Evening star., 1948-01-03
Cut in Supplies
Faces Gasoline
Dealers Here
20 Pct. Reduction
Planned This Month
BY One Major Firm

BY One Major Firm
The Washington gasoline supply
situation was described today by a
retailers spokesman as very con-
fusing," as one major oil company
announced plans to cut its dealers
supplies as much as 20 per cent
this month.
However, practically all service
stations were selling gasoline to
motorists without restrictions.
r. A. Herrick, executive secretary
Of the Washington Retail Gasoline
Dealers Association, said it would
require three or four days before 1t
is known what all major gasoline
suppliefs plan regarding their stocks
to dealers.
The 20 per cent cut in dealer
allotments was made by the Ameri-
can Oil Co. The Shell Oil Co. has
begun notifying Washington dealers,
however, to expect cut in their
January supplies but not specifying
how much.
Barge Due Tomorrow.
Meanwhile, gasoline was en- route
to Washington by truck and barge
from Baltimore to refill Federal and
District Government tanks before
they exhause 48-hour supply OBJ
tanned by emergency steps after
q number of municiple sources ran
dry yesterday.
Petrol Corp, which provides gas
oline for the District government
and Federal departments, has
started a $50, ,000-gallon bargeload
Of gas to Washington from Balti-
more port via the long water route
around Chesapeake Bay and up the
Potomac River. The trip normally
takes "a to SO hours and the barge
Is expected here tomorrow.
Tank trucks also were en- route to
Washington today, bearing 11th-
hour supplies of gasoline which
arrived in Baltimore yesterday by
tanker from the Gulf States fuel
producing region. Timely arrival
Of tanks and barge, despite cur
tailed quotas brought on by winter
weather and tank shortages, are ex-
pected to carry Washington through
the critical period.
The District ran out of gas yester-
day and was saved only by inter-
cession of Senator Wherry's Small
Business Committee. The Nebraska
Republican secured 5000 gallons for
operation of bone-dry District am
balances and sanitation trucks yes
terday afternoon despite the short
age.
Normal channels for distribution
of fuel throughout the East have
been disrupted by severe winter
storms and lack of railroad tank
cars and tankers.
The Texas Oil Co. announced to-
day that it expected to supply all its
retail outlets on the same basis as in
January last year.
The Texas company receives its
gasoline by tanker from the Gulf
Coast. Ships unload in Baltimore
and deliveries are made directly to
Washington outlets from that point.
Mr.. Buck said supplies on hand are
sufficient to meet all normal needs.
The Sun Oil Co. district Office has
received no instruction concerning
reduced ALLEGATIONS of gasoline to
service stations here. Spokesman
for the company said they did not
anticipate reductions in this area.
Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey
officials said they were meeting all
local commitments and did not an
ticipate a reduction in allocations to
their District retail outlets.
Gulf Oil Co.'S Washington office
said no reductions in ALLEGATIONS
have been made to their service sta
ton outlets in the area.
Cities Service stations, operators
OF IL retail gasoline outlets in the
Washington area, said no reduction
in ALLEGATION of supplies is antici-
pated.
Private Cars Not Affected.
The supply OF gasoline for the
District government will be COM
pletely replenished within two
weeks, the Petrol Corp. official de-
clared.
Meanwhile, there appeared to be
little or no curtailment OF gaso-
line sales to individual motorists.
Most small dealers operate on a
monthly allotment basis and have
been able to take care of all-comers
Senator Wherry went into action
yesterday when the District Com
missioners, through Purchasing OFF,
Ger Roland M. Brennan, appealed
for aid. Petrol Corp. had announced
1t would be unable to furnish fuel.
Several District departments, in
cluding the Department of Santa
ton, the Municipal Garage and
several police stations, already were
out of gasoline.
The Oil Subcommittee of Sena-
tor Wherry's Committee was able
to get delivery of the 5000 gallons OF
gasoline from the Standard Oil Co.
The gasoline was divided between
the Department Of Sanitation, the
Municipal Garage, the Police De-
aTC1lCllU dIlu Iilc WdeCl oOPnA "
ment.
Gets Permission for Appeal.
When the shortage was reported
to MIR. Brennan yesterday he went
to the District Building and OBJ
tanned permission from Commis-
sioner Mason to apply to the Sen
ate Committee for help. 1t was
showing at the time and Commis-
sioner Mason had visions Of snow
storm here, which would further
complicate the situation.
Several weeks ago Mr.. Brennan
feared shortage of gasoline here
and obtained permission from the
Commissioners to bypass the Bureau
of Federal Supply if shortage de-
veloped and buy gasoline in the
open market. He made arrange
ments with the Standard Oil Co
to provide some gasoline if the Dis
trict developed shortage. Since
that time they have sold gasoline
to the District on several occasions