The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-12-22
PLENTY
OF OIL
HERE NOW

Two OF the Standard Oil Co.'S harges
arrived In port yesterday. No. So brought
| 5000 barrels and No. 7e about 5000 barrels
| or oil. They were docked at the company's
wharf near the Red Bridge.
There has not been Shortage OF OIL
here; but In some OF the towns of this
state and In quite a number I'm Massa-
chusetts which rely upon Providence to
supply them, the fluid has been getting
uncomfortably scarce.
The Standard OIL company makes this
city Its headquarters for Connecticut,
southern Massachusetts and all Rhode
Island; and the oil for this big territory
Is sent here In tank barges from which Ii
Is pumped into wagons and big cylinders
for distribution.
1t is no longer possible for a consumer
to purchase barrel OF oil at n less cost
than he can buy the oil in small Quanti-
ties. Ii was possible once and that not
10 very long age, but oil now costs the
consumer much by the barrel as by
the gallon. There is thus no advantage
In the purchase. In addition TO that the
Standard will not sell barrel to anyone
save dealer. and IL the consumer gets
dealer TO order one for him, the dealer
may have some difficulty in getting IL.
Then there will be the charge for the bar
rel-S0 cents-the inevitable leakage, and
the deterioration OF the oil from age.
For one thing. the consumption OF oil
available wood was running out Long ex-
periments with different woods have
shown that white oak is the one and the
only one that answers the purpose OF oil
storage effectively. Every other kind has
some drawback. But the available forests
of white oak are limited In extent, and
the big monopoly had difficulty in getting
wood enough for barrels long before the
present system came In vogue.
Substitutes for white oak barrels proved
Of little use. One OF the best was a roll
ed steel barrel. made in the west This
was I'm every way excellent, but the stu
pidty OF some OF tho meA who handle oil
proved Its greatest dNwback Instead OF
bung this barrel htd a stopple. screw
ed on In the fashion OF the Stopple on a
paint can. IL was found that the barrels
came back with this stopple In bad con-
dition, where II had been pounded when
IL struck. And there were other dlsad-
vantages.
Large groceries do not care 10 handle
oil. and some OF them do not deal In II
save to take orders. This Is the case with
one OF the big stores In Providence. Or
ders for oil are taken at tho store and !
passed on to a dealer in lamps and crock |
cry TO flll One OF the biggest wholesale |
houses In the city averages not over 20 /
barrels OF oil n week this being mostly |
to out-of-town customers I'm remote sec /
tons. where the oil wagon does not read
lily penetrate.
There is said TO be little profit in oil. |
when the cost OF handling IL and the time |
consumed In filling an order for IL Is con-
sidered. This is for the retail grocer only. |
There Is no question OF tho profit for the |
furnishing IL. And anyone who /
has noticed the promptness with which |
the retailer increases the price two cents
a gallon when the Standard advances the
price to him n half cent, a gallon. will
be inclined to question the statement OF
the small profit