Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-07-19
ICKES' SETUP IS
DESCRIBED TO
OIL MEN

First hand information on the ma
tional defense set-up of the oil in
dustry was brought to Montana oil
men at a dinner meeting in Cut Bank
Friday night, where G. E. Buchner
executive manager Of Independent Pc
troleum association of Tulsa, discussed
local and national problems with In
dependent producers and refiners.
Mr.. Buchner was present at the
meeting in Washington on June 10
and has been closely in contact with
the organization plans of Mr.. Ickes.
Russell Brown, counsel of the aSso-
citation, was unable to come to Mon
tana, owing to the urgencies Of the
situation IN Washington.
Montana directors Of the TPA are
d. e. Hageman, Billings; A. B. Cobb,
D. M Drumheller, r. G. Jeffries and
O. NJ McCabe, ali Of Cut Bank; Q. I.
DeSchon and r. P. Jackson of Great
rails; A G. Eichhorn Of Miles City,
and W. M Fulton and l. r. Hannah
of Shelby A. e. Crumley Is vice presi-
dent for Montana and presided at
Friday nights meeting.
Mr.. Buchner's talk dealt with the
war emergency and he declared that
the strength Of the nation depends
upon unity and the present Is the
time for all branches and factions Of
the oil industry to work together. The
new Set-up Is an agency through
which constructive work can be ac-
complished, he said. The spirit of the
administration In promulgating "the
American way as against regimenta-
ton by dictators is an encouraging
turn, he said. The national set-up is
about equally divided among indie
pendents and Standard or related
companies, he said The independents
can utilize the Ickes organization, he
said, for accomplishing good.
The rate Of production of crude oil
from present wells in the United
States can be increased at least 30
percent without waste, he said, which |
S far above the possible increase In (
demand. He said, This would indicate, /
hat insofar as supply is concerned, |
We can meet any conceivable demand |
hat may arise and that this demand |
IAN be met over a period Of years I
without the necessity of accelerating |
development work beyond the normal
ate"
Only IS percent of the refinery ca
Oacity is being used, so there is no
LANCER Of shortage of refined products.
PIPELINES to the Atlantic seaboard viii
olive the transportation situation, he
aid, discussing the diversion of tank
rs to England
IAN analysis of the east coast oil
ituation made recently indicated no
erious threat or vital shortages at
hat time. Stocks of crude petroleum
nd products on the east coast during
fay and June showed an average in
rease Of $1,000 barrels daily"
The speaker reviewed the conference
ED at Washington and indicated APP
roval Of the plan outlined. Regard
lg conservation, he said: What we
eed is to gradually improve the pres
ut system and make it more effec-
We. When we are carrying on a ma
onal defense program to oppose die
ltorship, we certainly do not want
} see dictatorship imposed on an in
ustry by our own government"
Higher costs will compel higher
-ude prices, he said. The oil industry I
Iust be given opportunity to earn !
lough TO pay the tremendous taxes
lat are growing out Of the prepared .
ess expenditures.
He warned that the independents I
alst see to it that the unlimited !
is not made permanent '
enmesh the industry after the war :
over Q