The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-09-02
MORE EXPENSIVE KEROSENE
Why South Dakota Consumers Pay
More for It Than Other, People
Western Oil Excluded by Statute.

Sioux City Tribune: Il wonder how
long the people of South Dakota will
continue to "a this extra 3 or 4 cents
a gallon for their kerosene. without
getting any greater safety or better
service commented n 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 a general
proposition" was the reply. "Particu-
iarly is 1t true where a less expensive
produce is barred from The markets.
As l understood it from some newspa-
per reading L have been doing, this eN-
ira charge of 3 or 4 cents a gallon is
peculiar to South Dakota, anG it is due
entirely to a 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 a cheaper rate
than now charged, and compels the
people TO buy Pennsylvania oil, which
is more EXPENSIVE"
rs the Kansas or Indiana oil just as
good?"
THAT is what the experts say. They
declare it to be just as safe, and that
1t furnishes absolutely as good illumi-
nation, aid is as satisfactory in every
particular"
Then how a it be furnished more
4
Because the crude supply is much
more copious. and the methods of re!
ming are less expensive, and the
freight rates are lower from either the
Indiana or the Kansas fields than from
Pennsylvania
But how can this South Dakota
statute cut these Kansas and Indiana
OILS out of the market, n compel the
people to buy the expensive Pennsyl-
vania oil?'
We'll, you see. the Pennsylvania oil
Is slightly heavier than the others, and
the gravity test IKE by the statute is
Just sufficient to let it in and keep
the less expensive Kansas and Indiana
oils cut. The small difference in gray
lty, amounting to only one or two
degrees. cuts absolutely no figure what
ever in the safety or the sutiiciency of
the oil. The difference in the gravity
or the eastern n western oils is due
wholly to the difference in the crude
petroleum as it comes from the ground,
n not at all TO any difference in re-
hnlnS-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 -four. or unsafe or adult
terated kerosene. or anything else that
may be dangerous or counterfeit. But
1t n right to enact laws which do
not afford n 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 1863, regarding
gravity test of kerosene mus have been
tobbied through by somebody who
to open up an exclusive market
out here for oil which on its own merits
and price couldn't compete with the
Indiana or Kansas oils?"
Well. don't believe that any leg
lslature, entirely on its own original
motion, would enac a law which bene-
fits nobody, but these who deal ex-
sclusively in high priced oil, and (Which
law compels consumers to buy that or
but still gives no additional
safety or service"