The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1947-12-04

C44C 0GdIc
and Finance committee was an
nounced today by Senator Geo.
ply of petroleum-crude oil and
other liquid hydrocarbons is
sufficient to meet the unprec-
edented demand for oil products
on the American Industry but
that facilities for transportation
are not adequate under present
conditions.
For all of 1947 the study
points out that demand On the
industry will be at record break
ing levels, higher than in the
peak war year, and one third
greater than in 1941-the last
prewar year. This study adds
that Temporary shortages of
fuel oils and gasoline may be
expected in certain localities,
particularly in the east coast
and midwest regions, if public
consumption continues at its
present rate"
With particular emphasis on
transportation, the report states
that construction of new and
expanded facilities is under way
but this work is being delayed
by war imposed handicaps, slow
deliveries and lack of materials
and supplies" It adds that very
little new capacity will become
available before the end of 1947
so that "the problem currently
is one of maximum utilization
of existing facilities"
Detailing the factors which
contribute to the higher de-
mands on the industry, the
study gives the record number
of motor vehicles now in use,
the substantial increase in in
stallations of oil burners, ex-
panded requirements by the
government, including those for
the army and navy, the high
level of industrial production,
the rise in farm income, the
sharply higher use of Diesel en-
gines, heightened demands for
liquefied petroleum gas, and
others.
The study contains a four
point plan suggesting means by
which the public can cooperate
with the industry in stretching
the available supplies and max
ing the most of existing trans
portation facilities under pres
ent abnormal demand condi-
tons. These suggestions include
ID Driving in a more conServ-
alive manner and taking good
care of automobiles, CD Main
tanning moderate temperatures
in homes during the present
heating season and CD Check
ing oil burners now in use,
many of which are outmoded,
and are consuming much more
oil than they should.
This years domestic demand
on the industry will approx
mate 1855, 800, 900 barrels of AZ
gallons each, which would be
equal to a rate of 582 gallons a
year for every man, woman and
child in the country. That fig
ure is an increase of 118 gal
Ions, or 25.4 per cent over the
464 gallons per capita consump-
ton in 1941, and Ga gallons, or
12.4 per cent, over the 518 gal
Ions average n 1916.
Including exports, the total
demand on the American indus
try will exceed two billion bar
rels, or a daily average of S.
803 900 barrels. Gasoline demand
will top 833,000,0 900 barrels, an
increase of 20 per cent COM
pared with 1941, while gas, oil
and diStillate, including the
grades used for home heating,
will approximate 316,2OO, 900 bar
rels, an increase of 66 per cent
compared with 1871.
To meet this total demand
there is an aggregate supply of
about $4,000 barrels made up
OF Cd Production which will
average an estimated 5,O40 900
barrels daily of crude oil for the
full year, about as, 900 barrels
daily of imports and about 1885,
600 barrels a day of other liquid
hydrocarbons.
The industry has taken steps
to expand and modernize its IA
cilities to cope with the sky
rocketing demand and in the
two year period-1947- 1948-it
will invest the record sum of
more than four billion dollars
in all divisions, the study states.