El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-08-04

. 10 get oil from the earth and how oil
fields we're discovered not only in the
United States. but all over the world.
They VIII tell Of the growth and
value OF the product. and how for al
most 100 years il lighted the world
7 and ran the most OF its machinery.
/ They viii show how up TO 1917 the
I enormous amount Of 5000. 600. 600 or
I-u0o 600. 900 barrels had been taken
out Of the earth, and how about two
thirds Of this quantity came from
the rocky bowels OF the United States.
Then they will relate how the fluid
gradually diminished. and how. about
1870, the supply OF the United States
was practically gone. They will de-
scribe the decline in other parts Of
the world and show that by 1853. Just
100 years after Col. r. L. Drake drove
his first well in Pennsylvania. the
world had used up its oil supply and
had TO 90 TO other sources for the
vast number Of products which now
come from petroleum
But all this is conjecture. Truth
may lie in the bottom OF a we'll, but
IL viii take the oil wells Of the fu-
ture TO show whether this is the truth
or not Let US get down 10 the brass
tacks OF the present
Port Arthur the sspIEot.y
Let US take an automobile and
drive around Port Arthur and see
what the United States is actually do
ing in developing and protecting its
great oil supply I have called this
place the oil spigOt Of the southwest
Situated on Sabine lake. with a wide
and deep channel 80 miles long lead
ing into the Gulf Of Mexico, IL is the
chief refining and shipping point OF
the petroleum which comes from the
oil fields Of Texas. Louisiana Okla
homa and Kansas Into its tank
farms pour the olea Einous rivers from
a thousand oil wells and from 10 20
out kerosene. gasoline and lubricatin-
oils by the millions OF barrels. The
oil flows in through lines Of iron
pipes eight inches in. diameter. and 10
goes out in long trains OF tank cars
and in tank steamers some Of which
carry 10000 barrels AT one load
The place has two great refineries.
and as 7 write thIs a dozen large
tsnkers lie at their wharves. One Of
those being loaded by the Gulf Re-
filming company is the Maumee. be
longing TO the United States navy. IL
Is technically known as collier. hut
its business Is to carry fuel and othe-
oil to our battleships and cruisers
The boat is manned fore and aft with
guns TO protect il from submarines.
and il has the most powerful engines
known to naval construction.
Among the other vessels taking on
oil are British tankers, which viii
carry their supply across the Atlantic
TO Europe. and there are American
ships ready 10 sail The two great
refiueries here. the Gulf company and
the Texas company, have their own
fleets Of tankers. and both are build
ing new vessels for this time of war
The Gulf Refining company Will
launch one Of 10000 tons before the
close OF the year and it has others Of
five and seven thousand tons each
that viii be ready next winter The
Texas company has several new yes-
have half dozen more before 1918.
Altogether. since the commence
ment Of the war in Europe orders
have been placed with American ship
builders for more than 100 new oil
tankars. and Of this number q bout
80 have been launched and 81 are
scheduled for completion this year.
These ships are being built by the
different oil companies OF the United
States. and are. i'm addition. 10 the
fleets already i'm use We have now
larger oil fleet than that Of any
other government. and great stream
Of gasoline, fuel oil and lubricants Is
now moving this way and that as *
lodges the submarines in its course
across the Atlantic.
Closely Guarded BY Troops.
The loading Of these taukers is
guarded and the two great refiueries
are surrounded by soldiers and
watchmen. Each has a high fence OF
barbed wire about ii. and strangers
refusing TO halt or obey the directions
of the guards are in danger OF death.
The employees Of the works are
handled with military precision Many
OF them have their homes near the
works. and each refinery may be
looked upon as an important camp F..
in our new Industrial army.
Similar activity is going on at al ]
the oil centers. and the works should ]
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