The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-04-27

Tliose who go to the grocery stores
this morning to buy coal-oil will be
met with the surprising and disturb
ing information that the fluid which
is 50 necessary TO the proper lighting
of the minds of the people has jump
ed to almost double its present price.
yesterday afternoon the wagons con-
nected with the agency here of the
Standard Oil company were sent out
with orders to sell wholesale at 10
cents per gallon, and a few hours lat
er they ERE recalled and given OF
ders TO put the price up to IS cents.
It is possible that even this price will
be raised within the next day or 50,
+, though those on the inside in the oil
business believe that the price has
now touched hfgh-waiter mark and
Will remain at that figure for some
time to come.
All during the winter the whole
sale price of coal-oil has been in the
neighbOrhood of 10 cents, and the
dealers have been selling it ait 10 cents
per gallon. The reason. Tor the low
rate has been found in the competi
ton between the great Standard Oil
trust and the Florence and other wells
in Colorado. The trust for yea IS, has
been trying to gobble all the wells in
Colorado, and in order to do this It's
been fighting the smaller companies
with a view TO DISCRIMINATING them.
Its virulence during the last year in
particular can be imagined when it is
sand that during its continuance Utah
and Colorado have been given lower
rates according TO conditions, than
any other section of the country. For
some weeks last winter the price of
coil-oil in this region was down lower
than it was even in New York city,
while the difference was much more
marked as regards other particular
localities.
The fight grew SO hot IN Colorado
and Utah during tho period the war
has been raging that the price of oil
was put even lower than cost, and II
was simply a question of endurance.
While no very definite information
has been received here as to the
cause of the sudden jump. it is be-
lieved that the Standard Oil company
has at last proved the victor in the
fight. ana the smaller Colorado COM
panies have been gobbled UP. 1t is
hardly probable that the price would
have gone up if this were not so.
Now, if the cruel war is over, this
part of the country can expect TO
make up all the loss the company
has sustained IN it and pay a GOOD
price for its light. As the RETAIL price
is now l. cents, with the wholesale
price at 10 cents. it is probable that
erocers who retail the oil Will put IT
UP to % cents per gallon, or higher
No other oils are affected by the raise
The Associated Press last night sent
out the following information regard
Denver. April 2s-The News an
nounces today that a deal has been
made between the Florence Oil and
Refining company and the Continental
oil company by which the kerosene
war of several years standing will be
closed. 1t Is caid the Continental will
purchase the entire product OF the
Florence company and keep eastern
oils out of the western market. The sup
ply of Colorado Wyoming, Montana,
Utah, New Mexico, Nevada. Idaho and
Arizona viii come from the Florence
district The wholesale price of kero-
sene will be advanced Immediately
from 6 to 10 cents per gallon.