The Washington times., 1920-07-31
BY L. ]. FAULKNER.


There has been considerable talk in the last few weeks
relative to the rumored imposing of ration system IN
connection with the consumption of gasoline but after
running the rumor down it does not assume such menac
ing form would appear from the stories going about
Investigation at the Bureau OF Mines developed the
fact that there is decided shortage in gasoline produc
on and Director Manning states that the consumption
had increased much faster during the first months OF
1920 that necessary take barrels OF crude
oil from storage to meet the current needs.
The north Texas fields have reached the maximum
output and is very much the Decline and unless new
fields discovered there the production for the present
year will be much less than that OF last The helds In
Louisiana have proven to be large but not anywhere as
extensive as at first anticipated
In contrast with this reduced production the con-
sumption of petroleum products has increased at an enor
rate During the year of 1918 very few automobiles
built comparatively speaking, and in 1888 the
increase in the of automobiles not great as that
Of previous years. but in 1919 there produced mil
lion and half automobiles for 1920, and the indus
try itself is today active than in its history
Therefore 1920 will stand out being the largest year
of gasoline consumption in the history Of the country
1t was partially due to DR.. Manning that Congress
asked for proposed investigation 'to discover
suitable substitute for gasoline and in his appeal to
Congress he said The present situation Of high gasoline
prices and threatened shortage has been caused by the
increase in the of gasoline faster than increase in
duction and importation of crude petroleum. from which it
is derived We find that cannot obtain sufficient
gasoline from the old process of refining crude oil to meet
the present and anticipated needs"
prominent official of the Federal Trade Commission
states in to inquiry relative to rationing gaso
line consumers that there is governmental agency
that could order ration system but refners and dealers
may put such method into effect matter of necessity
and the public of Course would have to go along under
prevailing conditions"
we'll known that representatives Of several Of the
larger companies have discussed this matter informally
with the officials of the Government without any definite
result.
The Bureau of Mines gives the following figures
of May 81 1920 in comparison with that of the date
for 1919 On the latter date there hand at
neres 1892 34 barrels of crude OIL the date in
1920 there 375 barrels The gasoline hand
totaled this date 795 gallons compared
with 594, ,035,6sS gallons in May 1919.
All these conditions fastening the efforts to
substitute and in recent years there have been
developed methods of producing synthetic gasoline from
the less heavy and volatile portions of crude OIL and by
this method 15 per cent of the four billion gallons of gaso
line produced in 1919 were derived.
There are two primary helps to the solution Of pres
ent conditions is rigid economy by the and
dispensers the former using in its consumption
and the dealer in it's useless waste the other is the sub
stitutng Of product derived from mineral vegetable
matter OF alcohol; but this would give relief
for any long period of time.
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