Graham guardian., 1919-04-04
NEED OF CONSERVING GASOLINE

NEED Of CONSERVING GASOLlNE
That there is urgent need of
conserving the supply of gase-
line if the ever increasing de-
mand is to be met, is pointed out
elsewhere in this issue in an an
nouncement by the Standard Oil
Company. Everybody interested
in gasoline, including the oil re-
finers, automobile engineers and
the government itself, is giving
q great deal of thought to this
problem.
The war called the attention of
| the people to the drastic need of
! avoiding waste. What the Food
Administration did to conserve
food is still vividly in the men,
ory of everybody in the country.
| What the Fuel Administration
did. while just as valuable, was
not so spectacular, and there are
many facts about the conserva-
ton of gasoline and other petrol
cum products which have not
hitherto been brought out.
For the past few years the
petroleum and automobile in
,dustries have both been making
great efforts to keep the supply
of gasoline up to the demand.
The oil producers have been
stimulated to find new sources of
supply and have sunk many new
wells. Oil refiners and chemical
engineers have been improving
processes of refining. which have
made the crude oil yield more
gasoline than was thought posi-
BILE ten years ago. Automobile
engineers have constantly i'm
proved the efficiency of engines
and the methods Of carburizaA
ton, so that the gasoline used
will give the greatest power and
mileage.
In spite of all that has been
done, the war made it necessary
to take still further measures to
keep up the supply. The de-
mand had become so greatthatthe
fuel administration was forced
to prohibit in eastern states all
non-essential use of passenger
automobiles, and for a time this
request was so extended that
only automobiles in government,
emergency or war service were
in use on Sunday. Fortunately,
the motorist of the Pacific coast
was not required to undergo this
hardship. Enough gasoline was
produced in California for all
Pacific coast needs and it's dis
tribution did not require the use
of transportation facilities needed
for war purposes.
However, so great was the need
of conserving gasoline in all parts
of the country, that President
Wilson appointed a government
committee last summer to de-
termine on and adopt standard
specifications for gasoline and
other petroleum products. This
committee consisted of the U. S.
/ Fuel Administration and repre-
sentatives of the War and Navy
Departments, the u. S. Shipping
Board. the Director General of
Railroads, the Bureau of STAN
dards. 1t was assisted and ad-
vised by technical experts from
each of these departments and
bodies. After extended diGcus.
sions, tests and experiments
this committee adopted specifica-
tions for gasoline, not only for
aviation. purposes, but also for
general motor use. They were
drawn up with a view to provid-
ing a grade of gasoline that
would meet every requirement
and yet allow the greatest pro-
duction. They mean that our
petroleum resources will be con-
served to- the best advantage and
that a reasonable price to the
motorist will be maintained.
Drafted as they were by i'm
partial experts. these specifica-
tions are today generally consid-
cred the most practical standard
for gasoline, since they insure
efficient and satisfactory fuel at
a reasonable cost.
These specifications for gaso-
line are for the benefit of the
PUBLIC as a whole. They make
certain satisfactory gasoline
and at the same time assure a
future supply by using the crude
| oil to the best advantage by
eliminating all waste.
The Standard Oil Company re-
ports that Red Crown gasoline
lis now refined to conform with
these United States government
Y ofoNIorl q apan,en,A.--. a..