HISTORY OF PETROL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 February 1940, Page 14

HISTORY OF PETROL

TRANSPORT REVOLUTIONISED BY NATURE’S GIFT. BIRTH OF GREAT INDUSTRY. One of the most-discussed subjects in the world today is petrol—a gift of Nature, which has revolutionised transportation on land, sea and in lhe air; yet it is only 80 years back'since the petroleum industry was born, when Colonel E. Drake proved that man could drill for oil and produce it in commercial quantities. That historic happening occurred at Titusville (Pennsylvania) on August 27. 1859. When that discovery was made no one could conceive that it was the beginning of an era which would change the habits of the world. Petroleum oil was used before Drake and the syndicate which financed his drilling experiment completed their well by finding oil al 691 reel, but it was that success which fired men’s imagination and set in motion one of the most momentous developments the world has known.

Today in the United Slates alone, there arc more than 350.000 wells producing oil, providing employment for approximately one million people in that country’s oil business, and contributing in tile region of LOGO million pounds annually ot the United States’ national economy.

The world output of crude oil in 1938 reached the huge total of 273,804,000 metric tons.

Produced cheaply and in huge quantities, petrol provides the fuel for the world's colossal automobile industry. How big that, industry is is almost beyond comprehension. Ono fact alone will help to convey an idea of its vastness —the combined sales volume of the three big automobile manufacturers of the United Stales in the 11 years ended December. 1937. alone reached the colossal sum of .C 7,200,000,0(10.