Refiners' Rift

If a Parsee lets his sacred flame die out, he is exceedingly upset, for the Parsee's flame is the Parsee's religion. Last week a great U.S. industry, in which Fire is a vital pillar of the structure of Profit, was horrified by the suggestion that it neglect its flames once a week.

The industry was Oil, in which overproduction of crude has led to overproduction of gasoline. To solve this, the Federal Oil Conservation Board suggested that in Texas, Oklahoma and California, refining schedules be cut down to six...

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