The Washington times., 1924-04-04
BY HENRY WOODHOUSE,
Editor Scientific Age.
Written Expressly for Cosmopolitan

News Service
The United States has an in
creasing crude oil shortage, with
American controlled oil deposits to
last only ten years.
We are using over half a billion
barrels of oil in the United States,
and we must look forward to a bill
lion barrel consumption each year,
including the unofficial and unre-
ported consumption, because we
will have over fifteen million auto
mobiles in operation in the United
States this year, an increase Of
more than 100000 over last year,
and economic reasons necessitate
turning ships into oil burners.
Naval Shortage Icons.
Competition cornpels our, mar
6hant marine to be as efficient as
the British, and oil-burning ships
have many advantages over the
others. For the same reasons, the
American navy had to be convert.
Cd to oil.burning.
q Where Is the oil to come from?
The United States oil deposits, &C.
cording to a sweeping survey pre-
pared by a joint committee Of lead
ing members Of the American AS
sociation Of Petroleum biologists
and Of the U. s. Geological Survey,
j were last year a little over nine
billion barrels. f4 ~ -
II. competition increases In the
same ratio as it has been. the
United States deposits will last a
decade, or at most, fifteen years,
which is a very short time consid-
cred with the life and welfare Of
Q great nation.
What win happen after that?
After that, the United States will
be at the disadvantage Of having
to pay high prices for fuel oil and
gasoline taken from oil shale and
OF having to provide military and
naval protection for Alaska to pro
stect the oil deposits there, which
probably amount to 5000, 900, OOC
barrels; this being, however, main.
ly a guess, since geologic surveys
have not been completed as yet,
The fact that it is so far from. the
United States has great disadvan,
tages which are obvious.
Britain Loses In Turkey.
At present, the national oil de
ficit is made up by Mexican prod
uction. But Mexico's known oil
resources amount to only about
1900, 100000 barrels, and many
other nations are drawing on Mex
leo for oil and four billion, bar
reIs only represent a supply fol
-Four years at the present rate Of
world consumption. -,
Great Britain had, during the wa
and up to 1920, obtained control o
nine-tenths of the worlds oil re
sources, but last April lost her girl
on the Turkish Oil fields, estimates
at from 1000 ,000, 900 to 5000 ,0OO, 90
barrels, when the government O
the Great National Assembly O
Turkey gave the Chester group thu
huge concessions which cover fiv
OF the largest untapped oil fields II
the world, viz, Mosul. Van, Bitlis
Er2eroun and Trebizond.
The British tried to have tn
grant upset at the Lausanne con
ference, but failed. That lost I,
Great Britain what are considere,
the largest untapped oil deposits Il
the world.
: AT about the same time, the Brit
1sh also lost their grip on the Rus
sian oil fields, amounting to abou
!. 6,0O0.000,000 barrels potcntiality, an,
2 had 1t not been for large Unite,
States and Mexican production, tn
British oil-driven fleet and mer
Y chant marine would have fare
y badly.
The increasing demand for OF
from other countries, added to tn
large American consumption, ma,
soon be a menace to American In
dustries and commerce, which mus
compete economically with othe
countries.