Evening star., 1938-04-27
.U.S.EXTENDSLEAD
IN OIL PRODUCTION
Nation Accounts for 626
Barrels of Every 1000
Over World.
BY J. G. DONLEY.
A DispatCh to The Star

SLeciai Dispatch 10 Inc Star.
NEW YORK. April 27.-The United
States extended its lead over the rest
of the world in petroleum production
last year Out of every 1000 barrels
of petroleum produced in the world
in 1887 this country produced 626
barrels. as compared with 602 barrels
in 1886. according to the latest data
issued by the American Petroleum In
stitute.
Producing nearly two-thirds of the
worlds petroleum. the United States
increased its output last year by 1862
per cent over 1886. while the output
outside this country rose only 81 per
cent.
World production OF petroleum
crossed the 1000. 900, ,00O- barrel mark
for the first time in 1887 setting a
total of 2,040,531, 900 barrels, a gain
of 1873 per cent. Production in the
United States was 1,277,653. 900 bar
rels. Soviet Russia ranked second
among producing countries, but its
output for the entire year was only
1879, ,475,000 barrels, or less than two
months output by American wells.
Venezuela stood third. with reported
production of 1875, ,70l 900 barrels.
Some Show Declines.
A number of countries recorded
marked decreases in petroleum pro-
duction last year. notably Rumania.
Poland, Egypt, France and Italy.
Chief among those countries, outside
the United States. to record material
gains were Venezuela, Iran tPersia),
Netherlands, India. Mexico, Trinidad
and Bahrein Island.
According to the National Indus
trial Conference Board, our petroleum
production showed a decrease of 3.3
per cent in March, as compared with
last December, but output for the first
three months of this year was per
cent higher than for the like period
last year. In the Conference Boards
compilation of business indicators"
only one other item-zinc-was able
to show increased output or con-
sumption in the first quarter Of this
year over last year.
The petroleum industry has put on
better performance than average
over the last few months, largely for
the reason that a mild winter en-
couraged the use of automobiles. Pros
poets are that, despite the depres-
sion, total automobile registration this
year will be at least as large as in
1887. And on that basis Standard
Statistics estimates that gasoline de-
mand for 1888 will run about 5 per
cent larger than last year.
Oil Business Help.
While mild winter weather helped
to keep gasoline consumption at
higher than seasonal level, 1t was
adversely reflected in the demand for
oil burner fuel. At the same time
general business conditions tended to
restrict the consumption Of industrial
fuels and fuels for the railroad and
shipping industries. But the growing
Of oil burners in the home
and the increasingly favorable COM
petitive position of fuel oils in conse-
quence is likely to cushion the decline
in total demand this year.
The most encouraging thing about
the oil industry is that progress in
petroleum chemistry more than keeps
pace with increasing output and de-
mand for petroleum products. Right
now the industry is making rapid
strides and is entering. period dur
ing which by-products of value in the
Of q variety Of synthetic
plastics promise to yield new sources
Of income.
(copyrisht, 1e3s)