Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 261, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 October 1916 — Federal Control Alone Can Prevent Exhaustion of Our Petroleum Supply [ARTICLE]

Federal Control Alone Can Prevent Exhaustion of Our Petroleum Supply

By JAMES K. McMANNUS,

Petroleum Expert

The government and people of the United States are making a grave mistake by not paying more attention to the further development of its petroleum supply. I am convinced that unless the proper authorities take hold of this matter and institute radical changes from present methods the supply, of this product will be exhausted within fifty years. I say this because during the last three decades motor vehicles and different grades of engines which use enormous quantities of petroleum annually have come into being, making petroleum and its products of the most vital importance from an industrial standpoint. Then again, the development of our navy during the past year calls for almost an unlimited supply of petroleum, for which there is no substitute, as fat as I know, and if ( this country is to be sincere in jts advocacy of “a greater preparedness,” it must adopt a vigorous and farreaching policy of conserving its supply of petroleum. It is not only necessary that we have enough on hand for the present, but we should be prepared for the future. The exhaustion of our petroleum supply would affect every home within our boundaries. Everyone uses it in one form or another. There is no line of business that does not demand the use of petroleum, and if the oil pools were to run dry tomorrow nearly every industrial wheel not only in this country but in the world, might cease to revolve. The production of the world at present is about one million barrels a day. Nature cannot replenish this supply without the aid of conservation and active scientific study. It is possible that the world supply will be exhausted within the lifetime of our children, and. there is no pCMh Bible solution for such a contingency except federal control.