§ Ronorable W. Sterling Cole ~2-= We have ronghly estimated the total of such expenditures through 1949 at $2,000,000. For subsequent years our estinstes include- an appropriate share of the operating costs of the los Alems — Sclentifie Laboratory and, starting with 1953, the thermonuclear wrk at the University of California Radiation Laboratory; esti~nates as to full scale tests and active materlal costes estimated costs of other contractors in the program such as the American Car and Foundry Company, the Caubridge Corporation, the National, Bureau of Stendards, ete. A summary of these costs, exclusive of investment in plant and equipment, ie shown below and compared vith total ANC operating expenditures, as you requesteda Operating Expenditures = * Cn Millions of Dollars) Direcboo Thermonuclear 1943-1949 - . 2.0 1950 1951 1952 6.0 31.0 £30 21953 61.0 € of Direct Total AEG Research Thermonuclear Expenditures + oe .. Research 1,551 & ol 292.6 AUb 2 565.0 207 FS 73 ~ 716.0 ~~ 8.5 I must enphasize that these figures are extrenely rough approximae tions but they are thse best that can be developed without consider~ able detailed research, I have limited the above estimates te opereting costs and have not attempted to assign capital costs te thermonuclear research. I am furnishing you estimates of the capital costs for thermonuclear weapon production by separate cone respondence in answer to your letter of July 31, 1953. if I can bs of further assistance in this matter please let me knows eat dee Sincerely yours, p——- gigneD AND 7 cEnine-sen«“VIZOs S48 a Tresaaaeea ~ CLE pee tn esl: aha é¢>} : a5 a erLTOVED . i Lewis L, Streuss - or ~ ae ba poe = . ; Licute Chairman Pe -—0 - ~~ . ; _ = “S - ~ . o ERee esDES Department cf Energy Historian’s Office -. “ARCHIVES on