The Developing of Power 



the far-reaching effect this discovery v^as to have on the 

 advancement and progress of the civiHzatlon of the human 

 race. Before the discovery and use of crude oil came Into 

 being the entire world was In darkness except for the light 

 furnished by the tallow candle and the lamps that burned 

 animal and vegetable oils. The resources of the country 

 were being rapidly developed. Steam driven, labor-saving 

 machinery was being developed more rapidly than at any 

 time in the history of civilization. Industries were spring- 

 ing up In every part of the settled country. Rail and water 

 transportation furnished a method of transporting products 

 to market. Roads were being constructed and cities and 

 towns were being built. Light and lubrication were the 

 greatest needs of civilization and crude oil now furnished a 

 means of supplying artificial light and of lubricating the 

 wheels of Industry. 



Petroleum, or rock oil. Is composed chiefly of hydro- 

 carbons, and together with natural gas and asphalt it is 

 classed as a bitumen, the oil forming the liquids, the gas 

 the vapors and the asphalt the solid parts. Oil and gas 

 are so closely related that what is said of one practically 

 applies to the other, because liquids may be made from gas 

 and gas may be made from oil. Its discovery In quantities 

 was looked upon as the agency that would furnish light to 

 the darkened world and lubrIx:atIon to the wheels of prog- 

 ress, but its vast potential powers were undreamed of In the 

 beginning of the oil and gas industry. No other resource 

 had done so much to change the habits and customs of the 

 human family and to lift so many burdens from mankind In 

 his struggle for existence and mastery as this has done and 



[115] 



