The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-07

OF California; gold mines by several NIL
lions OF dollars.
The first oil well in the United States
was drilled by Col Edwin L. Drake. IN
Pennsylvania. in 1885 His first well was
6Ss5 feet deep and produced from ten to
twelve barrels Of oil day. It was OF
the highest, lightest quality. running
about 10 degrees Baume, or as light as
pure kerosene. II was burned IN the
crude state in cruises, but the smoke and
odor prevented its use from becoming
popular This oil commanded a price OF
$50 barrel
The stimulus Of high prices encouraged
the drilling Of other wells IN the vicinity.
and the price fell Much Of the crude
oil was used as an internal medicine
under the name Of Seneca oil. the Indians
having for years previously been in the
habit OF skimming the oil seepages from
springs from which it derived its name.
1t was also used as linirnent for bruises
and sprains. and in rheumatism
Samuel NJ. Kier gave the industry a
great impetus by inventing a crude proc
ess OF refining the product OF the wells
thereby improving its Illuminating prop
critics, Soon thereafter the kerosene
lamp was invented. and the dem5ad
grew.
Not COrZidered of Value.
Oil seepages were known 70 exist in
California long before that time. but he
black, Hl-smering stuff was not consid-
cred OF any value. The FIRST successful
oil well in this State was drilled in Ven
tura County by Thomas Scott in 1866.
in the late '70s other successful wells
were drilled near Newhall, but II was not
until 1852. when Lyman Stewart and ".
L. Hardison undertook 20 develop pros
pective oil land near Santa Paula. that
the industry was fairly launched in this
State. The oil was found 20 be Of su-
perior quality for illuminating purposes.
At that time its value as a fuel In the
crude state was unknown. In 1857 a loco
motive was fitted up In the shops Of the
Union oil Company at Santa Paula 70
burn crude oil. and the success Of this
! experiment created new and prosperous
era for the industry.
I Along the SOS two woodchoppers liv.
1 ing in a cabin east Of Bakersfield discOV
cred some OIL seepages on the land on
which they were working. They dug q
shallow well and obtained a good sup
/ ply Of crude petroleum. This was the
beginning Of the famous Kern River
1 field
Drilling Wells Begins.
Capital was induced 70 90 into the bust.
ness OF drilling wells, and with the intro
duetion Of the crude product as fuel fol
/ locomotives and steamers the industry
became a recognized and permanent one
In the meantime chemists had been al
work separating by dlstlllation the nu
merous valuabie products contained Il
this substance so rich in hydrocarbons
/ Gasoline. naphtha. kerosene. and NOR,
/ than 100 other valuable products wer,
! extracted from the crude petroleum, and
when the inventive genius OF man de-
vised the gasoline engine there was al
increased demand for petroleum. Tn,
/ invention Of the automobile and III,
motor car followed. along with that o.
the several grades Of lu5ricating oil
which have become fixed staples in III,
commercial world
During the last FIVE years there hai
been a remarkable increase in the use O
this product. II Is being rapidly adopte,
in railroad locomotives. steamships
motor cars. Industrial engines for manu-
facturers. sc. As an llluminant in IN
! household IT'S use has become worldwide
Even China, the most conservative an
unprogressive country on the face Of IN
globe. has adopted IL. and this is due Z
the sagacity OF the Standard Oil Com
pany. which caused several million yer
cheap lamps 70 be manufactured an
sold 10 the Chinese at cost and j.
most cases at less than cost, in order Z
induce the people 70 use the new illumi
nunt.
Has Increased Demand.
The invention OF the oil cooking rang
has also increased the demand for pc
troIeum. Much cheaper and cleaner tha
cosi, and more speedy in its results &
the kitchen. it is superseding the use q
coal. especially on the Pacific Coast
where coal is most costly, and IN N
East for summer cooking.
The recent discovery by Prof Low O
an inexpensive process Of converting int
coke the residue Of petroleum after a
the other valuable products have bee
extracted. will add still further 10 tn
demand. The coke viii be a factor O
great importance In the making Of stee
and as IT can be cheaply produced, vi
add stimulus 10 the industry Of steel
making on the Pacific Coast.