Take It Easy

Early one morning in 1953, a bouncing sound wave hit Cedar City, Utah (pop. 6,106) with the bang of a ton of explosives. People tumbled out of their beds and ran into the streets, thinking it was an earthquake. No one told them that a "nuclear device" 175 miles away could produce such a sound-effect.

The Atomic Energy Commission is taking no chances this time with the sonic aftereffects of its Nevada bomb tests. A team of experts led by Dr. Alvin Graves, scientific advisor for bomb-testing, has just returned from a mission of reassurance through eastern Nevada and southwestern Utah. When the next series of devices begin exploding this month, Dr. Graves hopes that the neighbors will take it calmly.

Sterility Fears. During the 1953 tests there were no casualties, but the region was in a tizzy for a while. There were wild rumors that invisible radioactive clouds would make people sterile. Children were kept indoors, and every stomachache was blamed on infiltering atoms. When kids at St. George (pop. 4,562) showed a trifling rash, Utah's health commissioner flew from Salt Lake City to investigate. The disease proved to be German measles, but St. George officials broadcast warnings for residents to stay off the streets. When apprehension was at its height, well-meaning AECmen stopped motorists on the lonely road between Las Vegas and St. George and suggested that they have their cars washed--just in case. The suggestion shook even horn-hard miners. When sheep died (probably of malnutrition), their trouble was also blamed on radioactivity.

Covering the thinly settled country where the panic took place. Dr. Graves has talked with physicians, civic leaders and newspapermen in each small town. He has assured them that they have nothing to worry about. The AEC is not planning to test hydrogen bombs in Nevada, not even baby H-bombs (if such things exist).

Curbed Fireballs. Whenever possible, he said, the nuclear devices will be dropped from airplanes, to explode high above the ground. This will keep the fireballs out of contact with the ground, thus reducing the amount of radioactive residue tossed into the air. For the same reason, ground bursts will be exploded on 500-foot towers instead of the 300-foot stands that were used formerly.

When the bombs begin popping, Graves promised. AEC representatives will be in radio contact with the Nevada test site and will tell the public when each bomb is scheduled. If a harmless sound wave hits the region, Graves hopes that panic will not sweep the gulches again.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.