Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-03-09
GASOLINE IS SOARING
Owners and Operators of
Motorboats Becoming Anxious
Over Outlook

Gasoline has risen another cent. The
quotations on the product per gallon
are now "a l-2 cents for wholesale
quantities "a 1-2 cent from tank J
wagons and 26 cents at retail.
Not only has there been an enor- !
nous rise in gasoline during the
past six months, but also in lubrlcat-
| ing oils. These oils nave risen from =
! to 10 cents on the gallon since the
outbreak of the European war, estab-
! fishing record in the oil industry
( Practically all of the United States.
output OF crude oil and the products
obtained from it's refining are be-
ing shipped to Europe where the &C.
mand is unusually heavy and export
ers are receiving Leg prices for their
shipments. Notwithstanding the diff
ficulties of transportation across the
Atlantic, owing to the submarine war
fare and the unsettled conditions IN
Europe, the general export trade OF
1915 forged ahead by 1884 per cent.
in volume and per cent. in value
the statistical records being 2,309,-
760.792 gallons shipped during 1913,
against 2,224,25O,324 gallons in 1914
In lubricating oils the percentage
gains in 1915 were 24.5O in volume
and $3.50 in value over 1914.
The gasoline and oil problem has
now reached most serious stage,
and it is said that in some cases these
products cannot be had in quantity
at any but a fabulous price, the own
crs holding their supply in the hope
that quotations may continue to rise.
Several departments of the United
States Government are said to be now
investigating the high level Of motor
fuel prices, but the progress Of thelr
!, work has not been made public.
The demand for gasoline and lubri-
eating oil in this country is today
greater than ever before, the year
1915 noting an increase of 81 per
cent. in the number of registered
: motor cars alone, this rot embracing
the other engines that depend upon
gasoline for fuel.
! According to prominent oil deal
er in Alexandria there is at pres
ent no indication of drop in Gaso-
line prices, though the rising action
of gasoline would be counteractcd by
rise in kerosene. oil. This kerosene
rise, however, is, improbable.
The Federal Trade Commission is
now investigating the causes for the
advance in price Of gasoline. 1t is
, said the investigation thus far has
disclosed that there was tremen-
dous increase in 1915 and the first
two months Of the present year in
the production of automobiles and in
engines generally using gasoline as
fuel.
William Campbell, of Charles Town
West Virginia, who is well known
in Alexandria, has just left for the
middle west to commence the invcsti-
CATION for the department.
The companies producing gasoline
arc cooperating with the commission
in the investigation and have furnish
ed reports showing the price Of gaso-
line furnished at distributing sections
for the past few years.
The commission has submitted to
Congress request for a supplement
tai appropriation of S160000 to con-
duct the investigation into indust-
rial conditions in the United States
and cost accounting. The object Of
the commission is to ascertain the
Estate of h2alth" Of the industries.
whether they arc profitable or un-
profitable, with view to co-opcra-
tive effort between the commission
and the manufacturers and business
men of the country in. meeting I'M
,lcrlying difficulties.
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