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Mail Tribune 100, Nov. 19, 1919 By Alissa Corman Nov 19, 2019 12:00 AM A A The following news items were drawn from the archives of the Mail Tribune 100 years ago. Nov. 19, 1919 OIL IS KING OF WORLD ELEMENTS Altho the history of mineral oil, or petroleum, dates back to the days of Herodotus, the ancient historian, its practical history in America begins with the discovery by Colonel Drake on Oil Creek, Pa., in 1859, since which event the story of petroleum has been as weird and startling as any drawn by the minds of fancy in the Tales of The Arabian Knights. The experiences of “Coal Oil Johnny” which we read with open mouths in our childhood days, show him to be a mere “piker” as compared with the achievements of the millionaires legitimately created thru their ownership of land interests in the oil industry, and but few are aware of the fact that the commercial value of petroleum, and its products, exceed that of any one other of earth’s gifts to mankind. In the grand galaxy of nature petroleum is both the reigning king and queen. And its potency in great events was aptly expressed by the English admiral who said, at the signing of the armistice, “We floated to victory on oil.” The principal surface showings, which prove the existence of petroleum in this district, consist of outcroppings of oil sands and shales, from which petroleum seepages can be found, and which sands and shales upon analysis, yield distinct proportions of petroleum paraffine. Also, at various points, gas has been found issuing from crevices which, upon ignition, has burned several days. MAY ESTABLISH Y. W. C. A. BRANCH CITY OF MEDFORD Miss Janette Smith, field secretary for the Y. W. C. A. for Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana, has been in the city the past week at the request of a number of Medford women talking before the different women’s clubs and church organizations on the possibility of having a Y. W. C. A. in Medford. The general opinion seems to be very strongly in favor of having a Y. W. C. A. here, especially as the plan isnot to try to build a home but to make use of available quarters and reduce the cost to actual running expenses.Girls, young and old, are very enthusiastic over the work that would be possible in a city of this size, especially the school girls who would be eligible to form the Girls Reserve, a branch of the work that appeals mightily with its system of honors, insignia to be worn on the sleeve, dainty pin and numerous other interesting things. The various study clubs and recreation clubs would fill a long felt need and all girls of all ages would enjoy the inspiration for the Y. W. C. A. work. The Y. W. C. A. is a splendid moral influence and by the same token, a good business asset. News from 100 years ago