The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-06-28
Gasoline Shortage Myths

We constantly hear stories to the
effect that there is a shortage of gaso-
line. There is nothing to them.
We hear more stories to the effect
that gasoline will be taxed-one story
had it that prohibitive tax would be
placed on it 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 refners of the country
| are producing gasoline at the rate of
well over eight and one-half million
gallons per day. This is more than
two million gallons day in excess of
the 1916 production
Today, the refiners of the country
have 526,382,385 gallons of gasoline
stored away for future use.
On December 81, 1917, the total
amount Of gasoline in, storage amount
| ed to 412,526, 1913 gallons. Between
the end of last year and the present
these stocks of gasoline have in
creased LA, 1858 gallons. In short,
we are producing far more than we
are using up.
| 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 so gallons to the
barrel, this is, 1,311 1888, 100 gallons.
| To get this down to figures that we
March the refiners took an average Of
A. 1872 ,050 gallons a day out of the
ground. This is 100000 gallons per
day more than was produced liz
March, 1917.
The production of crude oil will go
on in creasing. Production of oil has
been classed by the War Industries
Board as highly essential to the gov
ernment's program for the prosecu-
ton of the war.
! The United States Fuel Administra-
ton 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, kerosene,
etc. Crude Oil is too volatile to be
burned under boilers in ships and for
other Industrial purposes.
j In short, in order to produce the re-
quired quantity of fuel Oil, the refin-
ers must produce gasoline. They must
go ON producing it in ever-increasing
quantities.
/ AS for the tax: Leading oil men say
that such legislation never will be en-
acted, and even if such a tax were
levied it would be very small one
which would be designed purely to
produce revenue and not to stop the
use of gasoline.
Any prohibitive. tax which was
placed on gasoline would defeat its
own object. 1t would curtail the use
of gasoline and great stocks would
pile up just as great stocks of kero-
sene piled up few years ago.
For don't forget that the United
States navy and the navies of our AL
lies must have fuel OIL
And you can't make fuel oil without
making gasoline.
| But this is no time to waste gaso-
line. This is the time when everything
must be conserved. Dealers must edu-
cate owners to the necessity of elm
mating waste-to the need Of using
every drop. Kill all idle engines
There is no shortage now, but don't
let us not waste the fuel we have
Motor World.