Community Operations Sandia community operation and maintenance was by Sandia Corporation throughout the period, responsibility having been transferred on June 30, 1950. . Average rentals were to be increased 33.5 per cent August 1]. There were an estimated 1, 483 residents July 1, 1953. The federal contribution to community operation totaled $4,880,000 in fiscal 1949. This was changed into an excess of income over cost the next year and for fiscal 1953 the community income was $36, 327.00 above costs. Los Alamos community grew from 1947's 7,150 to 12, 700, with some 13, 000 pro- jected as the eventual total figure. Community expansion and modernization begun in 1948 was completed except for replacement of substandard housing which was to begin in fiscal 1954. A major achievement was changing 1950's federal contribution to community - operations of $1, 883, 000 into a net return to the government of $127, 700 for 1953. This objective had been considered impossible of achievement as the three-year period began. Housing rental rates were adjusted, equalling an average 5 per cent increase, and utility rates were revised. The Scurry Panel reported that incorporation and home ownership would not be possible in the foreseeable future at Los Alamos, but should be considered as ultimate goals. Status of Mission Achievement, July 1953 - > > The period was one of very major mission achievement. weapons development had always been wide ranges in yield and to permit the Military to select bombs appropriate to the target cle, with reduction in size-and-weight additionally offering the A primaryobjective of in size-and-weight in order and to the available vehiadvantage to the Military of using a wide variety of vehicles to carry bombs and of gaining greater range of action through load reduction. This objective was achieved prior to mid-1953. Weapons then available provided greatly increased efficiency in use of fissionable materials and at the same time provided a very great flexibility. . ~ —~—-- me ae _ Le eee EE Eo eee wen et ee epee wee He “Product 5] Specifications,acceptance procedures, ‘and methods for identifying and correcting deficiencies were strengthened, with product acceptance being performed by direct AEC employees at all SFO final assembly installations other t. than Rocky Flats. ‘ 4 > Considerable developmental progress had been made on atomic missiles by an AECmilitary team, with three atomic warhead installations nearing the stage of production and stockpiling. As of July 1, 1953, 41 new weapons programs were in progress and 6 major weap- ons modifications were under way. ALGa A feature of the full period was, of course, the development of thermonuclear weap- ons, The accelerated LASL program began in March 1950. A Greenhouse test in the Spring of 1951 determined that a fission weapon would produce enough heatto initiate a thermonuclear reaction in liquefied materials. At an Ivy test in the Autumn of 1952 a large-scale thermonuclear detonation was obtained. iated for development of} Shortly after Ivv a comprehensive developing other experimental devices in order to prove new concepts LASLwas also design. (While