The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-03-28
CHEAPER GASOLINE AND
KEROSENE NOT IN SIGHT
Special Investigator From Association
Of Commerce Presents His
Report.

IL IL WOulO De possible TO secure cheap.
err gasoline and kerosene for the seed
ing season, and at the last meeting Of
the Board Mr.. J. F. Mcclure was ap-
pointed as an Investigator to find out
how matters really stood. Mr.. Nc
CURE has handed in the following re-
port that should be read by all those
who will use tractors this coming sea-
son:
Minot. N. Oak. March ~. 1918.
To the Board Of Directors.
Association Of Comerce.
City.
Gentlemen:
Your Committee to whom was re-
ferred the matter of investigating price
Of gasoline and to see whether some-
! thing could be done to reduce the price
respectfully, reports:
That as far as we are able to Judge
from the investigation made there is no
immediate hopes Of a reduction in price
of either gasoline or kerosene.
The Government has practically taken
over the oil business, and | am inform
as low as any place in the United States.
freight rates considered. Gasoline is
selling in Minot at 25;Sc per gallon com
kota, and the freight rate from Refiner-
les to Yankton is .O22c per gallon less
than to Minot, and if gasoline was now
selling here on basis of Yankton price it
line prices in New York 26c, Boston etc.
Philadelphia etc, Buffalo Csc, Pittsburg
&c, Cleveland, Ohio Csc. which all have
lower freight rates from the field than
Minot, and prices are nearly all higher.
Crude Oil from which gasoline is pro-
duced is higher now than it has ever
been and Ir PenRsylvania Crude ADVANCED
price $500 per barrel Of AZ gallons.
SS25 Jan. J. az 1915; oklahoma Crude
cry refner paying premium over this
price to get it, and producers are ask
Ing an; an increase , today, as al costs Of
rel PRICE IN Midcontnea sfoS el Der today
compared with $40 January l, 1917 and
$d29 January J. 591S shows the
Texas Crudes have advanced same as
Oklahoma and Kansas and posted mar
ket is $500 per barrel today. Gulf
week and is now $1.4o per barrel COM
to soc per barrel Jan. 1. 1916.
The Government on February 10th
to pay &c per gallon F. o. b. tank
steamer at the docks at Marcus Hook, N.
j. (close to New York; this to be used
for airplanes, and is 62 gravity gaso-
line-whereas the gasoline sold at $3.50
Minot is a SO to So gravity product,
and the freight rate from the Mid-Con-
than from the same fields to Minot.
The Standard Oil Company's refinery
at Whiting, Indiana. is partially shut
down aes for f9 ia lack Of Crude Oil and the
gets practically two thirds of it's sup
ply from Whiting by boat to Superior
THENCE by, rail to destination. The
barrels Of Crude day. and has 10 idle
q day. Of Crude, the balance going on
The 70 United states Fue oil
tee put In force about March first a
set Of rules governing the distribution
Of this product and placed customers
Ships, Panama Canal and Manufacturers
Of Fullers earth are in first class.
Export deliveries for Army and Navy
abroad are placed in second class.
Such deliveries for Allies-third class.
Hospital now using fuel-fourth class.
Public Utilities, Gas Plants and Do
nestle Consumers-fifth class.
Navy Yards come in seventh class
and Arsenals in the eighth class.
Glass nine comprises plants engaged in
the manufacture, production or storage
Of food products and plants making
farm machinery. or fertilizers.
Munition Plants and other plants en-
gagged in Government work are in Class
/
All other consumers in Glass Twelve.
This would place the farmers in
Class Twelve and doubtless the same
divisions will be extended to other petro-
leum products soon. especially when the
great demand comes in the spring
months.
With the Government in control of all
oils, it is expected that there will be a
change in prices, and more than likely
the price in effect in North Dakota will
be raised to a level of prices in effect
in New York. Pennsylvania and Ohio.
From a reliable source we are told the
Standard Oil Company are at present
anticipating q raise of two cents per
gallon on gasoline. Kerosene advanc-
ed one cent per gallon in Pittsburg in
February and half cent per gallon in
Nebraska, and this coupled with the ad-
vance in crude makes a reduction I'M
likely.
In view of these facts and the other
information your Committee has gath
cred it is of the opinion that not only is
there small likelihood of decrease in
price of either gasoline kerosene, or any
petroleum product, but that it would
avail little to attempt to get a reduc-
ton. Furthermore. from present in
dications the prices will go higher, and
owing to transportation conditions and
great demand, a shortage may face our
| farmers in planting time Your Com
mittee would urge every farmer to get
a supply in ample time and keep their
wagons or barrels filled for spring work
Respectfully submitted,
| u