Comprehensive in its coverage clearly organized and written and thoroughly researched this book fills a significant hole in the historical literature on Texas oil Joe Pratt Cullen Professor of History and Business University of HoustonAs the twentieth century began oil in Texas was easy to find but the quantities were too small to attract industrial capital and production Then on January 10 1901 the Spindletop gusher blew in Over the next fifty years oil transformed Texas creating a booming economy that built cities attracted out of state workers and companies funded schools and universities and generated wealth that raised the overall standard of living even for blue collar workers No other twentieth century development had a more profound effect upon the state In this book Roger M Olien and Diana Davids Olien chronicle the explosive growth of the Texas oil industry from the first commercial production at Corsicana in the 1890s through the vital role of Texas oil in World War II Using both archival records and oral histories they follow the wildcatters and the gushers as the oil industry spread into almost every region of the state The authors trace the development of many branches of the petroleum industry pipelines refining petrochemicals and natural gas They also explore how overproduction and volatile prices led to increasing regulation and gave broad regulatory powers to the Texas Railroad Commission