The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-09-02
MORE EXPENSIVE KEROSENE
Why South Dakota Consumers Pa,
More for 1t Than Other People,
Western Oil Excluded by Statute.

Western Oil Excluded by statute.
Sioux City Tribune: Il wonder how
long the people of South Dakota will
continue to pay this extra or cents
gallon for their kerosene, without
getting any greater safety or better
service" commented a traveller as he
looked up from his newspaper.
one of his listeners remarked that
consumers probably would have to pay
whatever producers might demand.
Perhaps that's true, as general
proposition" was the reply. "Particu
larly Is it true where a less expensive
produce is barred from the markets.
AS l understood it from some newspa-
per reading / have been doing, this ex-
ira charge of 3 or cents gallon is
peculiar to South Dakota. anG it is due
entirely to law passed by the last leg
lslature, that cuts out of the market OF
this state all the oil from the great
fields of Kansas and Indiana. which
can be furnished at Il cheaper rate
than now charged, and compelS the
people to buy Pennsylvania oil, which
Is more expensive"
Is the Kansas or Indiana oil just as
good?"
THAT is what the experts say. They
declare 1t to be just AS safe. and that
it furnishes absolutely as good illumi-
nation, and is as satisfactory in every
particular"
Then how can it be furnished more
cheaply?"
Because the crude supply is much
more copious. and the methods of re-
timing are less expensive, and the
freight rates are lower from either the
Indiana or the Kansas fields than from
Pennsylvania y
But how can this South Dakota
statute cut these Kansas and Indiana
oils out Of the market. and compel the
people to buy the expensive Pennsyl-
Vana. Oil?"
We'll, you see, the Pennsylvania oil
is slightly heavier than the others, and
the gravity test fixed by the statute is
just sufficient to let it in and keep
the less expensive Kansas and Indiana
oils out The small difference in gray
lty. amounting to only one or two
degrees, cuts absolutely no figure what
ever in the safety or the sutficiency Of
the oil. The difference in the gravity
of the eastern ana western oils is due
wholly to the difference in the crude
petroleum az it comes from the ground,
and not at all to any difference in re-
hnlng-juSt for instance. as the soft
wheat grown in South Dakota differs
from the hard wheat of North Da-
kota."
You think, then. that this law
against selling the lighter oil is on a
par with legislation prohibiting the
sale of soft wheat flour thus compelling
consumers to buy the North Dakota
product instead Of the South Dakota
product?"
Precisely. 1t is all right to enact
laws to prevent sale of unwholesome
or fraudulent flour, or unsafe or adul-
terated kerosene, or anything else that
may be dangerous or counterfeit But
1T isn't right to enact laws which do
not afford any such protection, but
merely compel people to pay more for
the light they use in their homes, Off
ces and stores"
You suspect then, that the South
Dakota legislation of 1903, regarding
gravity test Of kerosene must have been
lobbled through by somebody who
wanted to open up an exclusive market
out here for oil which on it's own merits
and price couldn't compete With the
Indiana OF Kansas ols?'
well, 1 don't believe that any leg
islature, entirely on its own original
motion. would enact a law which bene-
fits nobody, but those who deal ex-
clusively in high priced Oil, and which
law compels consumers to buy that or
nothing, but still gives no additional
safety or service"