The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-01-22
by HENRY WpODlOlSE
Author ~ 'rho FIiugEle Ter Tho world
on VeHnutcce" aud Notable TsNt.
books on international luN. NIL.
tary and NRval gucaI'uus

Aufhti NI rho T'INhN|N If| NIN W 'I'N
on Resource aud Nomnre urNi
books on International law NIL.
tary ard Nsvsl gucsuuns
and Aviation.
In the Washington Tunsa
How seriously iho United Sttcs
Merchant Marine iH Handicapped ny
shortage OF fuel BE- tuld bv the
United states shipping bonrd iu iis
nth annual report just is7utd,
covering the year ending jan" dVf
1921:
This report is significant and
should receive tho SERIOUS attention
of the country a. large whose vel
fare depends on having plenty ot oil
to keep Roiug the oll-hutuiug ships
of the navy and merchant marine
to keep running 5000 OOO regis
tered automobiles and other motor
transports. 10 keep operating iho
national industrial and farm uia
,hincry. and To- keep burning thr
electric lights ~ about lo.opo.pOo
homes and factories 10 do tuis r"-
aulros moro oil than th" United
States is produDiug
IN reading this report 90 is wei iu
boar In mind that 90, nupua
amount Of OH required by The United
states Merchant MARINE iu normal
times Is 30. 100000 barrels ~ i2 gal.
Ions each OR about ouc-tw"lfth of
the total oil production Of the United
states In 1921, the star year In pro.
ductiou. being greater than past
years.
The Boards Report
The shipping boards report reads
la part
I'm times of normal operation the
consumption Of fuel oil by shipping
board vessels amounts to approx
mntciy 4O.000,000 barrels pcr year,
aud on this basis contracts Wcio
made for fuel oil IN 1920.
These contracts were made un-
der the greatest difficulty. owing
TO the very serious shurtngc Of fuel
oil then existing. Three separate
public invitations Tor bids, all OF
which were given wide publicity,
resulted In closing only one contract
covering requirement az Philadcl-
phia and one for a small quantity
OF oil at Mexican ports
II nthe meantime, board vessels
were being delayed at practically
every port in the world on account
OF inability to secure fuel oil. and
In June. 1890. approximately 100
vessels were delayed at Atlantic
coast ports alone, Tor this reason
In an effort TO correct this situn-
ton, personal appeals were made 10
American oil companies TO bid on
the board requirements of fuel oil.
Contracts for these requirements for
one year AZ Atlantic and Gulf ports
were closed at prices 90 to 80 per
cent below the then prevailing
market
oil Fuel Ships Delayed.
"Of greater Importance than the
low prices. however, was the aSsur-
anco which these contracts gave of
an adequate supply, nA the require
ments at most OF the ports were sc
large that they could not he secured
on the open market on short notice
AN efforts OF the shipping Boar,
TO contract for its requirement o
fuel oil on the Pacific coast were un
auccessful. and endoAvors To pur
chase the necessary supply ON thl
open market were attended with dlf
ficulty and ships were frequentl!
delayed.
"On July I, 1890. the followini
fucl oil bunker stations were In op
Grafton; st. Thomas. Manila. Hon
olum, st. Georges, Rio de Jancir'
Bizerta, Shanghai, Brcst.
During the fiscal year contract
were made with various oil com
panies to receive, store and rede
liver fuel oil for shipping board ac
count, and additional shipping boart
stations were established.
These stations were kept sup
pliedl with fuel oil 10y shippinl
board tank steamers, They may b'
literally described az the bcakbon'
of the burning fleet Withou
them the fleet would, to great cN
tent, he at the mercy Of foreign oi
companies
''rhe effect OF the establishment
Of the station al Manila IL a strikinI
case This station was opened 10
business In June, l92O At tina
time fuel oil was selling at an point
In the Orient at $50 to $G6 gold pc
ton. and frequently 1t could not b