3234.     ---------------.  [SOLLIDAY, A. L.]  Public Being Misled by Bureau of Mines Synthetic Fuels Figures.  Nat. Petrol. News, vol. 42, No. 12, 1950, p. 16, 23; Oil Gas Jour., vol. 48, No. 46, 1950, p. 160.

        Criticism of the 1949 annual report of the Secretary of the Interior.  In arriving at cost estimates of synthetic fuels, the Bureau’s figures are inadequate, it is stated, to show a basis for arriving at its published estimates.  The Bureau figures of $0.09 and $0.145 per gal. for liquid fuel from oil shale and coal hydrogenation, respectively, are greatly out of line with the comparative industrial estimates of $0.225 for the same fuels.  It is charged that the Bureau is confusing the public by basing its cost on calculations that are “no more than wishful thinking.”  This report illustrates the need for the Bureau of Mines to publish detailed breakdowns of all economic calculations including investment costs so as to allow the public to compare Government and private industry estimates and to show clearly whether synthetic fuels represent a sound or an unsound investment.

        SOLVAY, -----.  See abs. 3205.

        SOUTHWICK, C. A.  See abs. 1099.