Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-06-04
Adjustments Needed
To Meet Shortages
In Oil, Ickes Says
Reduction in Supply
To Begin in East in
July, Experts Assert
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Secretary of the Interior Ickes said
today all of us" would have ito
make some kind of adjustments" to
meet the prospective oil shortage
which industry representatives have
suggested might lead to "gasless
Sundays and less heat from oil
burners.
I'VE face a set of hard facts" he
declared in his first formal state
ment since President Roosevelt made
him petroleum co-ordinator for de-
tense. He added briefly:
II am sure that American industry,
as we'll as individual citizens, can
help to meet the situation. Con-
servation of petroleum products is
certainly one way"
Secretary Ickes' aides have esti-
mated that Japan now is importing
$4,000 to 10000 barrels daily of oil
from the Nnited States, sending
ships to the West Coast for it.
Transportation Problem.
Oil experts pointed out, however,
the Japanese imports from this
country bore little if any relation to
the threatened petroleum shortage
in Eastern States, since the def
cheney would result from lack of
transportation from the Southwest
ern oil fields to the East rather than
q shortage of productionandref1ning
facilities.
The shortage, petroleum experts
said, will begin in the East in July
and become progressively more acute
during the autumn months.
To combat the approaching
scarcity and to keep it from cur
recommended that riged restric-
tons be imposed on the use of oil.
Specifically, it was suggested that
"gasiess Sundays" be started, and
that the temperature in oil-heated
homes be kept five degrees lower
this winter No Federal program
has yet been formulated, however.
A full report on the situation was
submitted yesterday to Secretary
Ickes by a committee of the petrol
cum industry.
The industry pledged its support
ITO any extent" in helping to meet
the anticipated emergency.
Plans War on Waste Drive.
The Oil Burner Institute told Mr.
1ckes it would make a war on
waste campaign to save heating
oil by bringing about more efficient
use of heating equipment in homes,
commercial buildings and factories.
BY bringing efficiency to or above
the commercial standard set by the
Bureau of Standards. the institute
said, saving of 25 to 80 per cent
in heating oil could be effected in
the Atlantic Coast area, saving up
to 100000 barrels during the win
ter season. The normal consump-
ton of heating oil in East Coast
States runs about 100000 barrels.
Jobbers, distributors and service
agencies for oil-burning equipment |
their customers to put equipment
in maximum efficiency condition, |
and Mr.. Ickes was assured that |
every effort" would be made to |
have this work done at actual cost, |
thus avoiding heavy expense TO both |
home and commercial users. |
The oil-burner organization ad- |
voCated cooperative program with |
other industrial users of petroleum
products to conserve by eliminating
waste. such as cutting down the |
use Of ineff1cient motor cars and
trucks"
Suggested by Ickes.
Only last week Mr.. Ickes men
toned the possibility of "gasless
Sundays" to conserve the gasoline
normally used by pleasure motor
lists. The Netherlands instituted
such regulations shortly after the
war started in 1889 and they were
reported almost 100 per cent effec-
tive for non-e essential vehicles, be-
cause offenders we're fined more
than $3.50.
The report of the oilmen did not
estimate how much gasoline could
be saved in this manner, but it did
state that Nation wide reduction
of degrees in the temperatures
of oil-heated homes would effect a
10 per cent saving in the amount |
of fuel oil consumed.
The belief in some informed quar-
ters was that every effort would
be made to keep the fuel oil supply
as close to normal as possible, es-
pecially as winter approached.
Hence, it was said, the average man
would be likely to feel the scarcity
In gasoline before fuel oil.
Delivery Facilities Reduced.
Facilities for delivering oil to the
Northeastern seaboard area have
been reduced by the transfer to
British service of so of the 250-odd
tankers in Americas coastwise feet.
And further transfers are likely.
There will be sinkings," Mr. 1ckes
remarked during the reading of the
report, land we will have to replace
them
Both Mr.. Ickes and the oil men
agreed that there was urgent need
for the construction of an oil pipe
line from Louisiana and Texas to
the New York-Pennsylvania area.
The report said 24-inch line would
move as much oil as IS tankers. 1t
would cost s7o,0OO,0OO and require
q year or IS months to build.
Other Methods Discussed.
The report also discussed various
other methods of reducing the trans