Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-02-01
Oil Headed Here
May Be Delayed
BY Icy Weather
Evidence of Hourdinq
By Dealers Sought;
Run on Coal Sturts

Fuel oil was headed for Wash
ington in greater supply last
night. but industry and Govern
ment representatives warned
that continued icy temperatures
might delay its arrival by river
barges and by tank trucks from
Baltimore.
The fuel shortage was highlighted
here yesterday by these develop
ments:
| A tremendous run" on coal
stocks;
An official decision to inspect oil
tanks of retail dealers to uncover
possible boarding or refusal to I'LL
emergency orders:
Moves to conserve the gas supply,
which is affected not only by in
creased consumer use, but also by
the difficulty of obtaining fuel oil
for gas production.
At the same time it was an
nounced that 2120l8 gallons OF No.
2 fuel oil and another 1925 gallons
of kerosene were provided in small
lots to relieve emergency cases in
the District and nearby areas since
last Monday.
New ALLEGATIONS Start Rolling.
February ALLEGATIONS of fuel oil
covering the first 10 days this
month, will start rolling in from
suppliers to Washington dealers to-
morrow. But If ice continues to
choke the Potomac and If extreme
cold or snow hamper truck deliveries
from the Baltimore area, Washing
ton will be in for a rough time,"
an industry spokesman declared.
The barge Elizabeth Hooper,"
carrying 5000 gallons of Navy oil
to Washington, was stuck for several
hours late yesterday In Potomac
ice near Indian Head, Md It was
freed by Coast Guard ice breaker
and is expected to arrive here early
today.
All except 100000 gallons of this
consignment is going to the L. P.
Steuart g. Bro. which supplies Gov
eminent buildings and several thou
sand residences, apartment houses
and business establishments here.
The 100000 gallons will be ear
marked for the emergency stockpile.
All of this No. Diesel oil was loaned
by the Navy.
The Steuart company recently ran
out of fuel oil but received 100000
gallons last Friday. The Standard
Oil Co., which late last week received
more than 1,600,000 gallons of gaso-
line and 265, 900 gallons of kerosene,
announced yesterday barge is being
loaded with $4,000 gallons of No. 2
oil at Baltimore and should arrive
here within few days.
Cemetery Gets Allotment.
Fort Lincoln Cemetery was one
of yesterdays hardship cases. The
cemetery notified the office of Fuel
Oil Co-ordinator J. Thomas Ken
nedy that it had no oil to heat its
chapel and crematory where several
funerals were scheduled. Mr.. Ken
nedy authorized an allotment of oil.
The stockpile from which such
requests are filled, after investiga-
ton of actual need, last night con-
sisted of 10000 gallons, of which
$4,000 gallons have been set aside
by oilmen-members of the Mer-
chants and Manufacturers Associa-
ton, Mr. Kennedy said.
Describing the situation in Wash
ington and nearby areas as still
tight, Mr.. Kennedy and industry
spokesman declared it should ease
appreciably this week if the weather
moderates and if consumers CO.
operate by cutting down their use
of fuel oil.
Steps to make more heating oil
available to the public are being
taken by the industry but their
full effect will not be perceptible
for several weeks" the National Pc
troleum Council stated last night.
|. More Equitable Distribution.
These steps," Council Chairman
Walter S. Hallahan said, provide
for an increase in yield of fuel oil
from each barrel of crude oil at the
expense Of gasoline; for seven-day
operation of refineries; for the CO.
operative exchange of products by
companies in affected areas; for a
cooperative readjustment of facili-
ties to speed up deliveries, and for
the operation of committees to carry
out The new program Unlimited
supplies of fuel oil will not become
available but the effect of the meas
ures will result in more equitable
distribution to consumers"
Mr.. Hallahan warned that "ths
public should not be lulled into q
feeling of false security" by this
prospect of increased and more
rapid deliveries.
He noted that the demand for
fuel oil Is 80 per cent greater than