March 4, 2008
Believe it or not, the first oil well in America was not profitable because of the automobile. In 1859, whale oil had become expensive because of the hunting and near-extinction of whales. Whale oil was used for many purposes including wheel lubrication and for fuel for the illumination of lanterns. These factors caused fuel to become quite expensive and therefore, harder to obtain.
It didn't take long before the American demand for oil became greater than this country's production. Importation of oil has not subsided since.
Return to Delbridge.net
Updated March 4, 2008
Please send me mail.
But, in that same year, because it was learned that kerosene formed from shale oil made a great substitute for whale oil as fuel for lanterns, Edwin Drake was hired by some financiers to find oil in the promising area of Titusville, Pennsylvania. Drake, acting upon William Smith's advice, struck oil.
It didn't take long before oil drilling sprouted not only accross Pennsylvania, but, accros the nation. These cheap petroleum products became the primary fuel source of lanterns at a time before Edison became famous. Many speculators became rich in this new fuel industry. John D. Rockefeller was no exception, perfecting not only the drilling aspect, but also the refining and the tranporting of the oil.
Just think what would've happened to the whales had the Titusville, Pennsylvania well not shown the resources available from a little drilling. The invention of the automobiles surely would have wiped the remaining numbers of Earth's largest mammals.
Return to Pondered Thoughts Home Page
