The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-17
COMING TO FRONT
Independent Oil Refneries Give
Good Account of Themselves.
Manufacture One-tenth of Oil
Used in Kansas.
FAST BRANCHING OUT.
Anti Trust Product on Sale in
Small Towns.
Now Five of These Refineries in
the State.
CAST BRANCHING OUT.

During the month of March. the
independent oil refneries in Kansas
manufactured one-tenth of all the kerO-
sene and gasoline sold in the state, be-
sides sending thousands of gallons into
Oklahoma. Missouri and Colorado
There is big profit in the refining OF
oil" said State Oil Inspector L. T. Hus-
sey today. IF these little independent
refineries in the state can be allowed
to continue in business without inter-
ruption for a few years. they will be
able to protect themselves from Stand
ard Oil competition
Meantime, the business of the small
independent refners continues to grow.
During the month of March, according
TO the report filed today by Mr. Hussey.
the Independent refineries marketed
2,621 barrels of oil in Kansas. That
means about 10000 gallons. Besides
this. they manufactured great deal of
oil for sale in other states.
For example. the refinery down at
NiOtaze does not appear on the March
report Of the Kansas inspector, because
all the oil manufactured down there is
sent to Denver, where a very profitable
market is being opened up in competi-
ton with the Standard. The Niotaze
oil, which in Kansas would probably
bring II cents a gallon, is sold in Dem
yer at q cents. The manager of the
/ company says that he has demand for
more oil than he can supply in that
market.
we hnd,' said Mr.. Hussey, that the
4 Independent oil is on sale in almost ev-
cry small town in the state. It seems
to be getting a better hold in the small
towns than in the big ones We see
many barrels from the independent re-
/ hneries at the small towns, and know
that it is meeting the Standard COM
/ petition. In fact, the Independence re-
hneries are getting out a very high
grade of oil. 1t tests high, and is pure.
/ The Standard does not seem to be cut
ting the prices any. The independent
| oil sells about a cent higher on tnf
gallon than the Standard and still T..
grocers handle 1t, and the people buy -~-
THE profits IN oil are large. The
trehners estimate that it costs only
| three or four cents d gallon TO reane
/ the oil If they sell it for nine cents,
/ they make more, than 100 per cent.
Besides that, the Independent rehner1es
are getting themselves in shape to save
the by-products, which are now mostly
/ wasted The 1ubricatlng oil is big
item, and there is some paraf1ne to be
obtained, though the Kansas oil has
/ an asphaltum base Whatever is saved
in by-products is just SO much added
to their profits.
The Kansas independent refneries
which reported this month were as fol-
| lows:
Paola refinery, 500 barrels.
Uncle Sam refinery. 73S barrels.
Great Western Erie Ala.
Superior, LongtoH, $40
Webster, Humboldt, 369.
The total amount of oil inspected for
| the entire state during the month Of
March was 27,62O barrels. The Kansas
Independent rehneries made about one
tenth of this. The rest was supplied
by she Standard and by the National
Oil company. The National Oil com
pany is separate from the Standard, and
claims to be entirely Independent. Its
| headquarters are in Ohio
The amount which the department
receives for inspecting the oil sold in
the state is 10 cents barrel. The
total income for the month was $2,762.
Of this a considerable portion is paid
out in fees to inspectors, and some
more for salaries. The amount of the
check to the state treasurer was 81
221.46.