Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1916-04-13
SOARING PRICE OF GASOLINE AND SUGGESTED
REASONS

The soaring price of gasoline very generally interests
nearly every individual Although every individual per-
sonay has for gasoline nearly individual is eff
feced For this is the motor and is used for trans
portaon of freight and passengers for pleasure tractors
the FARMS for running household machinery pumpngn
fact has become almost indispensable necesstyand thus
effected by the rise in price, with definite limit in
view.
Statistics that only 100000 barrels of gasoline was
used in 1899 Prior to that time problem dispose
of the that accumulated in the dsaton of oil for i'll
animation purposes In 1904 100000 barrels used In
1914 the amount used jumped to 100000 barrels and isl
estimated that 30OOO0O barrels will be consumed for the year
1916.
Motor the principal of gasoline and I'M
doubed the increase the number of manufactured and
in has its effect coupled with consumption of
gasoline In the in Europe $4,000 built in 1912
In the United States 100000 in 1913 $4,000 1914 and
900 1915 and if the average of increase maintained the
production for this year will reach million 100000
were said to be in in 1916 consuming approximately POI
million barrels of gasoline while this year it is estimated that
80 million will be consumed.
These figures given above would justify the assumption
that there would be continuing raise in price by in
creased consumption Supply and demand said govern
market values Therefore the would
to Justify the raise in price.
Supply and demand do of themselves govern
market prices Another special factor enters nearly every
instance, and especially this modern age
control today be governed by complete monopoistc
troll of certain commodity commodities When the supply
is sufficient and the demand not greater than supply
raise price over what was considered reasonable pro
ut giving price, would be in such responsible largely
lack of competition and complete monopolstc control
The Standard Oil Company controls the price
gasoline and other mineral oils and products produced from
petroleum 1t that the supply is equal the
demand and hence the abnormal price Of gas and
AS 1t controls the supply it also controls the price and
evident that it bleeding the for all stand
Such manipulation of prices demands investigation Sucb
conditions present the greatest presented Social
lists for government control and ownership of all wealth and
wealth producing commodities And also presents very
good example Of of former President Roosevelts good
trusts
If the proposition offered by the Standard Oil Trust that
the increased price justified by the increased demand
is that last fall and at this time when the supply
OF meat animals and of all kinds of grains above the
demand IN fact far under the normal hogs CATTLE grain and
oher things produced by individual effort brought
than the demand would Justify The reply that farmer
uoes not control the price of agricultural commodities Ano
er group OF market manpulators control the price farm
er sells and hopes to get wages and slight additional profit
But generally happens that the farmer is forced
TO SELL the market low and continues until the bulk
OF the production is disposed Of the price goes up and
the market manpuators reap the profits Would it not be
Jolly OF the farmer could the market price of his pro
duee grain horses cattle sheep and hogs the
Ol Company controls the price of gas He will if he would
discontinue eecng politicians otherwise termed statesmen
TO act servants of big interests and neglect and
men to represent him.