The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-03-19
STATE NOT BEEN
DUMPING GROUND
For Poor Gasoline Declares
State Oil Inspector
Cunningham.
MEETS GRAVITY TEST

Madison, Wist-Denial that Wiscon-
sin has been made the dumping ground
of poor gasoline because it has the
gravity test, was made by T. J. Cum
ningharn, state oil inspector, today in
reply to d recent statement by Wal
lace ingalls,, Racine, assemblyman, in
connection with the latter's bill to
substitute the distillation for the
gravity test.
without going into, the merits Of
the present system Of oil inspection
in Wisconsin and without opposing
the proposed distillation test, it seems
desirable nevertheless, to call atten-
tion to some of the loose talk heard
about this subject, much of which has
been inspired by personal politics and
much of which his unfounded in fact
said Mr.. Cunningham.
Not Opposed to Distillation.
t'This department Is not opposed to
the distillation test and does not dis
pute it's value. 1t is unfair, however
to say that Wisconsin has been made
the dumping ground of poor gasoline,
because it has the gravity test. The
truth is that Wisconsin is getting bet
ter gasoline than most of the states
in the union. The independent oil
companies have a stronger foothold
in this state than in any other, and
while competition in the oil business
does not have much effect on the price
of gasoline, it does have a decided
effect on the quality of the product
offered for sale. Refneries say that
Wisconsin is almost the only state
demanding and receiving 60-62o gra-
witty gasoline.
"Most oil men like the distillation
test, but at the same time they do not
entirely condemn the gravity test. The
disillation test would be a great bene-
fit to the oil companies. 1t gives them
free official test Of what they buy, an
additional test to their own and which
they could use in case of controver-
sizes with refiners. 1t is true that oil
companies buy on distillation test
of their own. They would do the
the same even if the state had dis
tillation test. OF course, the distilla-
tion test would be of value to the
public, but 1t would not be a cure-all
for poor gasoline. It Is said that Min
nesota, with distillation test, has
poorer gasaline than Wisconsin. We
are told that gasoline in Wisconsin
contains sulphur, naphtha, etc, and
that it gumps up engines. The dis
tillation test does not show up the
sulphur or the gum in gasoline.
at is said that Wisconsin makes a
big appropriation for oil inspection
work This is untrue. There is no
appropriation for this work. The de-
partment pays its own way from in
spection fees which are now only three
cents barrel Of 1/17 Of cent a
gallon, charge so small that it can
hardly be factor in the retail price
of gasoline. Another reckless state
ment made is that when refiners have
some inferior gasoline, the order goes
out to ship it to Wisconsin. This is
not borne out by the experience of
this department. While Wisconsin
has not the distillation test, this de-
partment has made hundreds of dis
tillation tests at the university la
boratories in recent years and in gen
eral they show that the samples were
of good quality Very few were of
poor quallty.
"The gravity test of gasoline is a
good quality test 1t shows the vola-
tility of the gasoline. The higher the
gravity the more volatile the gas. 1t
also practically determines the mar
ket value. Under the Wisconsin law,
dealers must sell their products under
the actual gravity tests displayed at
80. AIA.4
buys cheap grade of gas he knows
1t to be such and one buying high
grade knows that he is not paying
high prices for the same product.
From the scientific standpoint, the
distillation test is better, but whether
its practical value to the pubic would
be much greater would depend on it's
application"