Evening star., 1943-07-01
|ckes Sees Midwest
Oil Curbs Tightened,
New Cuts on Coast
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
Secretary Ickes said today the
Midwest was closer to tighter gaso-
line consumption curbs than ever
and declared the Pacific Coast prob
ably would be restricted more Sc
verely, too, before the end of the
year.
Secretary 1ckes told a press con-
ference that opening of the Big Inch
pipelines eastward extension with
in the next two weeks would bring
the Midwest still nearer to sharper
restrictions without easing the dras-
tic curbs now imposed on Eastern
motorists.
He added that declining crude oil
production in California, plus heavy
military demands on that States
output, will almost certainly lead to
a deficiency of oil on the West
Coast before the end OF the year
that could, and probably would.
means more severe rationing there"
Release Of Tank Cars.
The East's difficulties, he pointed
out, will continue because OF mill
tary demand, while the Midwest's
present supply situation will be
worsened as opening OF the Big
Inch line releases railroad tank
cars to haul away more Of its sup
plies to the East.
Gasoline stocks east Of the MisSis-
sippi River continue falling despite
record rail movement Of almost
100000 barrels daily into that
area, the petroleum administrator
said.
Even wit hthe Illinois-to-New
York-and- d-Philadelphia leg Of the
big pipeline from Texas still in
complete, he said, the Midwest al
ready has "a more serious prospect
Of more severe rationing than there
has been to date"
The pipeline extension, however,
will move a comparatively small
volume of oil Immediately after it
goes into operation within fort
night and it may be several weeks
before it will have enough pumps
operating to move it's maximum
capacity of 100000 barrels daily, Mr..
1ckes said.
Enough for War Effort.
The Secretary, answering ques-
ton. said it was unlikely that the
war effort would be hampered by an
oil shortage through 1914, but he
emphasized that it might be nee
essary to take more oil out OF
civilian use" in order to keep up
with military requirements.
"A lot OF things might happen to
the civilian economy" he remarked.
Although railroad shipments Of oil
to the East have reached nearly
100000 barrels day, critically
low stocks have improved only mod
erately because Of the record mill
tary demand Mr.. Ickes had reported
earlier.
The rail movement for the week
ended June rs averaged 999, ,684 bar
rels daily. an increase of 29,l49 bar
rels daily over the previous week,
but stocks of petroleum rose only
l9 points to 295 per cent of normal,
Mr.. Ickes said in report yester-
day.
Observing that I'VE are improving
our critically low inventory position
but slowly" because of IAN all-time
high" in military demand, Mr. 1ckes
warned that ANY stock position
below an index of 40 would not be
a comfortable one in day-to-day
operation"
THUS" he said. 'it will be seen
that the present level of stocks is
dangerously low
Mr. 1ckes reported that IS per cent
of the Nations 100000 tank cars are
now serving the Atlantic seaboard.
Fuel Coupon Value Set.
Meanwhile the value of heating
oil coupons for the first heating
period of next season, good from
July /, 1943, to January 3, 1914, was
set at 10 gallons coupon in the
80 States under fuel oil rationing.
The coupons are those numbered
on the new ration sheets, applica-
tions for which were placed in the
mails today The coupon represents
about one-sixth Of the householder's
total heating ration, the Office of
Price Administration estimated in
making the value announcement.
Period coupons remaining from
last years allotment are still good
and may be used along with the
new coupons to fill tanks during
the summer months.
r. K. Thompson, District OPA
director. asked consumers to fill in
the applications and return them