Evening star., 1942-08-20
|0PA Calls Oil Setup
Worse in East DESPITE
Emergency Action
Fuel ond Cos Rotioninq
Seen Inevitable On
Atlantic Seubourd

N oPohSoilidlt lOl WIG olllSC vi
Price Administration said today
the petroleum supply situation
in the East was getting worse
rather than better" despite
steps taken thus far to increase
the flow and conserve stocks.
He described both fuel oil ra-
tioning along the Atlantic sea-
board and gasoline rationing
farther West as inevitable in any
solution of the problem.
Rationing of fuel oil alone would
not clear up the situation. he said
This step would conserve the stocks
during the heating season. There
must be gasoline Tationing at least
as far west as the Mississippi and
soon" !" he added, so that oil stocks
may be built up to take care of the
first demands of winter.
OPA has been working out the de-
tails for fuel oil rationing so the
plan will be in readiness should
such rationing be decided on. So
far decision has not been reached
on whether to have coupon ration
ing or limitation of oil deliveries
Rationing, however. is considered
inevitable although it will supply
only part of the answer.
Doing All Expected Of II.
The Official said that while per-
centage figures were not available.
the East Coast gasoline rationine
plan was doing all expected of it.
in limiting consumption of fuel.
Price Administrator Leon Hender-
son stated that gas rationing must
reduce consumption to 40 or IS per
cent Of normal to permit any build
ing up of fuel oil stocks. The spokes-
man said that while gas rationing
was tight and apparently doing its
part, oil stocks still were not ac-
cumulating in any great quantity.
The Government has taken many
steps to increase flow of oil to the
East and to reduce the demand for
oil in home heating, by encouraging
conversion to coal and other fuel.
Several weeks ago plan was an
nounced to divert 5000 or more tank
cars from Western service. This
diversion is nearly completed. In
land waterway barges have been
turned eastward. Pipelines are be-
ing used to maximum efficiency.
Despite all these measures the sup
ply situation for fuel oil becomes
darker.
OPA Suggests Plans.
OPA is drawing up a number of
plans for apportionings fuel oil this
winter. These will be submitted to
the special subcommittee to be APP
pointed shortly by the War Produc-
tion Board The WPB will decide
whether there will be rationine or
what alternative proposals are to
be adopted.
Among plans suggested by OPA
Is one in which States along the
Eastern seaboard will be divided
into four rationing areas. Con-
sumers in the areas will get coupon
books authorizing the purchase OF
specified quantity of oil in a given
period.
Consumption will be regulated
by the degree day system which
oil dealers long have used to meas
ure the requirements of customers
OPA has called in heating and in
sulation. experts to aid in the pro-
gram.
Under the area plan the rationed
East will be divided into four di-
visions. One will include New Eng
land and upper New York State
region z will take in Southern New
York, New Jersey. Pennsylvania
Delaware. Maryland and the District
of Columbia; region 3, Virginia
North Carolina and as far south as
Charleston. S. c., while region
will take in the area from Charles
ton to the southern tip of Florida.
In each region Oil allowances will
be based on temperatures common
! there.