The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-07-15

| olLlCAdES OWu SluClalr, EnlllpSS own Phillips, Cuffs and Unions Drake boys, and all the rest.
 But there were so many divergent points of view, because any one solution might work hardship on many of the competing companies, that there was only one real out: Davies had to take all the recom- mendations and all the objections, pray over them, and hope to come up with @ solution that would do the most good to the greatest num- Der, and work hardships on the fewest. It was a thankless self irn- posed assignment, but the oil men would probably all be there yet If they had had to work out their own salvation.
 HARD TO
 CHOOSE ROUTE
 Biggest problem was location of the big pipeline from the Texas fields to the refineries of the Phil adelphia and New York area, This one line Is the key to the whole problem. As planned, 1t Is to be a 24-inch line and Its cost will be around $70 million. It will require priority on e vast amount fo special steel strong enough to withstand the pressures under which the line would work in delivering about 250,- 900 barrels of crude oil every day.
 Even this whopper of a line won't solve tn eproblem completely, if built in the optimistic estimated minimum time of 10 months There will have to be other pipelines, and possibly tankers too. For the con- sumption of petroleum products on the eastern seahoard reaches the terrific total of million and a half barrels day.
 RESERVE STOCKS
 DECREASING
 So far, reserve stocks on the Att lantic seaboard have enabled every body to get by without feeling the pinch. But Secretary 1ckes, who is the head petroleum co-ordinator and Davies boss, has assembled figures to indicate that the east IS consuming It's reserves at the rate of l50000 barrels a day, and that this vii soon 90 up to 250,000 bar- rels day. When that times comes, fuel oil will get preference over gasoline, on the theory that it's more important for people to have their houses warm than 1t is for them to 90 gas-buggy riding. Some gasoline is being shipped to the east by rail for the first time in years to help offset the threat ened shortae. Ickes says the petro- leum industry has acted promptly to make use of an estimated 10000 Idle tank cars.
 1ckes has refused thus far to dis- cuSs gasoline rationing. To do SO, he feels, would invite too much com- ment on what the cards would look like and how much fuel the average J family bus would be allowed. But the idea is being toyed with, crazy .as 1t seems for a country with all the oil reserves and tapped pro- duction facilities which the United States unquestionably has. Reor- ganization of existing petroleum transportation facilities should solve all problems of shortages. but this isn't the only approach being made.
 OTHER PROJECTS
 ON THE WAY
 Three other pipeline projects are in the Davies picture for relieving the situation in the east. The first, from Portland, Me, to Montreal, Canada, would cost only $8 million, and 1t could be completed by Janu- ary, 1942, if they get going now. The line would make 1t unnecessary for the tankers to round the hump at Nova Scotia and go up the St. Lawrence.
 The other two much discussed projects, the Southeastern and Plantation lines, are of course hanging fire for passage of the Cole bill by Congress, giving pipe lines teh riht of eminent domain which would permit them to cross highways and railroads, privileges now denied them by the sovereign state of Georgia, whose legislature has mussed up the situation no ned.
 The Southern line, Pure Oil and Gulf Oil undertaking from Port St. Joe, Fla, to Chattanooga, Tenn, is supposedly all done ex- cept for the few lengths of pipe necessary to cvross each highway and railroad. The pipes are all cut and on the ground, ready to be put in place and joined. Legislative bungling alone has prevented com pietion of these last links. The line could be put in operation by Octo- Der 1, permitting the flow of some l8,000 barrels a day.
 The other lien is still on paper. This is the proposed Plantation line. running from the Louisiana fields across northern Mississippi. Ala bama, Georgia ard on into the western Carolinas. WASHINGTON CONSISTENCY
 If the aluminium shortage situa- ton has you confused, take a look at two paragraphs from two con- gresslonal committee reports, filed withI nthree days:
 Tt Is reasonable to conclude that Alcoa tT'he Aluminium Company Of America) had convinced the OPM Of the adequacy of the supply In or. der to avoid the possibility that anyone else would go into the field which they had for 60 many years monopolszed. Ale0a long had follow cd . policy Of maintaing high prices and building new capacity only when certain 1t could sell at It's fixed prices ail that would De pros duced."
 Said the House Military Affairs Hnfnlnlllaa,