Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-09-20
GASOLINE SUPPLY IS
NOT SHORT, HE SAYS

There is not the slightest danger OF
deficiency in the supply either of
crude oil or its products, kerosene and
gasoline, for the use of the United
States or its allies. in the opinion of
A. c. Bedford OF New York. president
OF the Standard Oil company of New
Jersey. Mr.. Bedford expressed this
conviction here before the war con.
vention Of the American chamber OF
commerce.
Increase the Production
America" said Mr.. Bedford. sis
producing and can produce all that
will be needed for these purposes. -"
But he added that "our government
should receive the first call upon all
petroleum produced. either for itself
or as it may designate for the use OF
our allies in their conduct OF the
war"
Mr.. Bedford declared the vital prob.
lem confronting the petroleum indus.
try today was to increase the produc.
ton OF crude oil.
The price, he said. should be SUI,
hciently attractive to induce more and
more people to drill wells, thus insur.
ing steady supply and iffering al
ways the opportunity of finding q
great pool which will make the whole
situation suddenly easy"
Large Quantity in Storage
While the oil refining capacity o.
the country. Mr.. Bedford states, Is
greater than the present demand, the
United States is consuming crude oil
at the rate OF more than 1896, 900 oct
barrels a year, while the annual pro
duction in this country amounts [,
3l2,0O0000 barrels. There was in
storage in the United States on Jul,
l last, however, 164,590,942 barrels o
petroleum.
1T will thus appear" added Mr.
Bedford, that with the stocks aboy,
ground and given the present rate o.
production and consumption the sup
ply is sufficient to ensure us having
enough oil for at least the next five
years. provided the production is fair
ly maintained. So, while the occasion
is not one for alarm. il is one for tax
ing intelligent measures toward ade
quate protection OF what we need"
Government to Have Precedence
The petroleum committee appoint.
| ed by the council of national defense
to cooperate with the government,
Mr. Bedford said. has recognized
that the government requirements
should have absolute precedence and
that no consideration of costs, con-
venience or selfish interest should in
terfere with our giving the govern.
ment every thing it asked of us"
To emphasize his suggestion that
the production of crude oil be in.
creased, Mr.. Bedford said that this
country will require next year at least
55,O0O.O00 barrels OF gasoline.
That amount" he declared, sim.
ply cannot be obtained from the guam.
tity of crude petroleum now being
| produced.
Gasoline Requirements
They tell us the war is to be won
in the air. Our country is said to be
building large numbers of airplanes.
Our allies are building flying machines
as fast as they know how. Vital Ia
the very existence OF these airplanes
is the highest grade of gasoline that
can be produced. The prospect is
that the present year will call fol
100000 barrels of gasoline for tho
use of our allies in Europe"
Asserting that II would be grca
misfortune to adopt any policy tina
would hamper or handicap the auto
mobile industry as manufacturing
enterprise or the use OF automobiles
now in possession of the public, Mr.
Bedford declared: There should b,