San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-21
A WONDERFUL LAND

Whenever an American is heard dis
cussing some Of the fancied superior at
tributes of another country. one is moved
to wonder whether he really knows hi:
own land. Few of us realize what ;
wonderful country America IS. not only
politically. but in those necessary re
sources without which, no country car
be truly great.
From the earliest days Of settlement
down until the present, kind Providence
seems to have paved the way for Amer
lea, in natural resources. The early set
tiers despite many hardships, found a
land teeming with game, great virgin for
ests, fertile plains and mighty rivers. No
sooner did they develop and begin to
utilize these resources than coal. gold
silver. copper, iron and various other min
eral products were found.
Last, but by no means least, came the
development of the greatest petroleum
fields in the world. with indications that
this country has still vast supply Of this
all-important fuel vet to be discovered.
Data just compiled shows that a total
of 60S,059 wells have been drilled in the
oil fields of the United States since the
early development in PENNSYLVANIA where
the American oil industry had its begin
ming In 1859, the entire petroleum out
put for this country was little more than
1000 barrels. It sold for about $50. 900,
which was fairly large sum then. To-
day, the annual OUTPUT of petroleum runs
around 500,000,000 barrels with a total
market value of many millions Of dollars,
impossible to estimate because Of its by
products which are more than $50 in MINI
Der. There are refineries in the United
States that manufacture more than 100
products from each barrel of oil. although
most refineries turn out only about half
a dozen products of which gasoline is the
most valuable.
Oil is being produced in eighteen states
and of them all, Texas ranks first not
only in the number and scope Of her
fields but in potential oil producing terri
tory. In 1922, Texas ranked third in COM
pletion of new wells and in output Of
crude, Oklahoma being first and Cali
fornia second. However the difference in
figures was slight, all three states being
immensely wealthy in their oil indus
tries. There were about $500 new wells
drilling in Texas last year and several
new fields discovered, materially affect
ing the price of oil. The production of
oil in the United States last year broke
all records, exceeding the next highest
figure by more than 85,0O0,0O0 barrels.
Aside from all other factors in the life
of the United States oil occupies a place
vital to Our supremacy at home and
abroad. OF the millions Of motor cars
in the world, more than three-fourths
are owned here. Few people know that
one OF the chief consumers Of gasoline.
aside from the motorist who rides for
pleasure, is the American farmer with
the tractor, truck and gasoline engine for
farm work.
There is no disputing the fact that one
of the things that put this nation in the
forefront of all the nations of the world
was our prodigal supply of crude oil and
one of the greatest handicaps of Our near
est rival, the British Empire has been
inability to develop a sufficient supply of
crude oil within commercial access OF its
industries and naval wards.
Truly a wonderful land, in most other
respects, the United States is one of the
wonders of the world when we consider
our petroleum possibilities. The millions
and millions of dollars that are invested
in this industry alone, outrival the total
national assets of numerous other coun-
tries. And when we consider that more
than one-half of all the crude oil in the
United States comes from the southwest
Texas, Oklahoma, California. Louisiana
and Arkansas, we have slight insight
into the future possibilities of this area
where the oil resources untouched. prob
ably rival those in process of develop
ment at this time.