Oil Becomes an Industry • Railroads began using oil for fuel in the 1880’s and demand increased. • Most people thought that you could only find oil in the Northeast. • There was only one oil company in the U.S. at the time, Standard Oil. andard Oil Founder John D. Rockefeller
Transcript
Slide 1
Slide 2
Oil Becomes an Industry Railroads began using oil for fuel in
the 1880s and demand increased. Most people thought that you could
only find oil in the Northeast. There was only one oil company in
the U.S. at the time, Standard Oil. Standard Oil Founder John D.
Rockefeller
Slide 3
Spindletop Pattillo Higgins and Anthony Lucas believed there
was oil near Beaumont on Spindletop Hill. Geologists believed that
Texas had little oil. They began drilling in 1899. After many false
starts and failures. Pattillo Higgins Anthony Lucas
Slide 4
In 1901 they hit the largest oil reserve the world had ever
seen. The Gusher of oil shot 100 feet into the air for nine
straight days until it was capped. Oil surrounded the derrick
formed a small lake of oil. Which caught fire but the workers put
it out safely. Gusher!!!!!
Slide 5
Oil Boom The well named Lucas No. 1 produced more than any well
in the world at the time. People began buying and selling land in
East Texas in hopes of finding oil on the land. Soon after,
Spindletop and the surrounding area was covered in Oil
Derricks.
Slide 6
People once again saw an opportunity to make money and flocked
to Texas. This was called an Oil Boom What are some other get rich
opportunities like this we have talked about? The Effects of the
Spindletop Discovery
Slide 7
Land prices soared wherever oil was discovered. Beaumont's
population increased from 10,000 to 50,000 in a few months.
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Over drilling at Spindletop resulted in the drying up of the
well.Over drilling at Spindletop resulted in the drying up of the
well. Just two years after its start the area was only producing
10,000 barrels a day.Just two years after its start the area was
only producing 10,000 barrels a day. (compared to the 100,000 when
it started) (compared to the 100,000 when it started) Spindletop
inspired a state wide search for oil and the creation of 600 oil
companies, including Gulf and Texaco.Spindletop inspired a state
wide search for oil and the creation of 600 oil companies,
including Gulf and Texaco.
Slide 9
The oil boom led to a population growth and economic boom in
Texas. Towns began to spring up in areas where oil had been found.
Crime, disease, and a lack of safe drinking water were just some of
the problems in these new towns. The Rise of Boomtowns
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The Search for Oil Expands Oil fields began to be found all
over Texas, not just in Southeast Texas. Wildcatters were people
who drilled wells hoping to find oil.
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The East Texas Oil Fields The most productive oil fields were
in East Texas. Columbus Dad Joiner made one of the richest
discoveries near Henderson. He produced so much oil the government
had to regulate the amount of oil he could pump out each day. The
East Texas Oil Fields were producing 900,000 barrels a day.
Slide 12
Life in the Oil Patch Life was hard for drillers. Workers had
long hours, Rigs operated 24 hours a day and men had 12 hour
shifts. Falling from a derrick meant death and the gases from the
wells could burn a workers eyes, cause illness, or even death.
Slide 13
But the job was in high demand because it paid well. People
traveled long distances to work in the Texas Oil Fields.