The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-09-27

then ten years from now there should be production of 1,4070o 0o0,OOo barrels. These figures stagger the imagination. Lack of labor alone would prevent d production from shale rock in excess of 1000 100000 barrels ten years from now. And yet the rate of consumption should steadily increase. The great increase be- tween 1899 and 1919 was chiefly due to the development of the automobile and the internal combination engine tractors and heavy motor trucks, and this indus try is expected steadily to increase.
 WHAT MUST BE DONE
 In order to meet this stupendous de- mand for oil production which the United States will face by the year 1929, if the present rate of production is maintained, 1t will be necessary, according to Dr. AcheSon, to supplement the oil produced from the ground by oil artificiarIy pro- duced. Dr. Acheson frankly says that if he were younger man he would under take to work out a formula for the pro- duction of petroleum by the synthetic process. He means by the synthetic pro- cess the use of carbon which can be ob- taned in all needed quantity from very low grade of coal or coke and the com biration with this of hydrogen. This low grade coal exists in abundance. Fly
 
 material, which is everywhere. namely water. and is secured by decomposing the water. Now, it should be possible through the use of carbon thus obtained, and the union of it with hydrogen, to cause a union between the two elemental sub stances from which petroleum be ob tained. If it can be done, then pants can be established anywhere, and espe- cially near the great manufacturing cen- ters of the United States. Synthetic pro cesses have produced through the utiliza. tion of elementary substances many prod. ucts that are now useful in industry. It was by the synthetic process that Dr. Acheson discovered carborundum and ar tificial graphite, as well as other prod ucts.
 In referring to the communication which he received a few days ago from Pres ident Alderson, Dr. Acheson said this morning that he looks upon our oil shale rock which is practically inexhaustible as g. great national reserve asset upon wkich reliance may be placed for aid in overcoming the threatening petroleum famine. If in addition to the oil shale rock the chemists perfect formula by which petroleum will be artificially produced by the synthetic process, then we may rely upon three sources Or suppiy, first the petroleum which lies beneath the surface: second the petroleum which IS obtained by the synthetic process and third the petroleum which may be ob- tained and secured by distillation from the oil shale rock. By means of this kind the impending danger may be averted
 It is the hope of these men of science and of others that public interest will be so greatly aroused that the energy, the ability and the constructive capacity which characterized in the past the Amer ican people when facing an emergency will serve to stimulate science. capital and industrial lraGers so that within reason- ably short time it will be demonstrated that all eanger of petroleum famine is ended But it is inconceivable that ten years from ro-n the rate of production of petroleum taken from beneath the soil will be in excess of 1000 100000 barrels year.