Evening star., 1923-02-09
WEST RUSHING OIL
EAST VIA PANAMA
California Fields Expect to
Become Greater Factor
in Situation Here.
BY j. C. ROYLE.
'ecial Dispatch TO The Star.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
NEW YORK, February 9.-Everv
available American tanker is being
pressed into service today to trans
port shipments of California crude
oil from the Pacific coast wells to Al
lantic coast refineries by way of the
Panama canal. Advances in the price
of eastern crude has placed added en-
phasis on the position of the Call
fornia fields as factor in the oil
and gasoline supply of the nation.
Present California shipments
through the canal are close to so, 900
barrels a day. an increase OF 2n000
IN the last two months. and will be
pressed 10 100000 barrels day short
~, according to dispatches received
today from the Pacific coast. Califor-
MIA producers said they were being
called upon daily to play a bigger
ments for refinable crude. They add
ed that the east was facing the pros
pect of d gasoline shortage next sum
mer due, in part, to the incursions OF
salt water in the Mexican light oil
wells and slackening Of output il the
midcontinent territory.
May Ship Gasoline Soon.
California refneries now are turn
ing out approximately 100000 bar
rels of gasoline month, an increase
of so per cent over a year ago. This
increase in production is due, oil men
said, to the higher gasoline conten'
of oils from the new southern tai
fornia fields Oil producers in the
west now are asking whether the
present movement of California crude
10 the east will not eventually be
supplanted by shipments Of refined
products.
More gasoline is reported to be IN
storage in the east than ever bef3fe
but the falling off in the two III"
sources of eastern supply, Mexico and
the midcontinent field. is reported -
be causing anxiety to eastern reiii-
ers. In the meantime two EusheI>
with Il combined daily flow of 10 o.
barrels were brought in this week ~
the Santa Fe springs field of Cal
fornia and 10. new wells nave bee
started in southern California sln"',
January !.
An order for thirty so 000 bar1.l
tanks for installation in Cal!fcrn,"
by the Pam American oil interests Is
now being bid ON by steel producers
and the Texas Company has just -
dsred twenty-five tanks "t that s:Z'
to the Port Arthur district.
Wool Shortage Feared.
Wool buyers today are running around
the ranges Of the west hunting hoch
who looks distressed they pursue mn
yelling: please let US loan YOU money.
With eastern markets almost bare OF
domestic woods, dealers arc making
strenuous efforts TO contract Tor clips
which will not be sheared for months
to come. They are giving evidence of
willingness to finance the shearinE oper-
ations OF the grower provided some con
tract for the clip can be arrived at. ac-
cordinr to reports from the ranges to
day Some smaller lots have been tied
up but those in control of the big clips
still are holding for higher prices thai,
; dealers are prepared to pay at present,
Electrical equipment companies are
being swamped with orders. The ordci
! TO the General Electric Company by tho
Philadelphia Raprl Transit Company for
equipment for $50 cars was one of the
[ largest single orders ever placed with
the company. The New York Edison
Company, the Detroit Edison Company.
the American Gas and Electric Com
pany. the Minneapolis General Electric
Company and the Commonwealth Ed
son Company of Chicago have all ordered
electric turbines and other equipment.
These orders. electrical engineers said
today. reflected new calls on central
stations for light and power by indus
| trial plants, which necessitated imme-
! dlate CxpauSion,