New-York tribune., 1918-03-07
No Oil Shortage
In u. S., Says
Director Requa
Pooling, Petroleum Men Be-
lieve, Would Relieve Diff
Guilty of Transportation

The pooling Of the facilities Of all
American oil companies which would
enable independent companies to use
Standard Oil pipe lines, was hinted
at yesterday by Mark l.. Requa, United
States petroleum director
Mr.. Requa stated that the govern
ment has no present intention of TAX
ing over the oil industry as it did the
railroads; that, for results. the opera
ton is best in the hands of those now
directing the industry.
The petroleum director gave assur-
ancc that New Workers and others will
not be denied the use of automobiles
for pleasure riding, indicating that
there is no necessity in this country
for prohibiting the use of gasolene
for pleasure autos, as was done in
England.
Director Returns to Capital
In reply to the question as to wheth-
cr there is any likelihood of the gov
crnments compelling all oil companies
to pool their interests, M. Rcqua
said:
at is quite obvious that the oil facil-
tiles of the United States must be
used in such way as to produce the
maximum benefit viewed from a ma
tional standpoint to meet the existing
crisis"
The petroleum director was silent
on the question of the future price of
oil. He left for Washington last night
ter of fixing price for oil.
Mr.. Requa came to New York to at
tend a meeting Of representatives of
the leading American oil concerns
The session, which was held Monday
and Tuesday, was for the purpose OF
ending the petroleum fuel shortage
"Thc fuel oil shortage" Mr.. Requa
insisted, "is 100 per cent a prcblcn
of transportation. There is no oil
shortage for our immediate needs, but
oil in Mexico or Texas is Of no value
to industries in New England unless
it can be transported.
"Tank car mileage that averaged
thirtysi miles per car per day in 1917
dropped to twelve miles in January
and even lower than that in the early
part of February. This car mileage
must be brought back to thirty-siX, ano
increased beyond that point to helr
cIIn,o1,, 1oE tn o
tank steamers that have gone into
transatlantic service"
At the meeting Of oil men it was en-
phasized that the difficulty Of transpor
tation would be lessened if Independent
companies were permitted to use the
Standard Oil pipe lines.
This meeting of oil men in New
York; continued Mr.. Requa, IVA,
probably the largest gathering of OF
operators ever held in the United
States. Not even in the days of the
Standard Oil Company was SO mucl
wealth represented at any one confer
cnce
Joy Riding to Continue
"Thcrc has been considerable discus
sion as to cutting off the supply o,
gasolene to pleasure autos, following
the precedent set in England. But con
olllohS arc cntlfclY dlSSlmllar, tor the
reason that England produces no OF
and has to rely entirely upon imports
In the manufacture of fuel oil in thi.
country, gasolenc is produced as a by
product. The fuel oil is. because of it:
flash point, dangerous until the gaso
lene is taken out. We therefore have
as necessary adjunct to fuel oil. tho
production OF certain quantity OF
Gasolcnc which must be disposed Of"
Mr.. Requa asserted that unless pres
ent conditions improve the petroleum
priority discrimination against mon
cssentlal' industries would continue
for some time.
Some oil men at the conference cx
pressed worry regarding the safety O.
the Mexican oil wells, on which tho
Allied navies depend largely for fuel
Ihcy asserted that agents Of the Kaisc1
we're working overtime to stir up trou
bic in Mexico so as to cut Off that OF
supply. More optimistic operators
however, spoke reassuringly of the pre-
cautions now being taken by this coun
Try and England to protect the Mexican
ont