Page:Betty Gordon in the Land of Oil.djvu/101



" thought oil was for lamps," said Betty, as she picked her way after her uncle and Bob, "but there aren't enough lamps in the world to use all this oil."

They were walking toward a pumping station still in the distance, and Mr. Gordon waited for her to come up with him.

"Perhaps lamps are the least important factor in the whole big question," he answered earnestly. "Oil is being used more and more for fuel. Oil burners have been perfected for ships. And schools, apartment houses and public buildings are being heated with oil in many cities. And, of course, the demand for gasolene is enormous. I rather think the engine of the train that brought you to Flame City was an oil burner."

"I wish we'd gone and looked, don't you. Bob?" said Betty. "Oh, what a big derrick! How many quarts of oil does that pump in a day, Uncle Dick?"

Mr. Gordon laughed heartily.

"Little Miss Tenderfoot!" he teased. "I Rh