It says much for the enterprise of the Pearson (Lord Cowdray) interests that they have been able to build up such a remarkable business in Mexico’s oil industry in so comparatively a short space of time. The production of crude oil, as everyone knows, is but the first link in a long chain of commercial oil operations. To-day, the Mexican Eagle Oil Company owns considerably over 250 miles of pipe-line (mostly of 8-inch capacity), possess several miniature railways, and on the fields of production has bulk oil storage accommodation for several million barrels of crude oil. It has also two large refineries--one at Minatitlan and another at Tampico, which together are capable of handling over 5,000 tons (about 35,000 barrels) of crude oil daily, and turning the same into a complete range of high-grade products--motor spirit, illuminating oils, lubricants, fuel oil, paraffin wax, and an asphalt for road-making. An interesting equipment of this Company in Mexico is that of its sea-loading pipe-lines at Tuxpam. Here, the water inside the bar is too shallow to allow the gigantic bulk oil-carriers of the Company’s associated concern--the Eagle Oil Transport Company, Ltd.--to come alongside and load. Pipe-lines have accordingly been laid on the bed of the sea reaching out to a loading terminal a mile and a half out at sea. Here, the pipe-lines are connected with the steamers by means of flexible hose, and three or four tank vessels can be loaded simultaneously from the storage tanks on shore. In one recent twelve months alone over 200 oil tankers were so loaded in this way, and on the average, each was loaded and dispatched within 2½ days, for the pipe-line facilities permit of 10,000 tons of oil being pumped into the vessel’s tanks every 24 hours. [Illustration: INSIDE THE DERRICK OF AN AMERICAN OIL WELL] There are several large amalgamations of capital interested in the development of the Mexican fields--American and English, while, prior to the war, the Germans had anxious eyes upon this growing industry, and even formulated plans whereby German interests would be largely represented in its future. While on the subject of the Mexican fields, might I say that no other oil-producing regions have, in the short space of time during which developments have taken place, exercised such an influence upon the international oil situation as has Mexico. This may be traced to the fact that Mexican oil is an admirable liquid fuel, and as such is now in regular use the world over. The vast consuming centres in the South American Continent have seen that, whereas coal is very dear, it is possible to secure almost unlimited supplies of Mexican fuel oil almost at their own doors, while overseas, consequent upon the advent of the fuel oil age, Mexican fuel oil is playing a most important part, and to-day is in great demand for the mercantile fleet.