The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-08-26
FUEL OIL IN EAST
 ANOTHER PUZZLE
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by the president to make the choice are War Production Board Chair man Donald M. Nelson, Oil Coordin- ator Harold L. Ickes, Price Admin istrator Leon Henderson, and Un- der-secretary of War Robert P. Pat terson.
 Figures quoted at the New Eng land conference indicate a 25 per cent cut in fuel oil requirements of the East coast under normal weather conditions this winter. Ex- tremely cold weather would force a greater cut while mild winter such as experienced last year might re- duce the cut to 10 per cent. The New England conference heard two OPC officials say that ra- tioning of gasoline in the midwest would be of no help in bolstering the eastern gasoline or fuel oil supply or the midwest's own low level of fuel oil stocks.
 OPC's Director of Marketing Robert E. Collier and Director of Petroleum Supply R. L. Minckler agreed that the only excuse for gas rationing in the midwest would be to conserve tires.
 The section now has from 3,000,000 to 8,0O0,00O barrels of gasoline, it was said. That cannot be sent to the east because transportation fa- cilities are needed to carry fuel oil to the Atlantic seaboard, and all possible tank cars alreedy have been diverted from the midwest to this job.
 May Curtail Fuel Oil
 Boston, Aug. 26.-(UP)-Diector Donald Nelson of the War Produc- tion board foresees prohibition of fuel oil deliveries to consumers in the New England area who have heating equipment capable of con- version to coal, 1t was disclosed to- day.
 In a letter to Gov. Leverett Sal- tonstall of Massachusetts, Nelson said this recommendation is under consideration in the form of an amendment to the original limita- tion order on fuel oil consumption. At the same time, Nelson said the policy of diverting tank cars to New England from the middle west will be continued "as long as addi- tional tank cars can be used effec- lively in the area of shortage"
 Nelson's reply stated that no eff fort will be spared to accomplish the objectives of the New England governors conference which pro- posed rationing in mid-western states to help abate the fuel oil shortage here.
 Diversion of the tank cars, he said, will inevitably require that district two share the fuel oil bur- den with district one. However, he termed as mistaken" the idea that 1t was necessary to ration the middle | west in order to release tank cars to transport petroleum products into district one.
 Nelson said that all government officials and the petroleum industry recognize the necessity for the con- version of oil burning equipment to coal if possible.
 Wood is available in New Eng I land and is an unrestricted fuel, he said, urging its use as a substitute fuel.
 Anthracite production and move ment has not been current with de- mand, Nelson said. He attributed this to over-specialization on sizes.
 For instance" he said, "22 per cent of the anthracite production is in the so-called stove size, and last year New England demanded 41 per cent of their anthracite con- sumption in this size. If New Eng land will use a greater proportion oi the more readily available sizes such as egg, chestnut and pea coal the current requirements will bt more readily met"