Evening star., 1925-01-11
GASOLINE SUPPLY
AMPLE IS VIEW
Report on Oil Resources
Notes Recent Large Growth
in Production.

If the Nations dwindling oil re-
sources force restrictive use of gaso-
line, automobiles will be hit first, it
is asserted by DR.. w. +. Scha aphorst
of Newark, y. j., in report upon oil
burning prepared for the official
journal of the American Chemical
Society.
Because Of the growth in oil pro
duction," says the report, "it can now
be safely said that even purchasers of
motor cars need fear no cessation of
oil supply, and prospective users of
fuel oil in chemical and industrial plants
need no longer ask each other the
usual question, VIII it pay us to
convert over to oil burning? VIII
the supply of oil be exhausted before
we get our investment back"
Those who have made study of
the matter declare that the supply of
oil is ample for hundreds of years.
There are 100000 automobiles in
the United States, all. of them using
Is much gasoline as they want.
IF restrictions are ever to be made
anywhere, gasoline supply to the au-
tomobile field will surely be curtailed
before the essential industries are
touched The chemical industry is,
of course, an essential industry.
"OiI promises to compete seriously
with coal for many years, the present
supply being more than ample. Most
chemical industries are essential in
dustries; consequently in case of gov
ernmental regulation of oil consump-
ton the chemical Industries would
not be the first to be affected. Oil is
now as safe as coal. Some city ordi-
nances are too severe. Carefully
compiled data show that oil as COM
pared with coal has advantages far
outweiGhing any disadvantages
New oil fields are continually be
ing discovered. SO that now not only
does the supply of oil meet the de-
mand. but it more than meets it.
Prices have dropped considerably
since prc-WHr days, whereas prices of
most other COR nodities have in
creased.
Prices Drop, Consumption Grows.
With the drop in prices the con-
sumption has increased, but never
theless, contrary to usual occurrences
under similar circumstances, oil prices
have continued to drop.
"One hundred and eighty million
barrels of gasoline were used by mo-
tor cars alone during 1928. Twenty
years go it would have been consid-
cred impossible to supply that much
gasoline at any price.
"Oil was first used for fuel by the
Russians. over 60 years ago, but until
comparatively recently ii has made
but little haadway. Now, however
we are burning 100000 barrels OF
oil daily. Much of this oil is being
burned in direct competition with
coal and il is being done with greater
economy than with coal.
AT present the great demand is ot
advantage to the industrial plant
owner, as, because of this, oil fue
is both cheaper and safer. Concern
ing the safety of oil burning there
is practically nothing to fear today
The time hazard has been re-
moved through distiIlation, study eX'
perimentatiou and improvement.
I'm general, it might be said, OF
course, that the more volatile the OF
the greater the danger. There are
few combustibIes that are more vola
tile than gasoline; yet every chemis
knows that even gasoline can be uSeC
for heating with the utmost safet,
when properly stored and fed to th'
furnace, and it can be burned at leas
as safely as 1t is used in automobiles
Nearly all cities now have ordi
nances governing oil burning whtcl
make it decidedly safe. In fact, some
cities have gone entirely too far will
their codes, making them unneces
sarily severe and too expensive
There is no doubt that many code:
will be simplified in the future, bring
ing oil burning within the economi,
reach of many chemical and indus
trial plants that are now using Goa
and other fuels