Evening star., 1941-07-29
Defer Day Of Want
By Saving Gasoline
Now, Ickes Urges
Cooperation Of Public
Can Achieve Miracles,
Forum Speaker Says

secretary Oh tne Interior lcKeS dis
cussed conservation of oil and gaso-
line for National defense in the Ma
tlonal Radio Forum last night. The
Forum, arranged by TIE Star and
broadcast over the Blue network of
the National Broadcasting Co.. was
heard locally over station WMAL.
The text Of Secretary Ickes' ad-
dress follows:
The American people are incur
ably optimistic. The alarm Of an
impending oil and gasoline shortage
in the Atlantic Coast States has
been sounded, but little attention
has been paid by a people &C
customed to an extravagant and
even wasteful use of petroleum and
its products.
For two months, we have sought to
persuade drivers of motor cars and
householders who depend upon fuel
oil for their heat voluntarily to cur
tail their Use of these two fuels. We
serious problem in cooperative
spirit. I regret to report that the
warnings by the Government and
the oil industry have been, in gen.
eral, disregarded by the public.
One prominent city official In New
York actually denounced me when I
predicted a shortage Some news
papers that have supported the
foreign policies of the Administra-
ton have lashed out bitterly at sug-
gestions of methods to save gaso-
line. Some individuals have written
letters criticizing proposals that
would help to avert the threatened
shortage and at the. same time save
money.
Consumption Increases.
A week ago We asked the suppliers
of the Atlantic Coast States and the
District of Columbia to tell us how
much oil and gasoline had been de-
livered to their consumers. When
the replies were added up they
came to 56,O35.792 gallons. Your
Government had previously asked
automobile owners voluntarily to
cut by 1913 per cent their purchases
Of gasoline. Previously they had
been requested 10 keep their en-
/ glnes in good order and drive so as
/ not TO waste gasoline. Today. seven
1 of the larger gasoline suppliers have
/ furnished me with figures which
! show that, during the past week
when We were pleading for a volun-
tarv reduction. they appear TO have
delivered 10 their customers 57.56l,-
! I'll gallons of gasoline. This is ar
increase of 1.525,979 gallons as COM
| pared with the previous week-foi
these seven companies. Even an in
corrlgible optlmist like the average
American cannot regard this a,
compliance with plea for a 33I
per cent reduction. With Hitler run.
ming about the world like a mac
dog. Americans still seem to act a!
If they were living in norma
world
1t is not Government expert!
alone who predict that serious
shortage is immident in the II
Atlantic Coast States and the Dis.
trict of Columbia. The oil industry
itself says that shortage is newt.
able. Informed men in the industry
and Government experts are con,
vlnced that the East Coast shortage
OF gasoline will approximate 33l;
per cent within five months.
Tomorrow morning. suppliers o
heavy fuel oil are meeting in m,
office, together with representative
Of the Office of Production Man
agement and of the Office of Pric,
Administration and Civilian Supply
The purpose of the meeting is I,
make plans for priorities respecting
this important fuel The use o
heavy fuel Oil along the East Coas
may have to be limited immediately
Can Postpone Evil Day.
A more general shortage will sool
develop. If We accept this fact now
and SenSibly start now to cut dow
our consumption OF petroleum prod
ucts. We will postpone the evil da,
OF an actual shortage and thereb
reduce its lease on life. II We ar
needless and continue 10 use petro
leum products with our usual profit
gacy, we will not only hurry up bu
also prolong the period of acut
shortage. A voluntary reduction
beginning today. not tomorrow
33la per cent in the Use of petroleum
products along the East Coast, witt
necessary exceptions. will delay tn
arrival Of the impending shortag
and shorten its life.
Here Is challenge to our Amer
ican will to achieve a difficult bu
necessary objective comparatively.
Let no one in America mistakenl
think that this is only an East Coas
problem. 1t concerns all of Amer
lea. 1t is even having serious roper
cussions in our sister republics t
the south. as we'll as in Canada.
Probably two questions are il
your mind.
; You want to know why any short
age of petroleum products lies ahea,
of us and why that shortage. a
present. is limited to the Eastern
Coast States.
Great Consuming Area.
The East Coast States constitut
the area of the greatest consumption
of petroleum products in the Unite
States. This region. in 1899. use,
36 per cent of all the motor fuel il
the United States 48 per cent of al
the home furnace OIL over 40 pc
cent of the heavy fuel oil, and
. per cent Of the kerosene.
Virtually all of the petroleum
products that this area uses mus
be imported-principally from tn
. Gulf Coast States.
The main problem is purely on
Of transportation. We have plent
of petroleum products in this coun
try for all Immediately foresee
; needs. But We do not have enoug
, transportation at this time to kee
up the accustomed flow of oil an
gasoline to the Atlantic Coast States
, The shipment of petroleum prod
ucts by tankers is much cheape
than by rail or by pipe line. So tn
East Coast, as the result of a
elementary law of economics. be