Evening journal., 1918-06-27
NO DANGER Of
TAX ON GASOLINE
| H. N. Partiugton Also Says
There is No Present
Scarcity OF Gas
DON'T WASTE THE
FUEL YOU HAVE

In speaking Of the constant rumors
going the rounds concerning shortage
OF gasoline. Harry \. Darlington, chair
man OF the Wilmington Automobile As
sociailon, yesterday afternoon had the
following 10 say.
1--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 VIII be taxed-one story had
il that a prohibitive tax would be
placed on IL commencing July 81. There
IS nothing TO them. suppose for a
moment. that we examine into stalls
tics. Let us find out the truth OF the
matter and once and for all XII this
gasoline shortage myth.
"Todsy. the reflners OF the country
have 526, ,3s3,3s5 gallons Of gasoline
stored away for future use.
"On December 81. 1917, the total
amount Of gasoline in storage amounted
TO 4i2,526,s33 gallons. Between the end
OF last year and the present these
stocks Of gasoline have increased iii,-
t25.553 gallons. In short, we are pro-
ducing far more than we are using up.
Crude oil is the base from which
gasoline is produced. During the month
az March, which is the latest month
for which the United States govern
ment figures are available, there were
taken from the earth 26,239,662 barrels
Allowing so gallons to the barrel, this
IS 1911 ,9e3,iOO gallons.
ITO get this down TO figures that we
can grasp, ut us say that during March
the reflners took an average OF 42,
332, ,050 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 govern
ments program for the prosecution Of
the war
'The United States Fuel Administra-
tion has stated that it will see that the
ioil industry Is adequately supplied with
all the steel IL needs TO push produc-
tion 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
>tC. OIuut NiA - Abb hVAhNiAN ~ ~
burned under boilers in ships and fol
other Industrial purposes. In short, II
order TO produce the required quantity
of fuel oil, the reflners must produce
gasoline. They must go on producing
II in ever-increasing quantities.
LAS for the taX-Leading oil men say
thaksuch legislation, never a very smal
ont. which would be designed purely
~ produce revenue and not to stop the
se OF gasoline.
ANY prohibiiiye tax which was
placed on gasoline would defeat its own
object. It would curtail the. use OF
gasoline and great stocks would pile
Up Just as great stocks OF kerosene
Piled up few years ago. For don't
forget that the United states navy and
the navies OF our Allies must have fuel
oil. And you can't make fuel oil with
out making gasoline. But this Is no
time TO waste gasoline. This is the
time everything must be conserved.
Dealers must educate owners to the
necessity Of eliminating waste-to the
need Of using every drop. Kill oil idle
engines. There IS no shortage now, but
don't let us waste the fuel we have.