Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1926-12-22

Win llS lnSdIlate ueHldHu lOT luhir
cants, while kerosene. though the best
illuminant ever known, wac danger
Gus because poor refining left gasoline
that was liable to explode. 1t is difb-
cult nowadays, when the world is be-
ing combed for more petroleum TO
make more gasoline, to realize that
gasoline was once a nuisance and
menace. The internal combustion en-
CINE created the demand for gasoline.
now the primary product OF petro-
leum. The demands OF millions of mo-
tor cars increasing constantly, inven-
ton and chemistry were set at work
by the captains of the industry TO
make the barrel OF petroleum turn out
a larger and larger proportion OF gas
oline. Ehis was done by the cracking
process, through which every year now
sees a larger proportion OF crude oil
turned into gasoline.
High and Growing Demands
Today well-nigh 100000 barrels OF
petroleum are required every day to
satisfy the demand for motor cars,
tractors. trucks, buses. artificial gas
plants and the innumerable by-prod-
ucts. Invention is constantly finding
new uses, as enterprise just as con-
stantly finds new supplies OF petro-
leum. The wonderful and rather mys-
terious fluid has revolutionized social
habits and industrial methods; yet II
is only two-thirds OF century since
the industry had its feeble beginning
in the Pennsylvania oil country.
This year the country will use about
$50 600 900 barrels of petroleum. The
country will use 700 100000 gallons OF
gasoline and will export 100000
more. The production, processing and
marketing OF petroleum is probably
second only 10 agriculture among
American Industries.
Roundly, 20 per cent of the worlds
petroleum industry Ia American. Ten
billions OF capital Is invested in It
half the valuation of the national rail.
road system II employs just about
600 900 people The petroleum pipe
line system, gridironing good share
OF the country, aggregates about So
naval warfare by bringing In the oil
burning ship; it is fast revolutionizins
merchant marines in the same fash
ion. Multiplication OF motor cars,
along with the special taxation OF
their gasoline, has made possible the
modern highway system.
A True Social Service
Perhaps the most nearly revolution
ary result of brakes modernization OF
the petroleum industry is to be found
| in the change it has brought In the
life of rural America. II has carried
the city 10 the country, the country
to the city. It has, by making posi-
bic the cheap and quick transporta-
ton that everybody nowadays en-
lows. enabled country and city TO
know and understand each other as
they never did before. II has brought
I social and educational privileges TO
country jewellers that few decades
ago seemed absolutely denied to
them On the one hand II has en-
. abled> the cities to spread out into sub
urban areas and the zone of country
; estates: on the other, IL mas ehapleu
The people Of the open country to have
peighbors, society, church and school
privileges. intimate acquaintance.
, It is a historic fact that the tendon
CIV toward division OF interest ana I'M
derstanding between city and country
is the most serious internal menace 10
) the security of nations, to the integri
) ty Of society.
More than anything else, country
, and city need TO know and understand
!. each other and each others prob
Iems. The easy transportation, thu
|, raaav opportunity for association and
. acquaintance that have come Will
1.-The Age of Petroleum have made pos
s,hle. in this favored country - least
' exactly this new intimacy AND under
E standing