New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-15
CarburetOr for Kerosene
AutoiSts' Only Hope,
Oil Men Agree.
II. G. JAMES TELLS
WHY FUEL Is HIGH
Big Foreign Demand. Decreased
Output and More Cars Put
Forward as Reasons.

There is JUST orc way 20 reduce the
high cost Of gasolenc invent new
carburetor and use kerosene. This idea
was voiced yesterday afternoon BY
Professor Charles 7. Lucke. Of Column
bia. 20 members OF tho Independent Oil
Mems Association. attending a two
days convention az the Vanderbilt
Hotel
oil men approve the idea. They
pom, on, that for every gallon of gaso-
lenc made from crude oil there is man
ufactured more than a gallon Of kero-
sene. The invention OF carhuretor 20
burn Kerosene IN an automobile should
be a simple matter. they say.
Until some auto enthusiast. Disguised
az Smelling out - cents or more for
every gallon of gasoiene. turns in
ventor and produces the carburetor
sought. the price Of fuel will probably
remain high
Gasoiene. OIL men say, IS subject 20
the law of supply and demand. They
add that the present price IS not sur
prisinc because Of conditions IN the OIL
fields. pointing out that gssolcne has
been too cheap no the past. 4 big for
eign demand. "A decrease m the output
In the Gushing district and the in
creased consumption Of new motor
vehicles are given as reasons for the
big increase.
New Company Taken as Joke.
The intention of New York auto deal
ors 20 use S5.O00O0O capital for forcing
down the price OF gasolene is regarded
ias .| ub IN
for IL ridiculous failure.
THE movement said one dealer.
would do more harm than good. A.
long as there was a scarcity IN cruce
oil the competition they might create
with increased capital would have
tendency 20 boost prices instead OF re
ducing them
II. G. James. secretary OF the West
ern Petroleum Rehners' Association and
consulting statistician 20 the govern
mcut. diagnosed conditions III an ad-
dress so thoroughly 10 the liking OF the
Independents from all over the country
that he was applauded for five minutes.
Cast summer" he said. 1.-THE output
Of the Cushing pool suddenly. declined
from 100000 20 $4,000 barrels day.
A a result. the established market
price of crude oil jumped from 80 cents
to Si.55 a barrel The production Of the
mid-continent field about year ago
was more than 100000 barrels a day
to-day II is 325 600 barrels. A year ago
Cushing was making 900 barrels =
day. p per cent gasolene, to-day IL IS
making 100000. OF which less than "a
per cent is gasolene.
Every One boarding Now.
A year ago the market was stag
nant and nobody would consider future
orders; to-day the market IS active as
never before. Every dealer has all IN
storage he has been able TO buy and
hold
Assuming the production OF Cush-
ING Is 100000 barrels and that at It's
height the average percentage OF
gasolene IS 80. the difference be
tween tho amount possible from the
output OF Gushing today and hfteeh
months ago IS l013lO.OOO gallons
year: and decrease Of 100000 barrels
a day. on % per cent gasolene basis
means a loss % 735.siO,OOO gallons
year, or total decrease from Cushing
alone OF S43. 10000 gallons.
THE significance is not appreciated
until il is taken into consideration
ihaf the tOlAl pfvNltltV" on Sa'N''ns :"
the United States IN 1913 was l,b24,-
500. 900 gallons, or only sl,45O,OOO gal
Ions more than the loss in the Cushing
pool the last eight months. II Cush-
ing had not slImped gasolene would be
q drug on the market
while Cushing was declining. con
SUMPTION Of gasoiene was increasing.
In 1915 S926l5 motor vehicles were
manufactured and sold In the United
States Estimating each car will use
500 gallons d year, this would be an
added consumption in 1913 Of 446,3Os,-
900 gallons. In addition ne exported
abroad s4.00O.000 gallons more in 1915
than IN 1914. Is u any wonder there
is a shortage and soaring price,"