More Water In The Sea

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30058, 16 February 1963, Page 10

More Water In The Sea

IBv WHIM WHAM) The United States has reported substantial progress In the long effort to convert sea water to fresh at reasonably economical rates growing need for water in face of the world's expanding population . in such areas as Southern California "there just isn't any more water" to be developed from the usual sources.—News item This pullulating human Race of ours Is running short of Earth on which to stand (In some Parts, anyway), let’s face it, Sir, The Surface of our Globe does not expand. We plough the Fields and scatter the good Seed (As the old Hymn says), but we can’t keep up. We multiply too rapidly, already Millions go hungry, short of Bite or Sup. Earth’s limited, though Air’s in good Supply. Most of Mankind can fill their Lungs. It’s true The Stuff they breathe is not (always) the purest— Smog’s hard to bear, and claims its Victims, too. Water, in relatively desert Places, Is likewise bard to come by, or in Drought. Man’s Body's mostly Water—and it’s puzzling How Camels and Cactuses-can go without: Or manage, with so Little, to survive! Yet We, who have this Element on Tap. Seldom if ever call to Mind the Dust bow Is And Deserts and Dead Seas that scar the Map. What’s Southern California's annual Rainfall? Seven Inches, someone told me, on a Train there. Somehow they pipe it in, to wet those Valleys And grow their Crops, green Stuff and maybe Grain there. Man’s quenchless and increasing Thirst requires The boundless Sea (no Less!) to which in Hope He turns—his inexhaustible Reservoir— That is, if the Conversion Plants can cope.

. . . Sir, if we HAVE to breed the Way we do, So Many (I’ve no Idea) born every Minute— Shall we convert the Sea, to drink it dry? Or convert OURSELVES instead, for living in it?