The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-08-11
operation Expenses VIII
Be Lessened When Living
Commodities are Reduced

Readjustment OF operating expenses
the oil fields now appear to be oc-
Blpying the minds OF the oil men.
he doubt which exists relative 10 a
bise in the price Of crude and which
making it practically impossible for
be oil men to predict Improvement
the market conditions in a bona
de manner, even though a commend
BILE optimistic attitude is being main
hined. makes II absolutely essential
LIT attention be turned to making oil
3y1 be produced in a manner which
hin not entail loss to the operators,
nd which will at least permit develop
lent which must be continued, TO be
hrried on on a paying basis.
This can hardly be done. however
hes all expense relative to the
Thing Of the wells which produce the
Is reduced in proportion similar to
duction in the price Of crude. Oil
as suffered a drop of 20 per cent dur.
be- the past year, but the price or
Killing has not decreased In proper
on. Figures show that the price OF
hsing has been reduced about l6
er cent, labor 10 per cent. rig build
hg 10 per cent, teaming 25 per cent,
nd drilling % per cent.
Tme cause for the delayed decrease in
he price Of operation is not the fault
the drilling contractors nor the
bpply men, according TO the opinion
one OF the most prominent oil men
the city, who has kept in close
buch with fhe situation for many
ears. "rhe contractors and supply
en-" ne states, -hare cut their fig
res to as great a degree as they
ossibly can, considering the expense
which they are put In payment OF
llaries of the men whom they en-
10y. Readjustment OF wages cannot
made, he points out. until living
Expenses are reduced in equal pro-
prtion. In practically all oil towns
roughout the country, the prices in
fleet for rents, living commodities
nd other necessities of life are as high
day as they were during the boom
all things went sky high. Rents have
ot been decreased TO any extent, gro
eries have been reduced In few
lstances, but taken as whole the
rodpcts are priced as high now az
hey were six months ago, Some bar
aims may be had in the clothing line
ut quality goods are generally as
xpensive as heretofore. To cut the
ages of the laborlng men. who pro-
ace the work and materials for drill
Y wells, cannot be justifably done
ore than 10 per cent, and yet In
are the worker living wage"
In the opinion Of this authority. con-
tons will improve TO great ex-
mt, and the rise in price OF crude
4. when IL finally arrives, will look
gger and better than ever. II coop
tatlon is had with the proportionatc
kcrcase In the price OF living ccmmo-
tics rs the starting point.
Optimism for an Improvement In
arket conditions is more prevalent
erywherc than heretofore. In Tulsa,
here the spirit OF gloon" prevailed
more noted degree than elsewhere.
y oil men are now instilled with a
anged viewpoint and are talking bet
Z times. II Is most advisable however.
r the members of the industry to
arsue as cautious measures as re-
lrds production as heretofore. and
e pursuit Of The curtailment policy
ould be regarded as important as
Ter In view of the doubt which exists
to the date OF marked improve