The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-09-26

world must look for extension of known
oil areas. II should be apparent that
II hazards are to be taken. the re-
wards to be secured by the taking Of
such hazards must be attractive 1t is
this adventurous spirit that cannot be
commandeered. and without which we
cannot hope for increased production
When the natural law OF supply and
demand is not intertered with. prices
advance when production IS most sore
ly needed As the incentive increase,
the number Of wild-catters searching
fcr new fields increases likewise, until
their search is rewarded and the re-
sul,ant hound in the rate OF produc
ton forces corresponding decline in
prices Of crude petroleum and its prod
ucts
II so enanced that America entered
the war at time when production was
lagging behind in its race with con
sumption, Added to the governments
numerous problems was that Of guard
ing against any possible abnormal ad-
vance in petroleum prices that might
cmbarrasS our forces in prosecuting
the war. and at the same time OF avoid
ing undue interference with the work
ings Of natural laws lest the search for
new oil lands be stopped. This prob
lem became more acute as prices OF
materials advanced, because even the
producers who were drilling in semi
developed territory found their margia
OF profit steadily dwindling toward
the point Of complete encouragement.
NOil men whose facilities enabled them
to cooperate with the Washington ad-
ministration, and who consequently
have been in position to watch more
closely the trend OF events in the cap
ital have been confident that this
double problem would be solved salts
factorily in course OF time. This CON
fidence was based in part on their be-
lief that no definite program of action
would be adopted without careful con
sideration OF the conditions affecting
the petroleum industry, and in part on
the fact that oil companies have proved
to be probably the most efficient aides
of the quartermsster's department The
duty OF the miner is ended when the
iron ore is raised from the mine. The
steel manufacturers service is per,
formed when he delivers his completed
order to a railroad. The gun -makeI
need not worry about the source OF ma
terial wherewith to fill his contract
nor need he be concerned as to how
when or by whom the guns will be de-
livercd to the field commander. Hi.
duty is merely to manufacture. The OF
mans duty is to produce, to transport
TO manufacture and to deliver, whetheI
the product is needed in the interior
on the coast or overseas.
But while il is obvious that the gov
ernments war needs must be para
mount the fact should not be over
looked that, as the nation is made III
of individuals and is not thing apart
so must there be an intimate rela
tionship between private needs ant
public interest. Railroads need petro
leum, some for motive power, all TO
| fabrication in the mine, the factor
and the shop its products are prac
tically indispensable; the petroleum in
dustry serves the government not onl
directly, but also through all other in
dustries working together for the com
mon cause. One OF the important wa
measures, therefore, is to encourage pc
troleum production. so that these indus
tries may not be handicapped, Rov 9