Evening star., 1941-07-31
|ckes Requests
Night Closing Of
Gas Stations
Would Make Plan
Effective Sunday
Throughout East
BACKGROUND

eastern petroleum. tT1n5pOrtd-
ton difficulties began Uith trans
fer OF so tdnkers from codstUtse
serrice to British aid duty. Bulk
of oil consumed in Eastern seq
board States has been brought
from Gull States by ship. With
the Atlantic Coast facing dimin-
ishino petroleum stocks, Defense
Petroleum Co-ordindtor Ickes
called for voluntary one-third
reduction in consumption. On
Monday Mr.. IckeS reuedled gas
oline consumption UdS increasing
instead of diminishing.
In a move toward compulsory re-
striction on the use of gasoline, Sec
retary. Of the Interior Ickes today
called on the oil industry to close
100000 service stations in II East
ern States and the District of CO.
lumbia from pm. to am. on
seven days week, effective Sunday.
Bolstering this step, Mr.. Ickes asked
the suppliers to cut off deliveries OF
motor fuel to any dealer who fiouts
the regulatory order.
The closings would affect all gaso-
line retail stations on the Atlantic
seaboard from Maine to Florida.
Announcing this drastic move at
a press conference, Mr.. Ickes said
he felt the people generally have
not recognized the seriousness Of the
petroleum situation. and warned
that unless this action achieves re-
suits, 1T must be followed by other
steps to accomplish our end"
Least Action" Possible Now.
Closing public filling stations at
night is the least action we can
take now and be realistic about our
actual situation today" the Interior
Secretary said.
He declared the closing of the re-
tail outlets at night is necessary
because of the inadequacy of avail
able tanker capacity for trsnsporta-
ton of petroleum products to the
Atlantic Coast area, causing an in
creasingly serious shortage of gaso-
line, fuel oils and other petroleum
products"
Mai. Beverly C. Snow, chairman
of the District Petroleum Conserva-
ton Committee, is expected to is
sue call to all local dealers to
comply with Mr.. Ickes' request, it
was said at the District Building.
Special consideration was given by
Mr.. Ickes to commercial and emer.
gency use of motor vehicles at night,
his message to the oil industry pro-
viding that this recommendation
shall not apply to the operation Of
facilities used exclusively after the
hour of pm. and before 7 am.
in supplying motor fuel to CONNER
cial vehicles so classified pursuant
to law, nor to the sale and delivery
of motor fuel in<o the tank of any
motor vehicle in the event of an
emergency involving public health
or safety"
Mr.. 1ckes' recommendation is ap-
plicable in the District, through
out the States of Maine, New
Hampshire, Massachusetts. Rhode
Island, Vermont. Connecticut. New
Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, North
Carolina South Carolina, Geor-
gia, Florida and all marketing
| areas in or east of the Ap-
palachian Mountains in the States
of New York, Pennsylvania, Vir-
ginia and West Virginia, "and
such additional marketing areas in
said States where any substantial
part of the motor fuel supplied Is
either produced in any of said
States. or shipped into such areas
from any point east of such areas"
The petroleum co-ordinator warned
that unless the shortage is abated, it
would have serious adverse effects
on the national defense program.
This action has been recommend
ed by local, Federal and industry ex-
perts, who know where we stand to-
day." Mr.. Ickes said. While we are
continuing our appeal for one-third
| reduction in gasoline consumption
in the Eastern States. voluntary ra-
tioning to date has not achieved the
reduction which must be accomplish
ed if we are to avoid more serious
situation later
with reduction in consumption
of one-third, the retailer IS faced
with necessity of reducing his op-
Grating hours. This no one can do
alone. But if all cut their hours
of operation to the same extent the
operating costs of all can be reduced
to a degree proportionate to the
(See GASOLINE, Page A-2D