Evening star., 1942-07-30
Ickes Opposes
Wider Oil Curbs
ToAid Shipping
Enthusiostic Over
Larger Capacity for
Synthetic Rubber
E. the Associated Press.

e tue Associated Press.
Petroleum Co-ordinator Ickes
today declared that Nation wide
gasoline rationing was not need
ed now as measure to bring
about larger deliveries of petro-
leum to the rationed Eastern
States.
Mr.. 1ckes declared, also, in re-
marks at a press conference. that
the oil industry has uncovered "a
pacity for production of 200 900 tons
annually Of butadiene. This would
make possible, he said, the output of
100000 to 250,000 tons of synthetic
rubber annually over and above pres
emily projected rubber programs.
Follows Dean Statement.
The gasoline rationing statement
followed a statement yesterday BY
Joel Dean, gasoline rationing Officer
in the Office of Price Administration
who said a recommendation for Ma
tlon-wide rationing, indorsed by
himself and OPA Chief Henderson,
now was before President Roosevelt.
Mr.. Dean said Nation wide rationlng
Is needed for conservation Of rubber.
Secretary Ickes refused to discuss
the possibilities of universal gaso-
line rationing as a rubber conserva-
ton measure.
May Cut Rations Again.
He said it might be possible that
the present rations of gasoline along
the seaboard would have to be cut
deeper when he was asked about a
possible further cut to allow larger
movements of fuel oil
He added however: Il don't
want to alarm people unduly. but
I do say there is no prospect for
fuel oil in quantities to which the
people are accustomed"
Referring to Mr.. Deans disclo-
sure of Nation wide rationing
plan. Mr.. Ickes said "a statement
by an uninformed person causes a
lot OF mischief l don't agree with
his conclusions. 1 don't take any,
thing out OF OPA as authoritative
except from Mr.. Henderson,
Undersecretary Of War Patterson
touched on the rubber situation at
his press conference today, empha-
sizing that it still is critical for the
Army. He warned that might trips
to the movies and Sunday driv-
ing will be thing of the past for
some time to come unless there is
Nation wide gas rationing.'
Mr.. Patterson said two months
ago he had referred to the rubber
shortage AS extremely critical and
nothing had occurred since then
to change his views.
Despite recent claims by the Ma
tion's major rubber manufacturers.
he declared there were "a good
many conditions attached" to their
proposed xprogram to provide every
one with tires.
AS to the Eastern petroleum situ-
alton Mr.. 1ckes said that next
winter I'VE may have to ask peo-
pie to set their thermostats at IS
degrees or even lower, and to elimi-
nate heat from several rooms of
homes"
He referred to about 1886, 900
homes in the East. and other estab-
lishments using fuel oil for heating
The Secretary was enthusiastic
over the butadiene find: Its brand
new; it's like finding an oil we'll"
This new rubber production could
be brought in" by the end of the
year by conversion Of existing gaso-
line refining plants, he said. The
material used for butadiene would
be gasoline.
Silent on Civilian Use.
Secretary Ickes declined to say
whether he expected such program
would make more rubber available
for civilian use.
A study OF the capacity of the
petroleum industry to produce buta-
diene for manufacture of rubber
above the Governments presently
planned output of over 100000 tons
annually, was made by Wright w
Gary, director of refining in the
Of11ce of Petroleum Coordination
and Secretary Ickes said "the credit
belongs to him and the oil industry
, for the achievement"
Several oil companies already are
adjusting gasoline ref1neries to
butadiene output, Mr.. Ickes said
ADDING that several independent
companies might need Government
tSee OIL-RUBBER, Page A-4J