Tuesday, April 21, 1998

Price of gasoline

For the past several years many people have complained about the higher cost of gasoline in the Abilene area, myself included. We now have an excellent opportunity to find out if the Abilene cartel has been really manipulating the prices as a lot of us have believed.

Three or four weeks ago, the price for a barrel of oil was increased by $2. One week later the price of gasoline in Abilene jumped 10 cents a gallon to $1.09.

I would like for an expert in the oil refining business to let the public know once and for all exactly how many gallons of gasoline are refined from a barrel of oil? Also, is the barrel of oil measured at 50 or 55 gallons? If an expert answers these questions, the consumers will know whether the gas gurus have been truthful to us all these past years.

So please, if you are an expert in the oil refining business, write the editor and let him publish your answer.

Oh, by the way, I went down toward Temple on Highway 36 last week, and I saw something I didn't understand. The price of gasoline in small towns such as Gustine, Jonesboro and Hamilton was still 94 cents, 96 cents and 98 cents per gallon. I guess maybe they are closer to a direct supply route and source than we are right here on the Interstate highway. Or maybe they're so far back in the sticks that they haven't heard the word of the $2 per barrel of oil increase.

MIKE JONES

Clyde

A vote for Wolfe

AISD is about to launch a program to provide computer training to prepare Abilene's children for a future in which their knowledge of technology will largely determine their economic success.

This will be very costly with extremely long-term effects, and the school board will be the better for including members qualified to make the necessary choices and decisions.

Charlie Wolfe is especially well prepared academically and through his professional experience. I think he is the man for the job, and I recommend him for your vote for a place on the board.

MAGGY MORFORD

Abilene

Via e-mail

Riddance to tobacco

Good riddance to the tobacco companies - who just proclaimed to the world they won't give Congress their permission to pass tobacco legislation.

There can no longer be any excuse for Congress to grant the industry sweeping legal immunity or caps that were included in Sen. John McCain's (R.-Ariz.) bill. This is a tremendous opportunity for Congress and the administration to show their independence from the tobacco industry.

GLENNA GEER

Abilene