Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-09-08
Drivers Are Urged to Get Every
Mile They Can Out of
Their Fuel

fear Of any fuel famine, the leaders
in the automobile industry have begun
a campaign to encourage wise econ
omy in the use Of gasoline as partia'
check against a rise in price.
Many big oil reiinerS disagree with
the statement OF PTe6Iden, Bedford OF
the Standard OH Co. that gasoline
shortage Is threatened, and with in
creased production Of crude oil, the
quantity Of gasoline used by airpianes
and other war equipment is not eX-
pected TO materially CnarSe the pres
ent situation. The gasoline for $1,000
airplanes the government, will build
IN the next twelve months is OF no
great Importance compared with the
gasoline required for the lour million
automobiles in use and with the in
creased oil supply.
On the other hand, Alfred Reeves,
general manager of the National Auto
mobile Chamber of Commerce, says
the industry is responding to- Mr.. Bed,
ford's request for economy, and cam
paign for the wise use OF fuel oils
among other industries and trades,
as we'll as among motorists, is now
under way, with good results certain.
'Automobilists are keen to help the
government" said Mr.. Reeves, and
are cooperating TO avoid waste to fuel.
People must use cars and more than
40 per cent of our four million cars
are used strictly Tor business pur'
poses. with a big percentage OF the
balance of passenger cars used iG
some degree for utility purposes IL
. is very hard to draw the line where
utility with an automobile ends and SO
called pleasure riding begins. Presi
dent Wilson's form of relaxation from
government cares Is an automobile
ride every afternoon--a necessity for
his continued good health. -,
The position Of Mr.. Bedford in the
oil industry is such that we must heed
his warning even though other oil
men may not agree with his viewpoint.
We of the. motor industry win cooper
ate with Mr.. Bedford and the govern
ment in avoiding wastage Of gasoline
by encouraging care among allied
trades, as well as among garages and
motor users. Many other things will
contribute to aid IN this movement.
such as Increased mileage from auto
mobiles for each gallon used. more
gasoline extracted from the same
amount OF crude oil and processes for
utilizing kerosene and alcohol.
"The increased demand will stimu.
late greater production by the opening
Of wells now capped, by sinking more
wells, by increased imports from Mex
/. co and, by more rapid installation of
Cracking processes by which much
larger percentages Of gasoline can be
obtained from crude oil. s +.
weight must be given to the pub
lie statement made by Mr.. Bedford.
who unquestionably is in position
20 know the facts regarding oil and
gasoline production and consumption.
Nevertheless, some Of the Independent
OIL reffners do not agree with his
views. Richard Airey, yice-president
OF the Royal Dutch company, one OF
the strongest individual oil compa.
mics, expressed the opinion that mo-
florists need not give up any part OF
their riding and stated that market
advices from Oklahoma and Kansas,
which are the centers Of independent
refining, are to the effect that gasoline
% not so strong, owing to the lack OF
demand. He suggested that what is
needed IN the interest Of the trade is
government sanction to place oilwell
material, including tanks, on the mu- |
nitions list, which would practically |
eliminate any doubt as to the country
being able to produce and supply al!
the petroleum that may be required.
Henry L. Doherty, controlling about
zoe public utilities, says that by sup |
plying steel for oil and natural gas |
pipe lines great deal can be done
10 insure against fuel shortage and |
ID perhaps the quickest way to relieve |
The strain on transportation facilities. |
Taking issue with Mr.. Bedford, he sug.
gests that curtailment of demand |
might even precipitate an oil famine |
by discouraging increased production |
and recommends that the government |
finds ways to. encourage oil producers |
20 not only reestablish normal activity, |
but to increase their efforts above |
normal.
at is the history OF the oil In |
dustry," continued Mr.. Reeves, that |
high retail prices stimulate greater
production Of crude oil. The big rein
ing companies then draw on their re
serves and lower retail prices until
crude prices drop, when buying for
sforaRe Is resumed. :
The amount of purely pleasure rid
ing In automobiles is not large as com
pared with the use of cars and trucks
for business and utility purposes, and |
II all users of gasoline carefully avoid /
waste, there will be no need to curtai; /
even pleasure riding, which is ben.
eficial, as it affords relaxation to the
business man.
Considerably greater mileage per
gallon Of gasoline is now being got /
from automobiles than a few years I
ago. The great majority of cars are
of low power, ranging from Is to 80
with an average of about Il
20. BY better design and construction
of engines and carburetors and better
carburetor adjustment the fuel con
sumption per mile has been reduced. II