Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-04-09
and spectators are paying that and

and spectators are paying that and
more
"Of course that condition cannot
last. In fact, there is evidence that
II is about over. Producers have been
taking the long prices of late at
rate that will surely readjust matters.
But, you say. could not the pro-
duCers keep prices up by continu-
alton of those tactics? The answer
is that in normal peace times Just as
soon as gasoline in this country ap-
proaches 20 cents a gallon Russian
and Asiatic oils CONS in in floods. Oil,
like water. soon finds its level-eco-
nomically as we'll as physically
"Oil Seeks Its Level"
Some will recall that just before
the war broke out the Pacific coast
became alarmed at the soaring prices
and feared they would continue. a
company was financed to bring
Asiatic gasoline overland imemdiate-
ly thereafter Pacific coast points got
the cheapest gasoline they had had
for years. In short. just as soon as
the price of gasoline reaches GER
tain level il begins to flow back this
way-and to stop competition before
it gets serious our refiners cut prices.
That was the real reason for the va
nous price CUTTINGS III lnt Idst, iiot
the supposed wal between the trust
and independents only the war
prevents that now.
There is an impression abroad that
the supply will some time run out. l
can't see it that way.
For example just consider this:
Whereas formerly Cnly per cent of
the crude oil was available for gaso-
line. today. becarse of improved
methods of refining and improve
ments of carburetors and motors, 90
per cent of crude oil can be rendered
suitable for engine consumption. And
new wells by hundreds are being
opened up every day.
"Bunk-that stuff about a shortage
pure bunk! It's like the tales of
exhausted coal fields and timber
forests. No generation now living will
see that shortage. Time was when
those commodities were wastcfully
used and sold FOR less than their
value as compared with other COM
modities-but that is the whole story.
COmpcnsatiOns to Owner.
"Now let us consider 1t from an
other angle--that of the automobile
user. He need feel no concern over
the present condition If he was salts
fled with that which obtained, say,
three years ago. He is getting more
miles to 81 today than he got then,
despite the difference in price-even
at wartime prices And 1t may be
news to him. but it is a fact. that he
Is getting more miles to gallon out
of the low test fuel today than he got
from the high test gasoline then. And
there Is less waste from evaporation
etc. The reason, of course, is the
tremendous improvement in carbu-
retors motors and in the automobiles
generally. Why, we used to think
nothing of it when our motors spit
and coughed and backfired on start
ing in cold weather-With real gaso-
line, too. Who ever experiences that
trouble now? Why. cold weather
is the same is warm to good auto
mobile motor nowadays.
II wonder how many buyers con-
slider another phase of the matter
that the maker has, as q matter OF
fact, donated all the gasoline he car
hope to use in the next five or siH
years when he sold him the car? Just
credit against the temporary high
cost of gasoline the permanently
lower cost of automobiles-and there
is large margin on the side of the
user
81 might go on indefinitely showing
that the increased efficiency of auto
mobiles and motor trucks due to i'm
provement in design and manufacture
has more than kept pace with the
price of and more than offset the diff
ference in cost of gasoline and viii
continue to do so.
Suffice to say the condition is only
of the moment anyway. and even Il