The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-03-16

or from any deficiency In refining
facilities. The United States has at
this time adequate supplies Of oil
and adequate refining capacity.
The difficulty arises from the fact
that tank ships upon which the
cast coast and the Pacific north
west have been dependent have been
lost through enemy action or d.
verified to military services. The
shortage fundamentally is a trans
portation shortage, not an oil short
age. Our problem Is not @ problem
in production, but a problem in dis
tribution.
Face Mere Sinkings
While a large program Of ship
building Is in progress, and many
new tankers will be available dur
ing the year, 1t is likewise true that
we face further war demands and
further sinkings We must therefore
look for relief primarily to overland
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS by tank cars,
tank trucks, barges and pipe lines.
And here can give assurance to
the public to the extent Of guaran-
teeing that everything humanity pos
sible to develop overland transpor-
tation to replace water-borne trans
port will be done. Much has already
been done. The difficulties which
now confront us were anticipated
by the petroleum coordinator as
long ago as last summer, and the
plans then made and put into effect
then and since, account for the fact
that We are today sufficiently pre-
pared to avoid action that must
otherwise have been most drastic.
In normal times partially all oil
Is brought to the Atlantic Sea-
board by tank ship. Today, however,
some 435,000 barrels per day are
moved into this eastern area by
tank car. This Is about Is per cent
OF the total consumption on the
east coast and Is equivalent to the
carrying capacity Of about 100 tank
ships. This tank car movement will
cost over $115,000,0 900 a year above
the normal tanker costs. In the
areas affected, this will undoubtedly
call for some price adjustments.
The full possibilities of land ship
ment have not yet been realized.
More and more tank cars are be-
ing replaced by various means In
other parts Of the country and
brought to those sections heretofore
dependent upon tank ships, and the
volume moving overland by rail is
mounting weekly.
The operation Of every pipe line
line in the country Is receiving at
tention. Lines that might be ripped
up and re-laid to help solve the
problem are being so treated. IN
fortunately, steel for the construc-
ton Of additional lines is no longer
available.
Tank trucks are being substituted
for tank cars for short hauls where
they are more effective; barges and
other craft are being utilized to the
full on inland waterways and more
are being built. Further, as q means
OF meeting the emergency, arrange
mentS have been made for the oil
companies pooling Of both trans
portation facilities and supplies.
Nobody wants rationing or re-
strictions OF any kind upon the use
OF commodity so vital to the public
welfare as gasoline. The automobile
Is in such universal use today as
to make the life and the economy
Of the country genuinely dependent
upon 1t. The petroleum coordinator
can be relied upon to do everything
in his power to minimize interrupt
tons to normal activity and to
spare public inconvenience.
AS motorists experience inconven-
fence, I trust they will nevertheless
remember that the petroleum indus
try Of the country and the petroleum
coordinator are both doing their ut
most In the public interest and that
they will place the blame where the
blame belongS-on Hitler and Hiro-
hito.