Answer: By the mid-1900s oil and gas were widely used in space heating, electric power generation, and as transportation fuels. Demand for oil and gas grew rapidly and they each surpassed coal in importance in the mid-1900s. The oil and gas industry enjoyed steady growth in demand for over 50 years.
Explanation: Edison's statement indicated his pleasure upon opening the Pearl Street station. But even he would have had difficulty predicting the consequences of his invention. It stimulated a lighting industry that quickly spread through cities and towns across the country. And it helped establish a need for large central stations, beginning with Niagara Falls. Ironically, since these stations would rely on alternating current for efficient long-distance transmission, they would lead to the abandonment of Edison's direct current systems in most applications.
Over the course of the next half century two especially significant social effects became clear. We gained control over light in homes and offices, independent of the time of day. And the electric light brought networks of wires into homes and offices, making it relatively easy to add appliances and other machines. As reflected by FDR's statement, low cost lighting and nationwide electrification became fundamental parts of twentieth century America.