Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-06-26
GASOLINE SHORTAGE MYTHS

We constantly hear stories to the
effect that there is a shortage OF gaso-
line, There is nothing 10 them
We hear more stories to the effect
that gasoline will he taxed one story
had it that a prohibitiye tax would be
placed on il commencing July 81,
There is nothing TO them.
Suppose. for a moment. that we ex-
anime into statistics. Let US find out
the truth OF the matter. and once and
for all kill this gasoline shortage
myth
Today. the reiiners of the country
are producing gasoline at the rate OF
well over eight and 0ne-half million
gallons per day This Is more than
two million gallons day. in excess
Of the 1916 production.
Today. the refners OF the country
have 526.3S2.sS5 gallons of gasoline
stored away for future use
On December 81. 1917, the total
amounted to 4l2.526.S35 gallons Be
tween the end of last year and the
present these stocks OF gasoline have
increased 1l4.125.55S gallons. In
short, we are producing far more than
we are using up.
Crude oil is the base from which
gasoline is produced. During the
month of March, which is the latest
month for which United States gov
eminent figures are available there
were taken from the earth 26,239 ,662
barrels. Allowing 50 gallons to the
barrel this is f.3ll,9S3, 100 gallons
TO get this down to figures that we
can grasp, let Us say that during
March the refners took an average Of
1882 $50 gallons a day out of the
ground This is 100000 gallons per
day more than was produced in March,
1917
The production OF crude oil will go
on increasing. Production of oil has
been classed by the War Industries
Board as highly essential to the gov
ernments program for the prosecu-
to-, of the war.
The United States Fuel Admins.
tration has stated that it will see that
the oil industry is adequately sup.
piled with all the steel it needs to
push production and open up new
wells Oil Is on the preferred list
Further: The government Is today
short of fuel Oil This Is crude oil
after the lighter distillates have been
taken out, such as gasoline, kero-
sene, etc Crude oil Is too volatile TO
be burned under boilers in ships and
for other industrial purposes
In short, in order to produce the
required quantity Of fuel oil the re
tiners must produce gasoline. They
must go on producing it in eyer-in
creasing quantities
As for the tax Leading oil men say
that such legislation never will be
enacted. and even il such a tax were
levied it would be a very small one
which would be designed purely tC
produce revenue and not to stop tht
use OF gasoline,
Any prohibitive tax which wa'
placed ON gasoline would defeat iii
won object It would curtail the as,
OF gasoline and great stocks woul,
pile up just as great stocks Of kero
sene piled up few years ago.
SO don't forget that the Unite,
States navy and the nayies of on
allies must have fuel oil
And you cant make fuel oil Will
out making gasoline.
But this Is no time to waste gast
line This Is the time when ever,
thing must be conserved Dealer
must educate owners to The necessit
OF eliminating waste--to the need {
using every drop XIII all idle 81
gines There Is no shortage now, BIT
don't Let us waste the fuel we have
Motor World.