Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-08

The restoration of the Nays oil re.
serves to the jurisdiction of the Navy
Department, six years after their un.
fortunate transfer to the Interior De-
partment, is hailed with satisfaction
throughout the country, and a policy
of safe-and-sane conservation of this
gift of the soil to man is hoped for
from now on, as the press voices the
desires Of the Nation.
THE transfer to the Interior De.
partment and the subsequent negotia.
tons by Albert B. Fall with E. L.
Doheny and Harry F. Sinclair of
leases covering the Elk Hills and Tea.
pot Dome reserves made a dark chap
ter in our national history" comments
the Erie Dispatch-Herald, as it notes
that "the regaining of the ground lost
has been slow and tedious, involving
complex legal processes. The oil left
in these reserves should be guarded
by the Navy against time of need
the one purpose for which the lands
were. first set aside" declares this
paper. The Lexington Leader is graft
fed that Navy inspectors are to be
placed in charge of the properties, and
every precaution is to be taken in the
future to protect the interests of the
United States" In discussing the
declaration Of the Navy that it's future
policy will be Ito keep as much of the
oil in the ground as is possible for the
longest possible time," the Leader
says, "This is unquestionably what
Congress intended in the laws covering
the reserves when they were estab-
lished," and the Geneva Daily Times
concurs, saying: "This is as it should
be. 1t never should have been other
wise."
The Importance of conservation is
seen also by the Santa Ana Register,
which says, Conservation should
mean not only holding certain re-
serves, but also the curbing of waste,
the complete exhaustion of a we'll be.
fore abandoning it, and the adoption
Of more efficient methods of drilling,
pumping and refining" Excessive
drilling is seen by the San Bernardino
Sun as one of the enemies of conserva-
ton, this paper contending that 1.-The
present wastage of oil which is going
on through multiplied competitive
drillings is not only an economic
crime, but also crime against the
people Of the United States as
whole"
Speaking Of the fact that in the
naval reserves just regained many
wells now in operation will be closed,
and arrangements have been made
with neighboring operators whereby
wells will either close or pay
to the United States SIS per cent of any
increase in production resulting from
the shutdown Of Navy wells" the
Union remarks, "All this
will command popular satisfaction"
That no country in the world has
been more guilty of reckless destruc-
ton of natural resources than our
own" is the statement of the Hartford
Daily Times, which sees as a patent
national misfortune" the fact that
regulation the American forest was
shattered down to the lasting depriva-
ton of imminent posterity. The dam
age can be ameliorated, but not COM
continues this paper, which
foresees similar wastefulness in the oil
resources.
The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel |
thinks the industry lis in need of i'm |
proved stability. Indeed, growing |
overhead expense makes such i'm |
proved stability absolutely impera- |
tive" says this paper emphatically, |
as it sees in lack Of such stability |
''tbe principal reason why the indus |
try today feels the shock of sudden |
price fluctuations and the other effects |
Of erratic crude oil production very
much more keenly than in former |
times" The Ann Arbor Times-N News |
warns that "a nation whose oil supply |
Is exhausted will be at the mercy of |
any aggressor."
X
Some interesting discussions Of the |
various phases Of the situation in re-
gard to oil resources and the oil in
1ustry are taking place on the edi.
torial pages Of the press Of the Ma