780 



NATURE 



[August 19, 1920 



Alberta for the production of helium on a large 

 scale, the problem of supply would be solved, for 

 the amount of the gas which would be required 

 for low-temperature research would probably not 

 be more than 20,000 or 30,000 cubic feet a year. 

 In default of a production-works on a large scale 

 being established, it would be necessary to install 

 a small plant at Calgary for the specific purpose 

 of supplying the cryogenic laboratory with 

 helium. This could easily be done at the present 

 time, as the experimental plant is still in situ. 

 It would require from 3000Z. to 4000^. to make 

 the changes in the plant which experience has 

 shown are necessary, and to provide the additional 

 auxiliary machinery, tools, etc., required. 



If this plant were run for three or four months 

 each year, an adequate supply of helium could 

 be obtained. The expense of running the plant 

 under these conditions would be high, and it 

 would probably be found that it would require 

 from 2000L to 30ooi. to operate it for a period 

 of three or four months each year. This amount 

 would, of course, have to cover charges for salary 

 of staff, compensation to the owners of the 

 natural gas, light, power, miscellaneous supplies, 

 freight charges on cylinders, etc. 



From the above it will be seen that a' scheme 

 such as that outlined would require in the aggre- 

 gate a capital expenditure of about 30,000^ for 

 buildings and plant, and the interest on an endow- 



ment of about i25,oooZ. for operating and main- 

 taining the cryogenic laboratory, together with 

 the supply station. 



If a cryogenic laboratory, with its auxiliary 

 supply station, were established along the Unes 

 indicated, it would probably be found to be more 

 economical to run the supply station continuously 

 for a number of years, and to store for future use 

 the helium accumulated. In this connection it 

 should be stated that the experimental plant as 

 it exists would probably not produce more than 

 100,000 cubic feet of helium per year. The plant 

 could, however, be easily manifolded, and the 

 Governments of Great Britain and Canada might, 

 from the point of view of national safety, legiti- 

 mately be asked to assume responsibility for 

 operating it. 



Much of our knowledge acquired in the field 

 of low-temperature research we owe to the 

 brilliant work of such distinguished men as 

 Andrews, Davy, Faraday, and Dewar. The dis- 

 covery of the rare gases, helium, neon, argon, 

 krypton, and xenon, we owe to Lockyer, Rayleigh, 

 Ramsay, and Dewar. How could we more fit- 

 tingly perpetuate the work of these great men 

 than by establishing on a permanent basis a cryo- 

 genic laboratory for the purpose of making still 

 further progress in the field of low-temperature 

 research — a field in which British men of science 

 have made such brilliant and notable advances? 



The Cardiff Meeting of the British Association. 



IT is twenty-nine years since the Association met 

 in Cardiff. It is safe to say that any members 

 who may have been present on that occasion will 

 not now be able to recognise the city, for there can 

 scarcely be any other town in the country which 

 has not merely grown, but also altered, so much 

 in that period. In 1891 there was on the north 

 side of what is now one of the main streets a large 

 tract of finely timbered ground called Cathays 

 Park, adjacent to Cardiff Castle and its park, and 

 also the property of the Marquess of Bute. In 

 Cathays Park now stand a number of large and 

 handsome public buildings, including the City 

 Hall, Law Courts, University College, Technical 

 College, and the National Museum of Wales. 

 These are the buildings in which the meetings 

 of the Association will take place, and not one 

 of them was in existence at the time of the former 

 meeting. 



As usual, it is difficult to estimate the probable 

 success of the meeting from the point of view of 

 numbers, but locally every effort is being made 

 to ensure it, and a good average meeting is ex- 

 pected. It is certain that the Association can 

 never have been better provided in the matter of 

 meeting rooms and lecture halls. The local ar- 

 rangements are now almost complete. The hous- 

 ing shortage, particularly serious in Cardiff, and 

 the fact that this is the holiday season have made 

 the task of the rooms and hospitality committees 

 NO. 2651, VOL. 105] 



rather trying, but it has been accomplished, and 

 ample accommodation will be available. 



The reception room, general offices, post office, 

 and luncheon and tea room are situated in the City 

 Hall; Sections A, F, H, and L meet in the Uni- 

 versity College ; Section G has the use of the 

 South Wales Institute of Engineers close by ; and 

 all the other sections are accommodated in the 

 Technical College. In the Technical College also 

 there is an assembly hall for special meetings. 

 The inaugural general meeting, evening dis- 

 courses, and citizens' lectures take place in the 

 Park Hall, which is near one corner of Cathavs 

 Park. 



Regarding the programmes of the individual 

 sections, little can be added to the account of them 

 published in Nature of July 15. The journal of 

 sectional and other proceedings will be ready on 

 the first day of the meeting, but has lost its right 

 to the name, for it will not be published daily as 

 hitherto. Members should therefore retain their 

 copies throughout the meeting. Any alterations 

 in the sectional programmes will be shown from 

 day to day on the notice board in the reception 

 room. 



The inaugural general meeting will take place 

 on Tuesday, August 24, in the Park Hall, at 

 8 p.m., when the president, Prof. W. A. Herd- 

 man, will deliver his address. On Wednesday 

 there will be a reception by the Lord Mayor of 



