The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-12
Oil Experts See No Increase
In Gas Rations For Duration
Civilians Must
Restrict Use
To Essentials
BY s. BURTON HEATH
(NEA STAFF COrreSuOndentl


william motorists, wherever they live
until war demands are decreased by
at least the approach Of victory.
This Is not to say. fatty, that
gasoline rations will not be in
creased anywhere at any stage,
Politics and pressure might con-
ceivably force some letdown in re-
strictions. If that occurs 1t will be
at the expense Of the war effort,
and will prolong the fighting and
cost the lives Of American men who
should not have to die.
1t is said, occasionally, that no
military or naval operation ever has
been handicapped by lack Of gaso-
line. This is not true. Flying OPP
erations have been restricted, at
times, because there was not suffl-
Gent fuel for the planes. This may
have been due in the past to in
ability to transport gasoline that
was available, rather than to over
all scarcity Of the vital fluid, but
as of today any increased allotment
to civilians would leave the armed
forces facing shortage.
HALT-TRUTHS
I have talked with many experts
about the situation, in an effort to
clear up the general misunderstood
ing that has been bred by lack of
frankness on the part Of govern
mental sources. 1t Is not possible
even now to tell the whole story, but
enough figures do lie in the public
domain to support certain generali-
cations.
1t was true, also, as We are told
next that gasoline rationing was the
best-and probably the only effec-
tive-way Of controlling the use of
tires and thereby conserving trans
portation machinery at time when
there was not enough rubber to re-
place non-essential tires.
But these were only half-truthS
1t was true also that even this
nations gigantic capacity for pro-
ducing and refining petroleum is not
sufficient to supply war needs and,
simultaneously, permit us to drive to
the golf course, to bridge parties, to
picnic spots and bathing beaches.
We thought that there was plenty
Of gasoline because, when We went
to war our wells were capped to
prevent production, and our re-
finery capacity appeared more than
ample.
FULL CAPACITY
When the Japs struck at Pearl
Harbor our petroleum industry was
easing along at about rs per cent
Of capacity. Existing wells could
have flowed 1,750, 000, 900 barrels, but
in 194l, with use stimulated by pre-
belligerency activities, we turned out
only 1,476, 900, 900 barrels. Gradually
output was stepped up. Last year it
amounted to 1853, 000, 900 barrels.
The week ended April 8, 1914, pro-
duction attained approximately full
capacity, at the rate Of 1,642, 000, 900
barrels year.
This full production rate is more
than 100000 barrels year below
the pre-Pearl Harbor potential.
Why? Because the wells have de-
c!ined in production capacity in the
intervening years. The falling off
would have been even greater if sew
eral important discoveries of new
sources had not been made during
that time.
In 1913, for example, while We
were taking 1,568,000y00 barrels out
of the ground, geo-physicists To-
Gated 1888, 000, 900 barrels not pref
ously known. They did not quite
hold their own.
Current production IS far above
pre-war use. But from it there
has to come $4,000, 900 barrels a
year for military and Lend-Leese
use, which cuts the amount avail
able on the home front to just un-
der 1,000,000,0o0 barrels. That is
about IS per cent of actual pre-war
usage.
From this civilian" allowance,
essential users must be served first.
Trucks hauling raw material and
manufactured goods, whether for
war factories or to supply civilian
needs, probably are using more gas
oline now than before the war.
Buses must operate, and diesel To-
pAu4IOo AdCACA NAoAA OAA
must be serviced; farmers must OPP
crate tractors, harvesters, farm
trucks.
SCARCELY ENOUGH
These and similar users cannot
be held to the same ratio as house
wives, vacationerS and tourists. BY
the time they have been served,
there isn't any 65 per cent of pre-
war demand left for non-essential
drivers. There scarcely Is the minute
quantity now provided on A-cards.
Nor is there any reason to hope
that the supply will become sub
Stantially gu alter. Until the enemy
is whipped. SO that the armed forces
no longer need at least the present
CSC. 100000 barrels a year, there
won't be any more left over for any
civilian use, essential or otherwise,
than we have now.