El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-01-20

washington, ID. C., Jan. 2O.-The pro-
duotion Of petroleum in 1911 increased
slightly over the record-breaking fig
ures Of 1910; moreover the industry as
sumed a steadier condition, owing to
the. absence Of the very disturbing in
cidents Of 1910, such as the bringing in
Of the Lakeview gusher and other great
wells IN California.
The production Of petroleum in 1910
1919 1911
Barrels Barrels
Appalachian field SLss5,515 2S,000,0o0
lahoma -53,157,3S6 56.0OO.00O
Louisiana ..---.- 6,S41,SS5 lO,0OO,OOO
Texas ...------.. S,899,z66 100000
Miscellaneous 1861, S26 100000
Totals $500. 2Os, 55s.O4s $4,000, 600
The most striking feature Of the year
in the petroleum industry was the de-
velopment of the Electra oil field, in
northern Texas.
The total production for the United
States is between 215, 100000 and 220,-
O00,O 900 barrels. The gain in a single
te-California-was greater than the
whole, the usual decline in the older
districts offsettipg the increase in the
middle west and south
Improved Foreign Market Conditions.
A valued feature in the work Of find
ing use for the great output is the
restoration Of a better market condi-
ton abroad The exports have in
creased very satisfactorily. Another
outlet is due to the general recognition
OF the fact that asphaluc oils, which
have been a drug on the market. make
the best surfacing material for ma
cadam roads.
The petroleum trade as a whole has
suffered of late from two antagonistic
Oversupply due to the development Of
great fields first in one part OF the
country and then in another until con-
fidence became shaken as to the posi-
bility Of maintaining a satisfactory
price. Second, the trade has been con-
stantly Handicapped by the fear lest the
big producing districts should wane
as rapidly as they have waxed. and
leave a supply far below the capacity
of the huge industrial plants designed
to utilize such veritable floods Of oil
as have characterized late years.
Growing Substitution of OH For Coal.
For just about a year the oil trade
has been developing under a new con
viction OF sufficlent oil supply, which
has especially a1fected the consumer
The tendency to substitute oil for coal
in many Industrial establishments IS
growing rapidly.
General Rise in Prices.
In the Appalachian field the pipeline
q
steadily throughout the year at the
end OF which the price Of oil OF Penn
sylvania grade was raised from $3.50
to S1-35 a barrel. This is the first ad-
vance in price since March. 1907. In
Illinois the changes have been as fol-
lows At the beginning OF 1871, so
cents a barrel was paid for light oil
and 81 cents for heavy oil Light oil
June IA to S. cents. The heavy oil WAS
raised 10 SIS cents on Nay 2. In Call I
fornia the prices were held at 80 TO
s. cents, according TO quality with
higher prices for oils near the Los An
yeles market.
Increased OIL Exports IN 1911.
Greatly improved conditions IN the !
export trade Of all petroleum products |
characterized the year 1911. in remark !
able contrast TO the depression in I
1910
According to the bureau Of statistics /
IF the department Of commerce and /
abOr, the exports Of crude oils in !
,reased from about 165, 100000 gallons /
'or the first II months OF 1910 TO 1884, I
1000. gallons for the corresponding /
leriOd Of 1911; Of napthas from about /
y. 600. 600 10 over 1S0. OOO, 600 gallons; OF /
Illuminating oil from SCI, 100000 TO 1
,025, 100000 gallons; Of lubricating oils /
rom 150,00O,000 to 164 100000 and OF 4
esidium from 100000 to 125, 600, 600 /
gallons.
Activity in Texas OIL.
The oil Industry of Texas made some /
rains in 1911, or at least held its own
With the 1910 production The survey
igures for 1910 are S.S9s, 266 barrels
nd the estimate for the 1911 produc-
ion is 5000. 600 barrels.
Oil prospecting was active in almost
very part Of the state, the effort be-
ng 20 exploit every Well-knOWn sign
Z oil. Exploitation was in progress in
reeves. Shackelford, Midland. Cald- 4
yell, NacOg dOches, Trinity. Duval. Nc
iullen, Webb, Starr, Chambers, UTalde. 1
,usk, Jasper, StOnewal. Kaufman. Pc
os, Wood, Orange, Wilbarger, Wichita,
lay, Montague, Hardin, Hardeman and !
iarion counties and IN many other re-
ions