Oil Capital Birthed From Dreams and Disasters

摘要

Houston grew into the energy capital of the United States, and possibly the world, through more than a century of growth. But its fate as an energy center was seeded in the space of just 125 days, in a story of disaster followed by discovery. Two New York brothers, Augustus Chapman Allen and John Kirby Allen, moved to the Texas region in 1832. When independence-minded "Texians" revolted against Mexico, the pair outfitted a ship to help move supplies and protect the coast. After questions about their operations and rumors of privateering began to circulate, they sold the ship to the Texas Navy - doubling the size of its fleet. Two more schooners were soon added, but by the end of 1837 all of the ships had been lost at sea.