. F. Dawes and Mr. Lang. In treating 

 the gas considerable difficulty was experienced at first in getting rid 

 of the heavier hydro-carbons but by making suitable modifications in, 

 and additions to, the ordinary type of L'Air Liquide oxygen rectifying 

 column, the problem of separating out the helium which was present 

 in the gas to the extent of only 0-33% was solved. In February, 

 1918, it was found possible to raise the percentage of helium in the gas 

 by passing it through the rectifying column once only. As the gas 

 obtained in this way consisted of nitrogen and helium with a small 

 percentage of methane, the problem of obtaining helium with a high 

 degree of purity was a comparatively simple one. 



In one particular set of experiments on this final rectification, 

 helium of 87% purity was obtained. For the actual running of the 

 station and for the technical modifications in, and additions to the 

 rectifying column, Mr. John Patterson was largely responsible. The 

 experimental station was removed in the autumn of 1918 to western 

 Canada, and placed in charge of Mr. Patterson. At this station a new 

 type of rectification equipment was installed. No serious experimental 

 difficulties were experienced and the investigation is now well advanced 

 on the road to production on a moderate scale. The helium content 

 of the richest gases in western Canada was found to be about 0-36%. 



In the summer of 1917, when the U.S.A. had decided to enter 

 the war on the side of the Allies, and after the investigations referred 

 to above were well under way, proposals were made to the Navy and 

 Army and to the National Research Council of the U.S.A. to co- 

 operate by developing the supplies of helium available in the United 

 States. These were made on behalf of the Admiralty, through the 

 Board of Invention and Research by Sir Ernest Rutherford and a 

 special Commission, consisting of Commander Bridge, R.N., Lieut.- 

 Commander Lowcock and Professor John Satterly. 



