Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-20
LACK OF GASOLINE
WORRIES THE WEST
Scarcity Of Fuel Oil Also
Menace to Commerce,
Is Report.
is serious

That scarcity of gasoline is serious
ly threatening commerce of the Pa
| cific coast and causing anxiety
among the farmers Of that section re-
| garding their crops. was brought out
| in letter written from a member of
! a party which started from Pasadena
! intending to return to New York by
automobile.
Our trip by automobile has been
stopped" writes the easterner. I'VE
have been notified that owing to
scarcity of gasoline for agricultural
purposes not more than five gallons
will be sold to pleasure parties"
While frequent reports have been re-
ceived Of late stating that California
is hard hit by lack of fuel oil, there
seems to be discrepancy in reports
on production of oil in the state. Ihe
state mineralogist has just issued
report which indicates that in lsaS gig
there was an increase of 1,517,69O
barrels or one-half per cent. over that
of the previous year.
The Standard and Independent Oil
Producers agency give out hgures
showing a decrease of one-half 10
| three-quarters of l per cent.
Rate Of Production.
The outstanding feature Of Califor-
| mia oil production is fairly constant
l y
products, therefore, must be due to
| increased consumption.
| These conditions are verified by a
statement received by the Phlladel-
phia Public Ledger from e. Percy
Morse. vice president OF the inter
Island Steam Navigation Company. IN
which Mr.. Morse, says that the pres
emit scarcity of oil for ships is serious
ly affecting commerce. Ships Gaining
at Honolulu. according to Mr.. Morse,
are finding fuel SO short that II Is
likely fifteen Shipping Board freight
erS may be converted 10 coal purneiS
at that port.
He adds, however, that negotiations
are being carried on with the navy
Department for supplies from the
Navy tanks at Pearl Harbor, but II OIL
cannot be procured from that source
the ships will be compelled TO cnanee
to coal.
Cause Of Controversy.
Controversy has arisen between the
Standard Oil Company and the south
ern Pacific railroad as to the causes
for insufficient gasoline along the
lines of automobile travel. The Stand
ards reason for inability to sell free
ly to pleasure travellers is that the
Southern Pacific railroad has been
unable to transport and deliver sur
ficient Quantities. The statement has
the contested state of railway traffic
But the Southern Pacific has emphati-
caIly denied the Standards version
It has inserted large advertisements
in newspapers in San Francisco de-
claring it is ready to move gasoline,
distillate, kerosene and fuel oil to
any point, and is ready ito do al in
it's power to remedy any existing
Standards position. as outlined in
it's advertisements. is that protection
of crops is of paramount Importance
to all the people, and that its reports
show at some points crops are threat
ened by complete destruction unless
instant relief is given.
Farmers' interests Involved.
In California farming interests are
largely dependent upon hydroelectri-
cal energy for pumping water for ir-
rigation Of crops. In ordinary years
this energy is supplied by water in
the mountains, but this year the rain
fail has been very light and the snow
fall IN the mountains has been the
least in many years. Thus gasoline
will have to supply the power usually
obtained from the water course