102 BULLETIN 102, VOL. 1, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



an unsound basis. The exploration for petroleum is guided by the 

 principle of gambling. The extraction of petroleum is dominated by 

 the principle of robbery.^ The utilization of petroleum is conditioned, 

 in part, by the principle of perversion. Society has put its ban upon 

 these principles as applied to superficial matters. How long before 

 their unsoundness will be recognized in respect to a basic necessity 

 of life ?2 



1 Not rotierp, but the principle of rothery ; competitive extraction of petroleum within 

 single reservoirs Is legalized and In good repute. 



2 The writers desire to acknowledge their indebtedness for valuable Information on pe- 

 troleum to the publications of the U. S. Bureau of Mines and the U. S. Geological Survey, 

 as well as to personal communications from many individuals, including Carl H. Beal. 

 Chester Naramore, John D. Northrop, David T. Day, H. S. Dennison, and E. D. George, 



