Oil Discovery and Its Impact

Arianna Ekbal reports from Spindletop Hill, Texas, on the significant oil discovery by Petillo Higgins and Anthony Lucas. The gusher, the largest ever seen, has transformed Beaumont from a farm town into a potential boomtown. The well produces over 100,000 barrels daily, impacting the U.S. oil market. Historically, oil was first found in Pennsylvania, but Texas is now a major player. Spindletop is expected to drive industrial growth and attract workers, marking a pivotal moment in the oil industry.

Who were the key figures responsible for the oil discovery at Spindletop?

• John D. Rockefeller and Henry Ford

• Petillo Higgins and Anthony F. Lucas

• Andrew Carnegie and J.P. Morgan

• Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla

What was the immediate effect of the oil discovery on Beaumont, Texas?

• It became a major coal mining town.

• It became a center for gold mining.

• It remained a sleepy farm town.

• It transformed into a potential boomtown.

How high did the oil gusher at Spindletop reach?

• 50 feet

• 100 feet

• 150 feet

• 200 feet

What was one of the new uses for oil mentioned in the report?

• To build roads

• To make candles

• To power steam engines

• To replace coal in factories

Where were the first oil wells in the United States located?

• Pennsylvania

• Oklahoma

• Texas

• California

What is the expected impact of the Spindletop oil discovery on local employment?

• Decrease in job opportunities

• No change in employment

• Increase in job opportunities

• Shift from oil to coal jobs