possible near harbors is the watchword of the times! For the nearer oil fields are to the harbors, the more valuable they will be to the owner of the harbor, who will make every effort to get possession of them, exploit them, and conduct the oil through pipe-lines to the wharves where it will be taken as cargo on board tank-steamers; or in the form of a new elixir of life, it will in double-quick time find its way into the fuel compartments of the ships which, up to the present time, wasted days in the unclean and difficult work of coaling. It is quite evident, therefore, that the owner of the oil wells will also control the harbors situated in their neighborhood; for at his pleasure he can limit the sale of the product and dictate the price. Whoever has lawfully acquired title to such an advantageous position will not allow himself to be crowded out, not even by the owner of the harbor. By applying these considerations to the Panama Canal, the existence of large petroleum fields within or near the Canal Zone would be an ideal state of affairs. For instance, the oil would in that case be brought on board ships in need of it while they were passing through the locks. It would, therefore, be a matter of paramount concern to the American Government to own those imaginary oil fields, and any efforts made to that end would be considered as natural and justified. While, however, up to the present time, no petroleum has been discovered on the Isthmus, and the geological formation of the land does not point to its presence there, yet a glance at the accompanying map of oil-fields shows that it has pleased Providence to bless countries neighboring upon the important waterway with that inestimably valuable product of nature. Indeed it seems almost wonderful, when we realize that the hand of the Creator has in this particular case anticipated the creative impulse of the engineer and the inventive spirit of the technical man. This fact becomes even clearer, when we consider the oil production of the world which is shown in the following comparative tables, remembering at the same time that the oil can be pumped through pipe-lines extending over many miles of territory, from its source to the place where it is to be used. WORLD'S PRODUCTION OF CRUDE PETROLEUM, 1905-1909, BY COUNTRIES 1 [Barrels of 42 gallons] WORLD'S PRODUCTION OF CRUDE PETROLEUM, 1908-1912, BY COUNTRIES, IN BARRELS AND METRIC TONS 2 According to these statistics, Mexico as an oil producing country has leaped within the last three years from seventh to third position; and in spite of continuous disturbances going on there, the probable exports of the product in 1913 are estimated to have risen to 24,000,000 barrels (1 barrel about 12 hectoliters). = 1 Reprinted from "The Production of Petroleum in 1909," by David T. Day, U. S.. Geological Survey, p. 113. 2 Ibid., 1912, p. 137. WORLD'S PRODUCTION OF CRUDE PETROLEUM, 1905-1909, BY COUNTRIES 1 [Barrels of 42 gallons] WORLD'S PRODUCTION OF CRUDE PETROLEUM, 1908-1912, BY COUNTRIES, IN BARRELS AND METRIC TONS 2 According to these statistics, Mexico as an oil producing country has leaped within the last three years from seventh to third position; and in spite of continuous disturbances going on there, the probable exports of the product in 1913 are estimated to have risen to 24,000,000 barrels. (1 barrel about 12 hectoliters). 1 = 1 Reprinted from "The Production of Petroleum in 1909," by David T. Day, U. S.. Geological Survey, p. 113. 2 Ibid., 1912, p. 137. |