No auto's.
The high price of oil was due to the shortage of whales.
It was getting to a critical point and the cost of good whale oil was
very expensive.

Whale oil was the primary source of illumination, and lube for the
start of the industrial revolution. All my kin on one side of the
family were oilfield.
My mom and aunt as children flew with H. Hughes in Corpus Christie. He
was selling rides on his plane. Grandpa was developing down hole
perfforators working with nitro for Standard Oil at the time. He was
working for Standard Oil drilling on the island of Cibi in the
phillipines when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He joined up with Marco's
rebels.. then was given a field commission as a 2nd Lt QMC.

Schukyull in PA was the first ever to drill for oil correct?

Joe