Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-11-21

The war has brought to Montana the
greatest new gasoline market in the world:
the Alcan highway.
This is the new highway from Edmonton
to Alaska built at record speed by the
army as a supply route for the war against
Japan.
The completed highway is now scarcely
more than a rough skid road across the
vast wilderness of northern British Columbia
but by spring it will be teeming with
thousands of military trucks carrying NUM-
tions of war to the great military camp that
is Alaska.
Where will these trucks get their gaso-
line?
From the Alaska end? Hardly The need
for the highway is based on the uncertainty
Of the ocean route.
From Canadian oil fields?
The Canadian oil fields are unable to care
for their present urgent requirements, with
gasoline rationing already in force. There is
a shortage of gasoline in Canada-unlike
the western United States where rationing
is based on tire conservation
From the Nlidcontinent?
There are no tank cars available to haul
Nidcontinent crude or gasoline to Canada.
since every available tank car is in the job
of supplying the East Coast with 100000
barrels of oil and refined products per day,
with a greater amount needed
From California?
The Hon william P Cole Jr., chairman
of the Cole committee of congress, informed
President Roosevelt:
California cannot now meet the de-
mands made upon her for oil products,
and If oil were delivered free Of cost in
drums at this end Of the Alaska high
way, It would cost SIS per barrel to haul
ii by truck to Fairbanks"
Since Montana is the closest oil producing
state, it is logical that Montana oil fields
and refineries must provide this tremendous
gallonage-if those trucks are going to get
through to Alaska, and if the Alcan high
way is to save Alaska from capture by the
Japanese, then these trucks MUST be pro-
vided with not only enough gasoline to get
through with their loads but an additional
amount of gasoline must be trucked in
no matter what the cost-to Fairbanks, to
fuel jeeps tanks trucks and the other We
hicles of war. 1t has been suggested that If
gasoline were available, it might be possible
to cut road through the ice across the
Berring straits to truck supplies to Russia
lem is an adequate supply of motor fuel
Alaska is the jumping-off point in the
war against Japan BY like token it is the
most feared objective of the Japanese army
and navy.
General william Mitchell recognized the
stategic Importance of Alaska 20 years ago
when he said:
He who holds Alaska holds the world"
He recognized that Tokyo is only 1900
bombing plane miles from Dutch Harbor,
Hawaii 200 miles; Seattle less than 1900
miles from Kodiak and even Iceland, North
Atlantic stronghold barely 27O0 miles from
Pt Barrow. All Of these distances are
easily within the range Of the u S. bombers
which hit Wake Island from Hawaii.
heavy fleet of bombers based In Alaska
could bomb Tokyo in a one-night trip and
enforce the allies In the Atlantic within
nine hours In the hands of the Japs, how
ever, Alaska bases would make Honolulu
lntenable for the American navy and pro-
ide base for bombing Pacific Coast cities
md cities of the Northwest, preparatory to
IN invasion of Canada.