The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-02-11
Aver. Daily Prod.
OREGON GAS COMPANY
GIVES "EXORBITANT
COST OF CRUDE OIL"
AS HIGH RATE CAUSE

In an article which recently appear
ed in the Morning Oregonian," the
Portland Gas and Coke Company gives
as its reason for the high price Of
gas in that state the present exorbi-
tant cost of crude oil-the base Of
manufacture"
The article reads as follows:
Economy in gas using will be the
refuge of patrons of the Portland
Gas and Coke Company when they
strive to restrain the enthusiastic
meter and hold down the monthly
. statement.
And such economy, coupled with
hope that the present exorbitant cost
Of crude oil will soon retreat, must
tide over the gas fuel situation cre-
ated by the recent order of the public
service commission, largely increas-
ing heretofore existing rates.
That the increased rates are only
temporary, and that the company is
anxious to redeem its pledge and send
the price of gas tumbling as soon as
crude oil--the base OF manufacture
joins the cost decline, is the assur-
ance given by John A. Laing, vice
president and counsel Of the COM
pany, who also advocates avoiding all
waste Of gas through careful meas
ures Of economy consistent with serv-
ice.
Company Holds Out Hope
We are hopeful" said Mr.. Iaing
yesterday, that the present situation
is only temporary and that rates will
retreat. There is reason to believe
that crude oil cannot continue to bring
the present high price, and, of course
any reduction in the cost of oil means
a proportionate reduction in the cost
OF gas 10 the user.
During the war the navy, the mer-
chant marine and scores of wartime
enterprises made heavy demands upon
the available supply of crude oil
and forced that product upward TO
the peak, or what we sincerely hope
is to be the peak. Now that we are
returning 10 the peace basis, with
other commodities constantly reced.
ing in cost. / believe that crude oil
will become less expensive and that
it will return to the pre-war status.
All this is guesswork, but it is logi-
cal. Another factor that We are hope
ful Of is the development of new
fields. The present high price of
crude oil is stimulating such develop
ment, and the opening Of new fields
would serve TO relieve the strain and
reduce the cost"
Fiftcen-day Increase $4,000
The companys former favorable
contract for crude oil, which endured
during the period wherein crude oil
awaited 10 its present perch, expired
on December 3l-after serving both
company and patrons for six years.
For the first half OF January, using
1850 barrels OF crude oil a day, the
increased cost to the company. buy
$4,000. Henceforth, the commission
has ruled, this increase must be borne
by the consumer.
Percentages of rate increase indi.
cate little to the average consumer,
who will not compute them and VINO
awaits his next months statement.
with mutterings and misgivings. But
a comparison Of actual charges. un-
der the old rate and the new. speaks
for Itself. II demonstrates the ad-
vance in terms OF cash-and also
presents the plight OF the small user
as happy when contrasted with that
OF the heavy purchaser OF gas.
The following comparative table
presents the increased gas rate as II
affects the three classes OF custom
ers and compares the former charge
with the new: