Evening star., 1951-07-08
Senate Group Expansion Curb,
Plans Action on Backed byD.C.
D. {. Supply Bill Gas Supp|ier
Columbia System
Fears Big Deficit
AT February Peak

Inc main wholesale SupplleT Oh
natural gas for this area yesterday
supported Federal plans to shut
off additional gas consumption in
critical areas.
Dale Parker. secretary of the
vast Columbia Gas System, Irc. ),
said his firm has estimated that
on the day of peak demand next
winter. it will face a deficit of
about 600 million cubic feet of
gas, during an estimated peak
requirement of 25 billion feet for
that day.
There seems to be every reason
to believe that estimate will be
improved upon" he told The Star
by telephone from New York.
Nevertheless, he added, he would
welcome adoption of the proposed
Petroleum Administration for De-
fense (PAD) order, which, after
certain date, would halt supplies
ito any new space-heating GUS
toners and require Federal ap-
Iproval of amy new large-volume
users.
Mr.. Parker stressed that the an
lticipated deficit gives home e-owners
who currently use gas little to
Near in the way of a fuel shortage
next winter. although he con-
Iceded cutbacks might become
necessary in industrial uses.
New Services Possible.
Factors that the system hopes
will cut the deficit, he said, include
increased summertime storage IA
cilities, more gas drilling in East
ern States and the possibility of
expanding pipelines to carry main
supplies from Gulf States.
The Columbia system, which
WHOLESALERS the fuel to the Wash
ington Gas Light Co., already has
filed petitions to halt sales for new
gas heating equipment in the Dis
trict and suburban Maryland and
Virginia. However, these moves
would become meaningless if the
Government goes through with its
general freeze order.
Columbia and other industry
officials will meet tomorrow with
the PAD to discuss the proposed
gas control. Another discussion
session will be held July %, push
ing up to early August the most
likely date for issuance of some
Federal order.
c. P. Rather. PAD deputy ad-
ministrator for gas, would not dis
cuss gas supply figures which led
to the proposed order. He said
they constantly are changing and
might not reflect the up-to-date
picture in any specific area. How
ever, the Appalachian area
highly populated and far from gas
sources-Will be one of the hardest
hit, he reported. The Columbia
system supplies gas for about
2.5 million consumers in this area,
Mr.. Parker said.
Steel ALLEGATIONS Blamed.
The PAD puts main blame for
the threatened shortage on in
adequate steel ALLEGATIONS fo1
pipelines necessary to carry gas
Third quarter 1851 ALLEGATIONS
were SO per cent below minimum
needs requested for that purpose
Mr.. Rather said. Increased de-
fense needs, coupled with spiral
ing home consumption, has put
the heavy load on the pipelines
he said.
The official said there is nc
shortage of gas at the production
level.
Thus. cit is obvious the South
west will be in good shape, except
for isolated instances" Mr.. Rather
said. He denied, however, that
the shortage will be limited tc
sections East of the Mississippi, as
has been rumored.
| At the same time, he continued
"it is our purpose not to impose
restrictions in any area where
there is adequate supply" Tt
carry out this policy, he explained
widespread exemptions will be per.
mitted, if the tentative order j.
issued on a Nation wide basis.
/ Concerned Months Ago.
! Mr.. Rather said PAD became
concerned about the gas situation
several months ago, when i
heard repeated fears from indus
try officials about what woult
happen if adequate (pipeline
steel were not available" :" Th'
official said Investigations made b.
PAD have borne out those fears
Meanwhile, Mr.. Parker said tn
= Columbia policy is to pro-rat
available supplies of gas love
the entire area we serve" Peti
tions filed with utility regulator,
G commissions seek to apply tn
same restrictions to firms tina
= buy gas wholesale-such as tn
Washington company and firms il
;. Baltimore and Richmond-as ar
= applied to Columbia operate,
companies in Eastern States, h
said.
Officials of Atlantic Seaboarc
the Columbia subsidiary, whicl
filed the petition affecting tn
gas CO., said similar petitions hav
Y not been filed for the Baltimor
and Richmond areas. They sal
Y the reason is that ceilings alread
= exist on gas supplies in those tw
S areas, under Federal Power Com
mission restrictions.
Recently Converted.
B. j. Pettigrew, Atlantic Sea
board counsel, said the FPC re
strlctions are imposed to regulaJ
development of the two firms
which only recently converted t
natural gas. He said the Balti
more firm is restricted to 10 mil
lion cubic feet of gas, and tn
tSOuthern Virginia firm tn ID mil