The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1926-12-23

MS Aas recently peen aroused ID
tR822I the earliest military adven
lures of George Washington
When barely twenty-one years old, in
I1b5, Washington was sent by Gov
srnor Dinwiddie of Virginia into the
Tar northwestern Wilderness-tha is
northwestern Pennsylvania-to warn
the French that they must cease their
efforts to occupy that region. Recent
researches have given a new histori
cal significance to that expedition.
during which Washington, always
reckless of his personal safety. had
one of his narrow escapes from death
at the hands of treacherous Indian
guide.
The French at that time occupied
Canada and claimed the Mississippi
and Ohio Valleys. Though the fringe
OF English speaking colonies along
the Atlantic contained the chief Euro
pean population, France maintained
sovereignty over most OF North Amer
ica's area. They were apparently de-
fermined to occupy northwestern
pennsylvania, partly because it was
known even then to be rich in petro-
leum.
Regions Wealth Known
Pioneers and missionaries. Eng
uah, French, German and Dutch. had
All reported to their governments
that the petroleum was of great DO
ssntial value. There is, however, no
reason to believe that Washington
knew OF its existence or value until
Ah adventure Of 1853. Then he learn
81 that the oil had long been used by
'ths Indians and the pioneering whites
Tor fuel and light, for medicine and inf
making war paint, Washington was
lG rnneh impressed With it, possibili-
.xsss that he later became owner OF a |
hrge area Of oil-bearing lands. Al
though the petroleum industry in It's
modern form was then undrsamed of,
Washington was 10 sure that a for
tune resided In his oil-beArinE lands
that In his viii he listed them 10 his |
most valuable holdings. In the prop
Arty schedule attached to the will he |
: wrote:
= ~This tract was taken up by Cen
sral Lewis and myself on account OF
the bitnminous spring which 1t con-
tains, Of 20 infammable q nature as
to burn as freely AZ spirits and as
nearly difficult to extinguish."
The viii of Washington
Some historians declare that In an
earlier will Washington dedicated this
burning spring" to the public. At
any rate, it had passed from his own
'ership before his death. He sold this
tract for 100000, but, suspecting it
might revert to his estate under a
mortgage, he warned his heirs that
should it do so 1t would be worth
much more than the 100000.
Although Washington's first knowl-
edge of petroleum was gained within
few miles Of the place where the
first oil well in the world was drilled,
that first we'll was not opened until
one hundred and six years later,
1859. In that year Edwin Laurentine
Drake bored the first well, just south
of Titusville, Pennsylvania, and really
started the modern petroleum indus
try.
A Development Wonder
Today the American industry is the
major part of the worlds oil business.
Americans are directing oil develop
ments all over the world. It is all
part of the huge problem: to make
sure that the tomorrows shall see
Americas requirements met. Every
decade the production of petroleum
has doubled Science and techni-
al progress have. met all demands
Foreign investment and development
are In the nature of insurance for the
1uture.
In the days Of Drake and tho indus
&y's beginnings petroleum's value lay
- lubricants and kerosene. The age