The Minneapolis journal., 1901-12-26
A QUESTION OF OIL
Will People Pay More for Better
Article ?
A GRAVITY TEST is SUGGESTED
Oil Inspector Schiffmnn Says Ii
Would Secure Better Goods
But Prices Might Rise.

| What do the consumers OF kerosene OF
| In Minnesota want-poor oil at low prices
or high grade oil at from to cents ad-
vance on present figures?
Fred @. Schiffman, state oil inspector
would like to know. He is very much il
earnest in his campaign for better oil
which was opened by recent interview
in t he Journal. The only way tt
! drive out bad oil and keep it out, however
| is 10 impose gravity test To do this
| by law, he believes, will result in an ad-
vance Of or cents wholesale, and ever
more to the consumer. Poor oil, which is
sold so cheaply, keeps down the price Of
the higher grades. 1t is a question o.
what the people want
| Temporarily, the stir caused by the
Schiffman interview In T h e Journ a
has resulted in better oil for Minnesota
Local managers Of the oil companies have
| been doing the best they could with the
| poor stuff sent them from headquarters
They have begged for better oil, with poor
success, until the oil inspector gave it out
cold that better oil must be supplied
Then it came. The old stock of poor oil
is nearly all disposed of, and the tanks
now sent into the state bear a high grav-
ity test.
Most OF the complaint came from oil
jobbed through West Superior 1t came
up the lakes in tank boats from Ohio
There have been two grades carried there
One was poor but BILE, the other was
worse. Some of it was so bad it had tc
be shipped out Consumers rebeIed
against It. The better grade tests 45 OF
little better, specific gravity. 1t burns
all up, but clouds chimneys, and is not g
first class article.
GRAVITY Vvast EosaIr Md
In the opinion of Mr.. Schiffman and his
chief duputy, H. c. BarroWs of Minneap-
oils, the law should require a gravity test
of 46. Al lthat is now required is q Are
test, showing that the oil will not ignite
at l2O degrees or less. 1t is stamped on
the barrels. to show that the oil has been
tested
1t is very little trouble to take the
gravity test, which is not now required by
law II the law required a specific grav-
ity OF 46 all coming below the standard
would be condemned, and that passing the
inspection would then be stamped
This would result in higher prices, in
the opinion Of Mr.. Barrows North Da-
kota has law requiring a fash test
which practically excludes all but head
light OIL from the state. In consequence
North Dakota pays as high as 25 cents a
gallon for oil. A law with such a result
would be tremendously unpopular. Com
petition would not help, as the indepen-
dent companies follow the prices made by
the monopoly, and there is really no com
petition in prices.
1t was suggested that no minimum test
be prescribed but that every bushel be
tested and the result stamped on to show
the consumer what he was getting. To
make this effective, retailers and con-
sumers would have to be educated to take
advantage of the test and this Mr. Bar
rows does not believe practicable. He
says that in his experience most people
would rather pay 10 cents a gallon for oil
that will burn about half up, than to pay
Is cents for good oil. They will kick on
the poor grade, but will not buy better.
Apparently the poor oil goes to the
country, and the high prices. Not half q
dozen kicks" year come to the inspec-
tlon department from the twin cities
though immense quantities Of kerosene
are used here. The complaints come
from the country which pays three to five
cents more a gallon for corresponding
freight should make difference, but an
insignificant one.
The oil companies will fight against
gravity test, and to stave it off will
see to 1t that Minnesota is supplied with
the best oil till after the legislature ad-
journs. Any such improvement, without
law to make it permanent, will be only a
makeshift.
Oil People Stirred Up.
Just now the kerosene people are
stirred up. They were decidedly aston
ished when the oil inspector opened I'D. on
them, but they had no valid defense to
make. They knew that they were fur
nishing poor grade of oil in Minnesota
but so long as they were within the law
thought to go on with impunity The
Schinmanf Interview started people after
good oil and the poor stuff became a drue
on the market and a source of vexation
Minnesota is rid of it for a while. but
some one has to use it, and unless a law
is passed low grade oil will continue to
come A law will bring high prices
There is the dilemma
Il have an idea said Mr. Schiffman
yesterday, that public official can do
good sometimes by doing more than en-
force the laws. People may say that SO
long as the oil passes the state test, it is
none Of my business. l do not think SO,
AS a public officer I am interested in see
ing the people get good quality of oil.
cannot do anything more in my legal ca
pacity, but as private citizen can ex-
press my opinion.
We test great deal Of oil for specific
gravity, just for our own satisfaction.
I wonder what would happen If 1 would
write a letter to the local paper. where a
shipment of bad oil had been received.
saying:
" The Oil comnanv has
shipped car of oil to your city recently.
1t is very poor quality
suppose would have trouble right
q Wall