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Show PRODUCTION OF OIL MEETSALLDEiVTANDS Utah Refining Co.'s Expert Sets at Rest All Thought of Shortage. NEW METHOD USED Improved Extraction Process Pro-cess Adds Millions of Gallons Gal-lons to Gas Supply. Editor's note: In order that the Utah and intermountain public may have a clear conception of the oil situation in th United States, W. B. Sage, treasurer pf tho Utah Oil Refining company and accepted ac-cepted as one of the leading oil experts of the country, has written the follow- ; irxg article. Mr. Sage is unquestionably a recognized authority on oil products and by-products in the United States. Referring to the persistent and disturbing disturb-ing rumors that axe passing- over the country regarding- a possible shortage, and consequently high cost, of gasoline for use in automobiles and engines similarly operated, due to the increased demand brought about by the entrance of this country into the world's war, we feel that the cause for this alarm has been greatly exaggerated, largely through the ignorance ig-norance of the general public as to the actual conditions. "While it is true that the consumption of gasoline and its equivalent, motor spirits, has increased at a very rapid pace so has the productiondue largely to the refiners' re-finers' improved methods of manufacture and to the constantly increasing growth of the refining capacity, the latest compiled com-piled statistics showing about ST5 refineries re-fineries with an approximate dally capacity ca-pacity of more than lf0O0. OOrt barrels of crude oil per dnv in operation in the United States. This will give us approximated approxi-mated 75. 000. OiiO barrels of gasoline and motor spirits per annum, which amount is very much in excess of our annual requirements as estimated for the present year. No effort is being spared to increase" the production of crude oil so as to Insure the operation of these plants. As we view the situation, as shown by the various oil trade reviews, and also judging from the slow movement of export ex-port oils, due to the lack of boats, there is no possibility of any shortage in thej near future. The United States haa never' I failed in the final emergency- to meet any i situation that has arisen, and you will find that preparedness is the motto of the j refiners at this time, and our consumption consump-tion will never be reduced to the card ' system, although it surely is the patriotic duty of all to conserve and economize along all lines. New Extraction Method. While it is a fact that the collection and publication of statistics relative to the production and distribution of gasoline haa not been done until quite recently. It is well understood by the trade that the successful operation of both compression and absorption plants for the extraction of high-test gasoline from natural gas haa been a vital help In adding millions of gallons per annum to the available supply of commercial gasoline. Added to this is the installation by nearly all modern mod-ern refineries of one of the several methods recently devised for the so-called "cracking-up" of the heavier distillates into motor epirits. There are eight or ten of these patent processes in successful suc-cessful operation, the principal ones being be-ing the Burton-RittmHn, Parker, Hall and Greenslreet. It Is estimated that more than 6.000,000 barrels of .gasoline were added to the 1916 output by these methods. meth-ods. And this phase of the industry, one might say, is only in itis Infancy. Improvements Im-provements are being developed daily, and the consequent increase in output is very rapid. In an article published in a recent number num-ber of the Oil Age. Er. David T. Day, consulting chemist for the United States bureau of mines and a world-wide authority au-thority on petroleum, gasoline, etc., takes a decidedly optimistic view of the future, fu-ture, in so far as the output of gasoline being able to meet the growing requirements require-ments of the trado and the demands occasioned oc-casioned by war iA concerned, because of the possible additional source of supply which promises to be developed from the oil shales of Utah and Nevada, The general ignorance of the public of facts as to the resources of this country along the lines of gasoline manufacture has been the cause of jvild and greatly exaggerated rumors of positive shortage and unheard-of prices. This is doing an injustice to the oil and allied industries. Not on War Basis. Gasoline has never sold on ,wa.r basis prices. Had there been no war, the price today would be the same. The supply of crude oil and methods of manufacture, coupled with the demand, have sjovemod this. And should t hp re be a possibility of any unusual condition developing, the government will undoubtedly step in and control the price proposition as it has done with other commodities. At a recent meeting held In Kan sap City byTrre Western Petroleum Refiners' association a resolution was passed and .made public in which they make the statement that their combined knowledge of the producing and refining conditions in midcontinenuil fields warrant the positive posi-tive assurance that they are fully ca-pa ca-pa hie of producing in the future, as in the past, such amount of Ka-soline as is necessary to supply the demands for domestic do-mestic consumption and those created by the war. provided the industry In other fields is maintained at approximately its present status of operation. In this connection. It us cite the rapid strides which are beimr made loyally to Increase both the output of crude "and refined products. I't.-ih and Wyoming are both being examined from end to end in the search of possible oil-produeins properties. Wells are beintr drilled on many favorable-lookinir locations, and Increased In-creased production is reported daily. Our local refinery as well as those of Casper and Greybull are all addin- to their capacity just as mpidlv as materials mate-rials required can be delivered and put into operation. And what is true here is true all over the United States where j oil is produced and refinei. i , |