Evening star., 1942-07-14

Rail tank cars can transport oil from
the Illinois Basin to the Atlantic Coast
and be back for another load within ap-
proximately eight days. While 1t takes
a minimum of twenty days for rail
tank car to make the round trip from
the great oil fields in the Southwest.
Therefore, ABOUT 40To of the rail tank
cars, needed to transport oil from the
Southwest to the East. will transport
the same amount of oil from the Illinois
Basin to the East.
We demonstrated this to the OPC. The
answer we received? A continued ignor-
ing of the Illinois Basin and the pro-
posed building of pipe line from the
Southwest to Illinois, an oil-producing
area.
OUR OBJECT
This association has one object in mind
"a patriotic contribution to the win
ming Of the war.
II after we assist in serving the east
ern states, 1t is necessary to stop all
drilling, in the Illinois Basin. we shall
not complain This war must be won.
whatever the cost to us and other Amer
lean citizens. No section has the right
to set up Its welfare against the Nations
security, safety. and health.
OUR SUGGESTION
Enactment cf the Lucas amendment to
the Florida Barge Canal Bill, thus sus-
pending the throttling hand which has
caused production in the Illinois Basin
to decline, will result in an intensive
drilling campaign Immediately in the
areas East of the Mississippi, providing
at once an additional output of crude oil
which can be transported with present
facilities. while similar quantity from
the Southwest cannot be transported.
We're not fashionable: We do not ask the
Government to subsidize us. The fea-
lures Of our proposals are four:
l. The program requires no Government
money-not even a thin dime We ask
no guaranty Of losses in drilling, We
will spend our own money.
3 We ask no new fabrication Of steel.
Our recent survey shows that there is
enough steel in the tristate area to drill
and equip approximately 5000 wells.
3. The relief we promise is NOW. not six
We do not ask that tankers be tor
pedoed along the Atlantic Coast to bring
these results.
T. Our proposal is limited to the duration
Of the rationing OF oil products in the
East. BY its own terms IF the OPC with
its theorists from the Southwest find
will terminate.
Why Is legislation necessary: That's
another $4,000 question.
The Lucas amendment Is necessary be-
cause the independent operators East
OF the Mississippi have exhausted them.
selves endeavoring to obtain sensible
and judicious orders. The answer of
OPC has been to suggest pipe lines
around Illinois, and into Illinois. It is
callously willing to let the shortage con-
tinue during the coming winter rather
than to adopt the sensible and simple
method We have suggested. The mere
fact that the critical period will be the
next nine months is not an argument
In their mind
The OPC IS apparently still willing TO
"muddle through" while industries may
be closed and people may freeze in the
winter,
The most charitable statement Of the
attitude of the major oil executives.
shaping the policy of the Government
in controlling petroleum products, is
that having sworn the horse is sixteen
feet high they will not change their
testimony to hands" when told Of their
error. because of a clumsy mentality
unable to distinguish its feet from
It's hands"
Whatever the cause Of the attitude, no
relief can be secured through OPC.
Perhaps If We had asked for a subsidy.
instead OF offering to solve the problem
with our own money. we would have
been regarded as more up to date in
Washington.
Let it not be said in this mad era, when
almost every proposal costs the Govern
ment millions of dollars, that propo-
stion. involving no expenditure OF Fed.
eral funds, could not be heard because
1t was only faint whisper drowned in
the clamor for billions.
To paraphrase. M-68. unless modified by
legislation, will probably be embalmed
In history as So different varieties Of
mistakes.
We are very happy that the Commerce
Committee Of the Senate. by its favor
ably report of the Lucas amendment.
expressed it's recognition OF the facts
herein stated.
LISTEN TONIGHT al 1n:45 PM, EST.
over radio station VOL, 229 M. 1850
KC., or your station on the Mutual Net.
work, to Congressman Laurence r.
Arnold of the 23rd Congressional Dis
trict Of Illinois explain the Lucas amend
ment, and question Honorable Allen X.
Swami Of Evansville. Indiana. General
Counsel of this association, regarding
the facts In this matter.
UNI ASSOCIATION
O O R D | N A T 20 N
ann, Secretary & General Counsel.