August 27, 2007

Today In Automotive History

1859 : Oil is found in Pennsylvania

Edwin Drake struck oil at 69 feet near Titusville, Pennsylvania--the world's first successful oil well. This source of crude oil, or petroleum, opened up a new inexpensive source of power and quickly replaced whale oil in lamps. Within a few decades of Drake's discovery, oil drilling was widespread in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and the East Indies. However, it was the development of the automobile that catapulted petroleum into a position of paramount importance, for petroleum is the primary source of gasoline. Asphalt, also derived from petroleum, is used to surface roads and highways.

Posted by Quality Weenie at August 27, 2007 07:29 AM | TrackBack
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