The Exhibit
of the
Standard Oil Company
of New York
Pan-American Exposition

This exhibit is arranged to show the resources of the United States in petroleum, the conditions in which petroleum is found, the methods of producing it, transporting, refining and the various uses to which its products are applied. GEOLOGY: The exhibit properly begins with a model exhibited at the back of the exhibit showing the manner in which oil is found in Western Pennsylvania. A geological section is shown extending from Oil City to McDonald, Pennsylvania. In it the positions of all the oil sands are shown and glass tubes filled with crude oils indicate the depth at which oil is obtained in the different localities. It is seen that the oil is found in several different layers of sandstone. These sandstones occur here and there in the Devonian shales which make up this region. Many authorities believe that petroleum was formed from vegetable life which once existed in the shales. Others think that petroleum originated far below and filtered slowly upward through the shales, and lodged in various sands where it is found. This latter idea accounts very completely for the great differences in color and specific gravity between the different crude oils, according as they were more or less thoroughly filtered. Adjoining this case is a collection of the oil-bearing sandstones and limestones. They show from what dense, close-grained rock petroleum is obtained. The amount obtained from an inch cube is also shown. Most of these pieces of oil-bearing rocks have been thrown out of wells when "shooting" them with nitro-glycerine. The violent explosion in "shooting " a well with 160 quarts of nitro-glycerine is shown in the decorative frieze around the exhibit. This frieze shows Oil City at the back of the room, next a characteristic producing oil field; then the methods of transporting crude oil by tank cars, pipe lines, etc., then the methods of refining, and finally the distribution of the finished products by tank steamers. An interesting painting over the geological section depicts the discovery of petroleum by white men 400 years ago. The story relates that some wandering priests who visited the upper waters of the Allegheny River were told by Indians that if they went down the river they would see a tribe who, in their religious rites, set fire to the river. Guided by the Indians, they visited the mouth of Oil Creek and observed the weird spectacle of Indians dancing with flaming torches. With these they occasionally set fire to the oil which came up from springs in the neighborhood. The right side of the picture shows an oil fire of the present time CRUDE OILS: The case in the entrance to the exhibit contains the various important crude oils of present interest. There are also several bottles placed where the visitor may inspect them. Note the differences in odor, etc. In the adjoining room is an additional collection of crude oils from all parts of the world. REFINING: The center case of the exhibit shows the successive steps in the manufacture of the various products from a jar of 10 gallons of crude petroleum from Pennsylvania. The quantity of each substance obtained is shown, from gasoline to the final coke. The first shelf below the central bottle of crude oil shows the amount of each unrefined distillate: 1st, gasoline; 2d, benzine ; 3d, " Water white" distillate; 4th, "Prime white" distillate; 5th, "Standard white" distillate, and 6th, the quantity of residuum of tar left in the still. Underneath are the products obtained by refining each of these distillates and also the products obtained by distilling the residuum, that is, fuel oil, lubricating oil, " roofers' wax," or wax tailings, and finally, the quantity of coke left in the retort. The further treatment of the lubricating oil is also shown, together with the quantity of paraffine wax pressed from it. REFINED OILS: The first alcove to the right of the entrance illustrates the great variety of "Water-White" oils necessary for the lamp trade. The wonderful perfection of the refining processes of the Standard Oil Company is well shown by these oils. They are made from any grade of Pennsylvania crudes, or from the sulphur oils of Ohio or Indiana. They are of exactly the same standard, no matter from what source. The next alcove shows the "Prime White" lamp oils which, though sold at low prices, are made to conform with the inspection laws of various states. The third alcove on the right is devoted to lamp oils for special uses. LUBRICATING OILS: The left side of the exhibit is devoted to lubricating oils. The first alcove shows oils for lubricating engines and general machinery. The second alcove is devoted to oils for spindles and spinning machinery. These oils are preferred, especially as they are not liable to spontaneous combustion. The next alcove contains wool oils of all grades. This is followed by an alcove of cylinder oils and cylinder stocks. PARAFFINE WAX: A special room contains the varieties of paraffine wax obtained from petroleum, and the plain and ornate candles made from it. These include common miners' candles, composite candles, coach candles, and a great variety of decorated candles, from Christmas and birthday candles to the highly ornamental and hand-painted candles. The various other important uses to which paraffine is put are shown by statues cast in paraffine, blocks of paraffine for domestic trade, to be used in sealing jelly glasses, and for an infinite number of other uses, such as flowers coated with paraffine, etc. VASELINE: A large case is devoted especially to showing the variety of products made from this useful substance, which include more than 35 preparations. The largest collection which has ever been made of the individual hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum from different parts of the world has been included in the exhibit. LITERATURE: An album of large photographs illustrates all the features of the industry which could not be exhibited otherwise. The process of shooting a well, the pipe line systems, the methods of drilling, and the various industries, such as the manufacture of glue, barrel factories, relining plants, and methods of transportation, are shown. Visitors are also liberally supplied with pamphlets giving the world's petroleum statistics. A map recently published by the U. S. Geological Survey is also distributed. It shows the petroleum and natural gas fields of the United States. Pamphlets describing the exhibit are also given to visitors, who will always find someone in charge of the exhibit to explain any feature and to give all possible information concerning petroleum and its products. It should be noted that the exhibit is lighted by kerosene burned under such conditions as to give from each lamp illumination much greater than will be obtained from any electric arc of ordinary power.

The above represents the complete text of a booklet so titled. Accompanying photos can be viewd in the section below, "Interior Photos."
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