Cars would fall out of favor and famine would grow as the energy crisis continued. This was the future former Interior Secretary Stewart Udall predicted during his presentation at Three Rivers Community College in 1974, during which he advocated for national conservation of resources. On this date in 1949, Poplar Bluff schools pleaded for votes on an important tax levy.
100 years ago
April 11, 1924
• A new and improved theater is under construction in Neelyville. Foundations are being laid on a $10,000 cinema to replace the A-Muse-U Theatre, which burnt down several months ago. The new structure is entirely brick and “practically fireproof,” the Interstate American reports.
75 years ago
April 11, 1949
• The Poplar Bluff School Board urges parents to attend a mass meeting tonight to discuss the district’s budget. A levy on the ballot in last week’s election failed to receive the two-thirds majority needed to pass, and school officials say they’ll be forced to curtail services if it doesn’t succeed in a special election on April 26.
The levy presented was the minimum amount needed to run the district at its present size, according to people familiar with the matter. Many voters left the question blank on their ballots.
• A Sparta woman passed away at 89 recently, leaving 262 descendants to remember her. Mary Jane Lewis is reportedly survived by nine children, 84 grandchildren and 164 great-grandchildren. Her funeral will be held tomorrow at a church in Ozark.
50 years ago
April 11, 1974
• Former Interior Secretary Stewart Udall visited Three Rivers Community College last night to deliver a dire — though not hopeless — message on the oil crisis.
“We are running out of oil,” he told attendees.
Udall believed many geologists had overestimated America’s oil resources and its citizens were accustomed to massive energy expenditures, leading to the dependence on foreign oil imports and the current energy crisis. One researcher believed Americans would run out of domestic oil in 20 years at the present rate of consumption, and go through its reserves in nine years.
“At this rate, we would have to find a major new oil field every two or three years,” he said, adding that a third of the energy produced was wasted and industries built “throw-away” cars and appliances, leading to more waste.
Importing more oil was financially unsustainable, Udall continued, and America’s auto culture would give way to conservation and rail travel. Wind, solar and other energy sources would power the country of the future.
Until then, Udall believed the energy crisis would cause a global famine.
“Because of its strength, the U.S. will be in the world spotlight. We are going to have to change and the sooner we get started the better.. .I think the American people are readier than anyone thinks to start the change. Look at the people who are starting to change to small cars.”
“We are going to have to go back to old-fashioned thrift,” he concluded. “We Americans think small, think snug, but we think slow.”