The mineral riches of the West were exploited in distinct stages. Before a settled industry could emerge, highly speculative development companies bought out the discoverers, skimmed the cream, and braved the hazards of nature and management. Some, like the Montana Company, flourished for a time, but litigation, depletion, absentee ownership, and high costs made long-term existence almost impossible.

In many instances the recruitment of outstanding business executives for [federal] posts is both unfair to the individual and of no advantage to the executive branch.

On the whole … there is no class of people better equipped for public service than the businessmen.

Like the financial mart from which it derives its name, OVER THE COUNTER is designed for the types of exchanges not handled elsewhere. This feature has its origin in a demand among readers of business history for a place to compare ideas, voice comments on published articles and reviews, and publish research essays. Contributions are invited. The Editor and Advisory Board reserve the right to decide whether, on the basis of general interest, pertinence, and merit, such contributions will be published. OVER THE COUNTER will appear as often as the volume of contributions may dictate.

Like the financial mart from which it derives its name, OVER THE COUNTER is designed for the types of exchanges not handled elsewhere. This feature has its origin in a demand among readers of business history for a place to compare ideas, voice comments on published articles and reviews, and publish research essays. Contributions are invited. The Editor and Advisory Board reserve the right to decide whether, on the basis of general interest, pertinence, and merit, such contributions will be published. OVER THE COUNTER will appear as often as the volume of contributions may dictate.

This bibliography represents an effort to survey and evaluate selected literature dealing with the history of the petroleum industry in the United States. The goal has not been to include everything ever written, but rather, to produce a compact reference work that I hope will be useful to the industry, to students, and to the public.

My research has revealed that only one of the four major phases of this industry has been given anything approaching a full historical treatment. This phase is production.

Like the financial mart from which it derives its name, Over the Counter is designed for the types of exchanges not handled elsewhere. This feature has its origin in a demand among readers of business history for a place to compare ideas, voice comments on published articles and reviews, and publish research essays. Contributions are invited. The Editor and Advisory Board reserve the right to decide whether, on the basis of general interest, pertinence, and merit, such contributions will be published. Over the Counter will appear as often as the volume of contributions may dictate.

This is a Supplement to Studies in Enterprise, published in Boston, Baker Library, Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration, 1957 (169 pp., $4.50). It lists the most significant books and pamphlets published since the Spring of 1957. It also includes a few earlier it books that had previously escaped the compiler's attention, as well as a selection of articles that appeared in historical journals and a few general consumer and trade publications during the year 1958.