New-York tribune., 1908-09-02
Az 4v4zyvG OUTpUT OF OIL.

From bulletin just issued by the United
States Geological Survey it appears that the
growth in the production of petroleum by TINS
country once very slow, has of late gone on
with remarkable rapidity. The output for 1907
WAS inward of 166OOO0O0 barrels and much
more than double that of 1901, which amounted
TO less than 70,000,000 barrels. Even in so
short period four years the gain was about
Sc. 900 600 barrels while the advance from 1906
TO 1907 of nearly 40,O00,0O0 barrels was greater
than the total product of the United States prior
TO 1883 For long time America and Russia
were close rivals SO recently seven years
ago Russia was said to he appreCiably ahead.
It is estimated at Washington that this country
now has the lead by 1O0,000,000 barrels.
It is hardly necessary TO point out that the
wonderful change In the situation is due to the
oDening of new oil fields. In 1901 six-sevenths
Of the production came from Pennsylvania,
West Virginia. New York. Ohio and Indiana.
and the rest mot far from 100000 barrels)
from other parts of the country. In 1901 the
five states Just enumerated had combined
output of 40O00OO0 barrels-a falling off of
a third-and the rest of the country produced
122. 10000 barrels California which has been
the most liberal contributor three or four times,
is apparently at the head OF the procession yet.
lis production last year a trfe less than
20 600 900 barrels, and the combined yield OF
Kansas and Oklahoma is put at 43,o00,oU
There is at present no way of separating the
returns of the last two states mentioned, but
il does not seem rash to assume that neither
Kansas nor Oklahoma alone produced much
as California.
Gratifying as these figures from some
points of view, they contain lesson which de-
serves careful attention. The wells which sup
piled the country thirty or forty years ago have
long since ceased to yield. Others in the same
general regions, along the Appalachian range and
in Ohio and Indiana, have become less produc-
tive than they were. The Eastern oil fields are
nearly exhausted Those in the heart of the
continent in the Southwest and on the Pacific
Coast are probably destined 10 experience the
same fate In broad sense petroleum Is an
ephemeral resource. 1t has been produced I'm
abundance in this country only since the close
OF the Civil War Who will venture TO predict
that the stores which are now being drawn upon
will last another forty years? That they may
he exhausted in twenty years, or even less time
does not seem incredible. There Is bltuminous
Goa enough In the United States to last for
| centuries The latest verdict concerning Amer
lean anthracite is tnat II ought TO meet all de
mands for hundred years. Ii there was ever
occasion TO consider the wisdom of conserving
any OF the mineral treasures with which the
country has been endowed and of hunting for
serviceable substitutes the policy is certainly
| applicable 10 petroleum in an extreme degree.
1t is as cheap lluminant that petroleum has
rendered the most valuable service. II has af-
| forded vastly better light than the candle or
| whale oil. In time gas. electricity and per-
/ haps. denatured alcohol Will replace il for this
| purpose. For the lighter distillates from the