Oil Boom After SpindletopOil Boom After Spindletop

VocabularyVocabulary

Boomtown- A town that experiences a major Boomtown- A town that experiences a major increase, or boom, in population due to increase, or boom, in population due to sudden rapid economic growth.sudden rapid economic growth.

Refinery- A plant where raw petroleum is Refinery- A plant where raw petroleum is purified and is made into other products, purified and is made into other products, such as gasoline and kerosenesuch as gasoline and kerosene

Wildcatter- Person who drills wells hoping to Wildcatter- Person who drills wells hoping to find oil in areas not known to have oil.find oil in areas not known to have oil.

Refinery in Houston, TXRefinery in Houston, TX

Problems with BoomtownsProblems with Boomtowns

Towns were turned into crowded noisy Towns were turned into crowded noisy places.places.

Crime, disease, and a lack of drinking water Crime, disease, and a lack of drinking water were major problems.were major problems.

Towns grew so fast there was not enough Towns grew so fast there was not enough time to develop water or sewer systems.time to develop water or sewer systems.

Life in the Oil FieldLife in the Oil Field

Most people worked at least 12 hours a day.Most people worked at least 12 hours a day. Pay was good, but had to work hard or Pay was good, but had to work hard or

would get fired on the spot.would get fired on the spot. Long hours, slick surfaces, escaping gases, Long hours, slick surfaces, escaping gases,

and falling from a derrick were some of the and falling from a derrick were some of the dangers.dangers.

Oil well could be shut down at anytime Oil well could be shut down at anytime leaving workers and their families broke.leaving workers and their families broke.

Humble Oil and Refining CompanyHumble Oil and Refining Company

Later known as ExxonMobil, built the largest Later known as ExxonMobil, built the largest refinery on the Gulf Coast.refinery on the Gulf Coast.

Columbus “Dad” JoinerColumbus “Dad” Joiner

Struck oil in Rusk County and opened the Struck oil in Rusk County and opened the largest oil field in the world at that time, largest oil field in the world at that time, spanning more than 40 miles.spanning more than 40 miles.

Received his nickname because he is Received his nickname because he is considered to be the father of the East TX considered to be the father of the East TX oil field.oil field.

Columbus “Dad” JoinerColumbus “Dad” Joiner

Rusk CountyRusk County

East Texas Oil WellsEast Texas Oil Wells

Within the first year, 1,200 oil fields pumped Within the first year, 1,200 oil fields pumped out 900,000 barrels of oil per day. out 900,000 barrels of oil per day.

The oil fields covered five counties and The oil fields covered five counties and contained about 1/3 of the nation’s oil contained about 1/3 of the nation’s oil reserve. reserve.

Texas Oil Affects the WorldTexas Oil Affects the World

So much oil was pumped that it “flooded” So much oil was pumped that it “flooded” the market.the market.

Texas and the U.S. fell into the Great Texas and the U.S. fell into the Great Depression- a time of low economic activity Depression- a time of low economic activity and high unemploymentand high unemployment

In 1930 oil sold for more than a dollar a In 1930 oil sold for more than a dollar a barrel and by 1931 it sold for 8 cents a barrel and by 1931 it sold for 8 cents a barrel.barrel.

Texas Oil Affects the World cont.Texas Oil Affects the World cont.

Texas and the U.S. set limits on production Texas and the U.S. set limits on production to control prices.to control prices.

The Texas Railroad Commission had the The Texas Railroad Commission had the power to regulate (control) the amount of oil power to regulate (control) the amount of oil that producers could supply.that producers could supply.

Some well owners still produced oil above Some well owners still produced oil above the limit (illegal product over the limit called the limit (illegal product over the limit called hot oil).hot oil).

Petrochemical IndustryPetrochemical Industry

Petrochemical- A chemical made from petroleum Petrochemical- A chemical made from petroleum or natural gas.or natural gas.

In the 1920’s chemists found ways to remove In the 1920’s chemists found ways to remove chemicals from petroleum to make everyday chemicals from petroleum to make everyday household items.household items.

Synthetic rubber- Rubber that comes from Synthetic rubber- Rubber that comes from chemicals rather than from plants.chemicals rather than from plants.

The processes used to separate chemicals from The processes used to separate chemicals from oil created toxic waste.oil created toxic waste.

Toxic waste- Poisonous by-product from chemical Toxic waste- Poisonous by-product from chemical production.production.

Amon G. CarterAmon G. Carter

Oil executive and owner of the Fort Worth Star Oil executive and owner of the Fort Worth Star Telegram newspaper who helped make Fort Worth Telegram newspaper who helped make Fort Worth a major center of aircraft production (American a major center of aircraft production (American Airlines). TCU football stadium named after him Airlines). TCU football stadium named after him also.also.

He established the Amon G. Carter Foundation for He established the Amon G. Carter Foundation for cultural and educational purposes.cultural and educational purposes.

In his will he provided for the building of the Amon In his will he provided for the building of the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth. He specified that Carter Museum in Fort Worth. He specified that the museum would be free and open to all.the museum would be free and open to all.

Amon G. Carter Amon G. Carter (born in Wise County)(born in Wise County)