Evening star., 1943-05-13
Farmers Seek
More Gas 10
Aid Planting
Maryland, Virginia
War Boards See
Threat to Output

Demanding that additional allot-
ments of existing supplies OF gaso-
line be diverted to farmers during
the crop planting season, officials
of the Maryland and Virginia War
Boards declared today that resi-
dents of these two States must de-
eide whether they are going to
continue to drive their cars for
pleasure or 60 without food this
winter"
Dudley C. Aist, administrative
assistant of the Maryland War
Board, said that county farm
agents had provided list of 217
tractors kept idle because there
Wsf no gasoline.
In nearby Virginia, C. E. Peed
manager of the Southern States
Fairfax Petroleum Cooperative,
which supplies gasoline to approxi-
mately 725 farmers in Fairfax, Lou
doun, Prince William and Fauquier
Counties. said many farmers ir
that area have been without gaso-
IiliC oOl illS IIlC JCoh VI Vic JldllUltlS
season when a shortage of man.
power has made the use of farm
machinery imperative if farm pro-
duction is to be increased.
Baltimore Supply Slim.
Gasoline distributors in Balti-
more said, however, that many fill
ing stations were operating on slim
reserves, with some completely out
of gasoline. 1t was also observed
that some Virginia filling stations
had mo gasoline signs posted to-
day.
The distributors said the shortage
became evident soon after the pipe
line to Richmond was completed
and the Office of Defense Transpor-
tation prohibited tank car move
ment of gasoline into Baltimore and
Washington.
Dealers said bargeS were supposed
to haul gasoline from Richmond to
Baltimore, Washington and other bay
end river points, but there was an in
sufficient number Of barges and the
gasoline supply in the Virginia capt.
tai was not equal to the demand.
Appeal to Ickes.
Meanwhile, Porter Hardy, Vir-
ginia War Board chairman, and j.
H. Blandford, chairman of the
Maryland board, appealed to Petro-
leum Administrator Ickes and Sec
retary of Agriculture Wickard to
bring an end to the gasoline famine
that threatens to disrupt production
of food. Farmers in nearby Virginia
and Maryland protested that during
the rush crop planting period addi-
tional allotments of gasoline should
be given the farmer even if it meant
that pleasure drivers automobiles
would be kept in garages.
Mr.. Peed said he has made sur
vey of farm customers in the coun-
ties served by his company and in
nearly all cases farm production has
been threatened by the gasoline
shortage.
He said farmers also were unable
to make definite plans due to the
difficulty Of assuring prompt gaso-
line deliveries.
Mr.. Peed cited three farms, in
three Northern Virginia counties.
which have planned a 30 per cent
crop increase this year despite a
shortage in labor, He said all of
these farms have been held back
in their planting because Of the in
ability of securing gasoline at the
times when tractors must be op-
Grated in order to prepare land for
crops.
Local Cases Cited.
For example, he said, Fairview
Farm, in Fairfax County, owned by
Mrs. Elizabeth H Chilcott and op-
Grated by James M King, has been
held back in planting BY lack of
gasoline for machinery.
This l000-acre farm, he said, pro-
duces wheat, corn, oats, soybeans,
and has $50 dairy cattle and so beef
cattle. In addition to eight horses,
Mr.. King uses three tractors which
require approximately $50 gallons of
gasoline a week during the peak
planting season.
He said gasoline is essential at
this time due to shortage of men
which blocks the use of horses in
place of tractors in ploWing and
planting the crops.
Paul R. Marsh of Fauquier County
and Andrew Cornelius of Loudoun
County also have been held up in
farm work this spring by shortage
of gasoline Mr. Peed said.
Mr.. Marsh operates a 700-acre
farm and cultivates more than $50
acres. while Mr. Cornelius culti-
Yates 260 acres Both farmers plan
80 per cent increase in production
this year despite a shortage in farm
manpoWer, he said.
Situation Serious
John R. Sherwood, Baltimore gas
ollne company official, said dealers
realized the situation was serious
and saw little indication of i'm
provement in the near future.
1T is a time when every one
should conserve gasoline to the linn
it of his ability" Mr.. Sherwood
said. Because a man has c cou-
pons doesn't mean that he should
demand gas for them. He may un-
Willingly be taking gasoline that
should go for military purposes
In Frederick, meantime. gasoline
distributors reported there won't be
any gasoline-even for essential
driving-at the present rate of con-
sumption.
Unless all pleasure driving is elm
mated supplies in several Frederick
stations soon will be gone, one dealer
said.
ITS not In the State-you can't
get it, he declared, adding that big
terminals were almost dry.