Albuquerque morning journal., 1910-12-27
CALIFORNIA LEADS
!. IN PRODUCTION
OF PETROLEUM
STATE SHOWS INCREASE
OF OVER 20 PER CENT
Interesting Statistics on the
Growth of Industry During
Past Few Years. Average
Price per Barrel Shows In
crease.

The advance chapter OF the Geo
logical surveys volume Mineral Re-
sources OF the United states. for 1909
on the production Of petroleum. by
David r. Day, is now in press and
win be ready for distribution about
January /, when ii can be had on ap-
plication to the director of the survey
at washington, D. c.
in 1907 the oil product of the Unit
ed states which had been increasing
dapidly in previous years, made phe-
nomenal gain--over 80 per cent---and
reached the great total OF &C. .095, 1886
barrels This gain was due to tne
sudden development of the Illinois
field and to great increases in the
fields farther west, in oklahoma and
California. In 1908 and 1909 this
production was sustained and has even
Increased though by no great per-
centage. In 1908 the quantity pro-
duced rose TO 17S,527,355 barrels, ano
in 1903 also the record showed a
slight gain--the total being 1S2,134,-
274 harrels-but there Was decline
in value from S129,079,1S4 in 1908 to
$12S,24S,7S3 in 1909. The average
price per barrel was $O.723 in 1908
and $OT04 in 1909 This Is consist
ent with the increase in stocks during
the year
Rank of the States.
only three states contributed great
~ to the Increase in quantity produc-
ed. California took first place by
gaining 2135 per cent. Utah and
wyoming produced only 22,l37 bar
rels. but this was gain OF 24.55 per
cent over their combined output In
1908. In all other states decreases
h. or A
47.15 per cent, being in louisiana
California, as was expected, took
first place In petroleum production,
changing places with Oklahoma. CAL
ifornia's product in 1909 was about
6 500 900 barrels more than any 9TH
er state has ever produced in year.
Should California show q further pro-
portionate increase in 1910 her total
will be more than double the highest
yield OF Pennsylvania.
West Virginias increase brought
that state from sixth to fourth on the
list. exchanging places with Texas
All the other states retained their
rank of the year 1908.
Fuel Gil On the Railroads.
The use of fuel oil by the railroads
OF the United States is on the increase,
the consumption IN 1909 amounting to
19,g39,394 barrels as compared WITH
16. $50, 070 barrels In 1908 etan M
crease of S,050324 barrels or 3 per
cent? and with 1S,S55,691 barrels In
1907 The consumption Of oil per
mile Cf road operated was 1856 par
rcis in 1903. as compared with 3.Sl
barrels in 1908 and with 1893 barrels
in 1907, which shows that the meth
DDS now employed are more economic
al than those in use when oil was In
troduced as q fuel by the railroads
of the country The oil consumed on
the railroads is mostly crude, but In
cludes a considerable quantity of resi-
dum--the product left after the light
er oils have been extracted by refln-
ing.
Fuel Oil in the Navy.
The introduction of fuel oil in the
United states navy has been rapid
and the results have been fully as
good as had been expected. During
the last year two battleships-th
North Dakota and Delaware-were
equipped with auxiliary oil-burnins
plants, and four more battleships now.
being built will each carry 400 tons
of fuel oil to burn as auxiliary to coal.
Fifteen destroyers viii also be equip
ned FOR burning fuel oil In England,
Germany, France, Italy and Austria,
similar experiments are being made.
Worlds Product.
The following countries. besides the
United states Increased their pro-
duction OF oil in the year 1903. Rus
sia, Galicia, Dutch East Indies, Rou-
mania, India, and Peru. The tota'
output for the world increased from
2s5.OOO, 800 barrels in 1908 to "Jr-
.4I3.791 barrels in 1909 of which the
United States produced over 90 per
cent