Letter to the editor

Why? That is the question most of the people in this county are asking themselves these days.

Why is it that you can travel 20-30 miles in either direction, and the price of gas is approximately 30 cents cheaper per gallon?

If you ask any of the four petroleum giants in the county, they will tell you that it is the cost of hauling. I am aware that they (petroleum giants) have to make money.

I have no problem with that. Although, if you would put it to paper, you would see that just making money is not the problem. The problem is a more glamorous picture in the future for themselves.

Petroleum tankers can haul about 8,500 gallons of gas, depending on the size or weight of the truck and trailer. So if you haul 8,500 gallons of gas from Memphis to Batesville at 30 cents profit per gallon, that is $2,550 a load.

Consumers in the area should think about this. If the same trucks can disperse gas to stores in Southaven and the price there on August 16 was $3.35 a gallon, what seems to be the problem with their own hometown (where prices range around $3.65)?

I looked it up on the internet on August 20 and was that much more amazed to find that in New Albany, gas was $2.99 a gallon, a whole 60 cents cheaper than my home town.

Batesville, small town living, with California gas prices.
Terry Williams Jr.