Norwich bulletin., 1921-07-22
PETROLEUM IMPORTS GROWING
 FROM MEXICO INTO U. S.

Petroleum imports into the United | States in the fiscal year which ends with this month will be nearly twice | that of any earlier year, notwithstand- | ing the enormous production of our | own oil fields. The total quantity of petroleum imported in the fiscal year 1921 into this country, which itself produces two-thirds of the oil of the world: will nearly be 5000, 100000 gal Ions against about 5000, ,000,0 in 1920, approximately 2,00o 100000 in 1919, 115 billion in 1918, and 1,000, ,000,- 900 in 1917.
 The rapid growth of imports of pe- troleum into country which produces more than two-thirds of the mineral oil of the world says a statement by the National City Bank of New York illustrates the growing disposition of world industries an1 commerce to move the natural products to points having best facilities for transforming them nto condition for use of man. Prior to 1912, ths country with production and therefore refining facilities three times as great as that of any country in the world imported less than 10,- 100000 gallons of peroleum per annum from other countries; then, in 1912 with the development of production in Mexico of crude petroleum which an- nually moved to the nearest trade center in which it could be put into marketable condition and thence dis tributed to the consuming world we imported, chiefly from Mexico. 15O.- 000,000 gallons as against an average of 1O,000,ooO gallons a year prior to that time. In 1913 our imports jump ed from 150, GOO, 900 gallons to 500. 000,- = GOO gallons of crrde oil, in 1914 775,- 100000 in 1916 870 0OO, 600, in 1917 they passed the billion mark. and were 1 A billions in 1918, nearly 2,0o0, 900, 900 in 1919, over "A billion gallons in 1920, and in the fiscal year 1921 will approximate "A billion gallons. and l probably touch the 5,o0o, 100000 gallon line by the end of the current call | endar year
 These figures relate to crude oil inn ported, but meantime there has been | proportionate growth in importation
 of the manufactured article, the to- | tai quantity of refined petroleum in 1 all forms imported having grown from | 47,0O0, 900 gallons in 1919 to S2 ,O0O. .OOC
 in 1920. and will approximate I25.-
 100000 gallons in the fiscal year which
 ends with this month Most of this enormous importation comes of course | from Mexico. Of the crude oil available 4,791, 100000 gallons came from Mexi- | coand less than a half million gallon.
 from all other countries.
 Practically all of the oil imported from Mexico comes by tank steamer the quantity imported by rail beinc extremely small. About one third of tho
 crude oil entering the United State. of Galveston, Sabine and New Or.
 two thirds passes through the Gull from Mexico enters at the gulf port. leans, while most of the remaining northward to Baltimore, Philadelphia
 and New York. The latest availabl,
 figures of the importation by port! are those of the calendar year of lsI.
 and show 545, 900 ,O0o, 900 gallons en
 tering at the port of New York. 202.
 000, 900 at Baltimore. 196, o00. 900 a
 Philadelphia, $50 .OOO, 900 at New Or
 leans, and Galveston and Sabine abou ' 20,000,000 gallons each.
 The value of the petroleum import ! ed into the United States in the cur
 rent year will be nearly s1e0 900, 00C l the figures for the fiscal year approx imating sSO.oO0. 900 as against s4i. 900.
 900 in the fiscal year 1920, s29, 900 ,O0
 in 1919, and s22,OooOo0 in 1918.