San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-11
OIL PRODUCERS|
ARE CHEEREDBl
HIGHER PRICE|
Optimism Prevails DespiI
Proposed Oil Tax Levy
by State.
NEW RECORD IS Sc
Daily Output for Week
Estimated at l,797,-
ITO Barrels.
NEW RECORD is Sci

Houston, Tex, Feb. 10.-Producers 4
the United States arc feeling bet.
these days, but they still are haTis
their worries-and it loks as thou
their fights will never end. In
last three weeks nearly every crude
the United States except in CalifOrn
and the Gulf Coast, has been al
yanced 10 cents a barrel. Thursday 4
this week, the Gulf Coast crudes wed
advanced % cents a barrel. California
crudes on January 6, were reduced
price.
The biggest frShs the oil producers
the country have to contend with
this time is TIE ttrmination of stat
law-making bodies to increase taxes
already near the breaking stage wi
producers.
Producers from all parts OF Ten
this week went TO Austin TO fight
proposed production tax in Texas. II
would not do much kicking if the
was raised to . per cent, but they ser
ously object to the proposed 5 pt
cent. They contend they are alreadt
paying more than the industry's shar,
of the expenses of the state goyernI
ment and can see no reason why I'd
oil industry should be picked out d
support the schools and bear most 4
the expense of the entire state govern,
mCnt Z
Producers Still Optimistic.
But in the face of all these troubla0
the producer is still smiling and led
that legislators will be reasonable al
that they will be permitted to enjoy
most prosperous year in 1923. III
are indications of increased field va
in the spring in every section.
head is off most of the large pocJ
brought to notice in 1922 and it is ex|
pected that more refined products VIII
be used IN 1923 than ever before in the
history of the industry.
For the first time in many months,
there was n decrease in stocks Of crrdl
in the United States in DecembefI
brought shnut by the decline in pui
ductiOn q imports Of Mexican crude
Already California producers are e
ing steps to take advantage OF
shortage of heavy oils from Me-
1t is thought that by spring CalifoEr
will be shipping to the east coast
oil not finding a ready market and @
sumption on the west coast. ~
are already in the trade. some OF
taken out of the Mexican trade BE-
used. The tankers can make the
from San Francisco through the
ana Canal TO New York in three VIC
and some of these tankers will be
to take on return Cargoes to reduce
EXPENSE of moving the crude.
Blizzard Does Damage.
During the last week, the blizz
played havoc with field work IN N
sections In spite of the bad weath
the production record for the Unli
States was broken once more. The ga
average production of crude oil in
United States for the week ending te
ruary ) was 1,T97,770 barrels, accordiH
to the Oil Weekly, an increase Of abos
10000 barrels over the previous weed
due to increases in the Mountain State
Eastern States and Oklahoma. Texa
showed a decline of nearly 1000 oa1
rels, while Arkansas was off abe1
1000 barrels. Louisiana about hef
own.
The market for refined products
almost at a standstill, although NJ
keters and refiners are sure thaG
spring business will be the best eS
Naturally they expected little euSAn
during the bad weather, but inquiT
make them feel that they have CUES
right. The fuel oil market Is ste
and further increases in the y
prices of gasoline are expected.