El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-08

cheapest gasoline they had had for
years. In short, just as soon as the
price o. gasoline reaches a certain level
II begins 10 flow back this way-agd to
stop competition before it gets serious
our distillers cut prices. That was the
real reason for the various price cut
tings in the past; not the supposed war
between the trust and independents
only the war prevents that now.
There is an impression abroad that
the supply will some time run out !
can't see It that way.
Modern Refining Methods.
For example. just consider this:
whereas formerly only seven percent Of
the crude oil was available for gasoline.
today. because Of improved methods Of
distilling and improvements Of car
buretors and motors, s. percent OF All
crude oil is rendered suitable for en-
giue consumption! And new wells by
hundreds are now being opened up CIV
cry day, and better processes Of dis
tillation. Oil experts tell me that the
need for a kerosene carburetoT has
passed--that they now know how, and
il only remains TO install the equipment.
TO break up the kerosene molecules into
gasoline molecules. to render all that
is now sold as kerosene, available for
power purposes.
'Bunk-that stuff about A shortage-
pure bunk It's like the tales OF eX-.
hausted coal fields and timber forests.
No generation now living will see that
shortage. Time was when those com
modities were wastefully used and sold
for less than their value as compared
with other commodities-but that is the
whole story.
Need Feel No Concern.
Now let US consider il from another
angle-that of the automobile user. He
need feel no concern over the present
condition If he was satisfied with that
I'll. Ia "a re a
lie is getting more miles per dollar
today than he got then, despite the diff
ference in priCe-even- at war time
prices And it may be news to him. bur
it is a fact. that he is getting more
miles per gallon out OF the low test
fuel today than he got from his high
test gasoline then. And there Is less
waste from evaporation, etc.
Reason. Of course, is the tremendous
Improvement in carburetors, motors,
and in automobiles generally. Why, we
use to think nothing Of it when our mo-
tors spit and coughed and back fired
on starting in cold weather-with real
gasoline too. Who ever experiences
that trouble now? Why cold weather
is the same as warm to good automo-
bile motor nowadays.
ct wonder how many consider an
other phase of the matter-that the
maker has. as a matter Of fact, donated
all the gasoline he can hope TO use IN
the next ftNe OF SIX years WHEN nc aVlu
him the carr
saving in Original Cost.
"Just credit against the temporarily
high cost OF gasoline the permanently
lower cost OF automobiles-and there
is "a large margin on the side OF the
user.
For example four years ago A well
known car sold for 1895. Today the
price Of that model IS sS75. And it is
vastly better car. because OF improve
ments We have been able to work out
i'm the meantime
"Then. you'd have to pay $3.50 TO
$4,000 for q big six car-and every mo-
torist knows il was not possible TO pro-
cure present day quality at amy price
then TODAY that seven passenger car
sells for Sf25O-S5OO difference in both
cases. At 20 cents per gallon that would
nav for $500 gallons Of gasoline when
would mean 10000 to $4,000 miles. Is
Gasoline high2 And II so what matters
il when the cost per mile is less than
one-nfih Of one cent per passenger
CT might go on indefinitely showing
that the increased efficiency Of auto
mobiles and motor trucks, due 70 i'm
provcment in design and manufacture
has more than kept pace with the price
Of and more than Offest the difference
in cost OF gasoline, and viii continue TO
do so.
only Of the moment anyway, and even
if we knew it could be permanent II
still would not matter, for on the whole,
the cost OF motoring and OF motor
rucking Is coming down