Evening star., 1942-06-17
|ckes Approves Plans
For S-|nch 0i|Pipe|ine
Across North Florida
Secondhand Tubing
Excuvuted in Texas
To Help Crisis
Py the Associated Press.

Z Ey int hSSCtldltu fIcoss
Petroleum Co-ordinator Ickes
announced today approval OF
plans for construction of an
eight-inch petroleum products
pipeline across Northern Florida,
to help supply the Atlantic
coastal areas as far north as
Norfolk, Va.
The project was proposed by the
American Liberty Pipeline Co. of
Dallas, to be built with secondhand
pipe excavated in Texas. Mr.. 1ckes
said the company now was nego-
tiating financing arrangements with
Government agencies.
With a daily capacity estimated at
$4,000 barrels, the proposed conduit
would extend from Port st. Joe on
the Florida Gulf coast to Jackson
vile on the east coast, a distance
of 200 miles.
Barges Would Take Over Then.
Gasoline and other products
moved through the line, according
to the proposal, would be trans
shipped by barge north and south
from Jacksonville through the At
lantic intracoastal waterway to
supply the East coast areas of Flor
ida. Georgia, South Carolina and
North Carolina.
Ralph K. Davies, deputy petro-
leum co-ordinator, said one sub
stantial benefit of the project would
be to reduce the need Of supplying
the coastal areas from the Planta-
ton pipeline which extends from
Baton Rouge, La, to Greensboro,
N. C.
This, Mr.. Davies explained, would
permit pumping of oil straight
through the Plantation line to its
terminus at Greensboro from which
point this line may be extended
northward to Tidewater, near Nor
folk, according to plans now under
study.
At the Capitol it was said that
it was assumed the pipeline could
be moved from Texas to Florida
without legislation.
Three Part Bill Pushed.
Nevertheless, to be doubly GER
| tain, leaders went ahead with plans
| for a vote during the day on
three-part bill which would give the
President authority to approve such
line, would authorize construction
of a barge canal across Florida and
would authorize a further extern
sion of the intracoastal canal to the
southern border of Texas.
That measure failed to pass the
House several weeks ago when it
was called up under procedure
which would have required a two
thirds majority and which precluded
amendments. Today'S procedure
would permit members, If they de-
sired, to strike out the canal fea-
ture and, by simple majority,
pass the bill.
Company Ready to Start.
Oil sources said it probably would
cost $3,500,000 for the Liberty Co.
to take up pipe it now owns in
Texas, move and relay it across
Florida. These sources said the
company was ready to begin i'm
mediately if the RFC grants a loan,
and that the project could be COM
pleted in 120 days after starting.
A petroleum Office spokesman said
the Florida line would provide some
relief in the East north of Norfolk
by enabling the Plantation line to
carry more products farther north
and. by releasing some rail tank
cars for service there.
1t was emphasized, however, that
the line had been proposed in a
program to meet essential oil needs
in the East and was not expected to
result in the lifting of gasoline
rationing along the lower seahoard.
The procedure under which the
Florida bill was scheduled for con-
sideration permitted amendments,
and Chairman Mansfield of the Riv-
ers and Harbors Committee indicat-
ed he was willing to compromise.
A suggested compromise would
authorize construction of the pipe
line Immediately and enlargement
of the present Gulf intra-coastal
waterway but would eliminate au-
thority to build the barge canal.
In rejecting the bill on June de-
spite pleas for passage by Speaker
Rayburn and Majority Leader Nc
Cormack, the House needed warn
ings of opponents that 1t was the
opening wedge in a new drive for
construction Of the controversial
Florida ship canal.