Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1906-12-18

through the regular channels since the
middle of October. in accordance with
contracts. and he is in no worse con-
dition than other patrons of the oil
companies whose hands have in turn
been desperately tied and who would
gladly keep their contract with him if
they could.
To delay the conditions that have
now overtaken this city his associates
or their representatives, have been dill
igently buying oil at every possible
point i'm the local California field out
side the supplies of the big COM
panies and have been paying from 200
to $50 per cent more for the oil than
the price for which they had already
contracted their supply. 1t was not
question of price but a question of oil
at any price. And now the time has
arrived when through similar condi-
tons elsewhere the car shortage ~
general and it is impossible to get oil
shipped even if one had IL to ship. The
transportation companies seem TO be
Just as badly off as the power and
lighting companies. Most of the west
ern roads are equipped for oil burning
and many of them are cancelling trains
merely to save fuel. 1t is reported thas
in the north even passenger trains arc
being pulled off. The local railroad
companies are doing all within their
power to relieve the situation and the
Santa Fe company has been dividing
its local supply with the Pacific Gas
and Electric company until ii can no
longer do so without endangering its
own train service.
The same situation exists in respect
of coal There IS but a small supply
of it mined and even were it on the
dumps there are no cars for its trans
portaton. So far as the Pacific is
concerned its boilers are all equipped
for burning oil and though coal or
wood might be used it would be un-
satisfactory and almost a waste Ct
good fuel. Mr. Ensign says that It
would take three teams constantly en-
ployed day and night to supply his
furnaces. with the short haul from the
local wood yard and even then the re-
suit would not be satisfactory in the
making OF gas and electricity. The
waste would be stupendous and Il
would only take a day for his furnaces
TO eat up all the coal in town and not
a great while for them to exhaust the
visible supply of wood. He considers
that it would be a poor policy TO pur-
sue anyhow for this public utilit,
probably does not supply heat and fuel
to over forty or fifty per cent Of the
people and in short time all would
be without fuel of any kind. If the
worst should follow he believes It
no
public utilities and let the people have
the wood and coal for heating and do
nestle purposes, for then il would be
available for all and there would prob
ably be enough of it to go around and
the people would only be suffering the
inconvenience OF walking and cooking
and warming IN the old fashioned
way.
The other local corporations are jus
as badly off as the Pacific and all ara
doing the best they can, in fact they
are supplying their oil to the
! Pacific recognizing that it is a public
utility that must be kept going as
I long as possible. The Phoenix flour
mills are out Of oil and the Peoples
/ Ice and Fuel company has exhausted
| its supply. W. b. Lount had IS 900
gallons which he has turned over to
Mr.. Ensign and which is now being
/ hauled to the electric plant. Mr. En-
/ sign says he has a strong hope that u
car load OF oil will arrive here some
time tonight in which event there will
at least be a postpOnement of complete
! embarrassment but that viii only last
a very few days and must be followed
Immediately by more if the plant keeps
running.
/ y great deal of unfavorable comment
has been made during the last three
days over the fact that the street
I lamps have not been burning during
these dark nights. They were shut off
for the sole pupose of economy i'm al.
effort to make the fuel supply 90 as
far as possible II was thought the
street lights could be dispensed with
better than anything else and economy
in that direction would help carry the
! company through until oil can be Sc
cured. This is rather a gloomy picture
! and II is shown only that the people
may know the facts. prepare to meet
! possible conditions and all participate
in the general economy OF fuel This
! Pacific may get supply of oil in am
PIE time but the hope is a meager on
| for it hasn't a gallon I'm transit except
! the car load that If hopag IN ra.ai,o