The Petroleum Centre daily record. [volume] (Petroleum Center, Pa.) 1868-1873, 1872-03-12
GARROT1NG TRADE.

The combination which has been formed
in the interest of certain railroad capitalists
to control the shipments of petroleum to
Eastern markets, directly concerns the com.
mercs Of this city. As was shown In the
statistics on the subject, which vepublished
yesterday, nearly two thirds Of this great
producs-the::f fourth 10 rank among our ex-
ports-is shipped from New York. The
Southern Improvement Company, the snc-
cessor of the Continental Improvement Com
pany, is possessed of q charter OF practically
unlimited powers, which should never have
beeu conferred upon any corporation by any
Legislature. Under the thin gnise Of as
sisting In the development Of oil refining In
Pittsburgh and Cleveland, this corporation
has simply laid it's hand upon the throat of
t he oil traffic with demand to "siand and
deliver" All the railroads leading out OF
the oil country are in its interest, and have
raised their freight npou oil, summarily,
moro than 81 per barrel, dividing the spoils
pro rata between them. The oil refueries
that buy into the Southern Improvement
Company, and they alone, get drawback
Of 81 upon tbese rates.
1t will bs seen by the record OF ysster.
days proceedings that the latter ale the
only terms upou which this corporation will
make terms With the retiuers in this'city.-
II they yisd, the small ow ners and rsfnaiS
throughout the country will bs ruined
while the big ones 30 into the ring, and the
processes by which the rich become Iicber
and the puur poorer will be brief and de-
cisivs. Throughout the oil region the re-
sult is regarded with the profoundett anx.
isty. Ten thousand small fortunes irembIe
upon this decision.
In Pennsylvania, the favorite device for
meeting the monopoly is combiuai Ion of oil
proaucers to withhold oil from the railroads
on the one hand and direct road or pi pe
10 Buffalo, OF the other. But, to Ls availa.
ble, these must both bs adopted. Let the
producers withhold their oilIever 80 long.
it must go forward at last; ana II none but
existing roads are there, they will take 1t
stter oil. To build new road or
even pipe 10 Buffalo capable Of carrying
all the oil product, wond take four months;
all the Gil producers combined could no,
afford to hold back their pred uct more than
sixty days. And worse than oil, judging
from past experiences, they fear that either
road, ii assisted by railroad capitalists they
builG one, will bu bought out. ~ be fore, by
other roads.
But IT they can, they will; aud not dol.
lars worth of freight will come to New York
II they Can get it 10 The Lake free uf present
railroad couuOl. In all human probability
the great part will go 10 Portland, Me-, or
float out Of the mouth Of tho IS. Lawrruce.
There would not bs time enough to spare.
even IT the ,nece'ssry barges were built to
convey 1t 10 bulk, tor its carriage by the
Erie Canal. Part would 60 down The Ohio
and out OF the N issi'sippi, Aad the trade
that New York and Philadelpbis drive
away will not be easily recalled. Whsn 1t !,
too late, their citizens will wonder why they
neglected to apply the only remedy In thsir
powsr-to call for legislative supervision
over railway frsights to ask the law to
hold back the hands Of the rMfians who are
choking our coDmeree 10 deatb.-[Nsw
\ Y ork Tribune.