Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-03-05
s. hulk,
Old Tar. New Tar Old Tar New Tar.
To Boston. $50 $3.50 SI46 50 "a
To New York l.65 2.S4 ISI 24S

To New York l.65 2.S4 I.Sl 2.4S
The charges to Philadelphia were and are Is
cents barrel lower than to New York. The
building of certain projected competing lines.
will of course solve the problem, and should be
encouraged. But meantime the trade is at the
mercy of the Improvement company" II
should nevertheless be fully understood by the
community what this combination means, how
it works, and what are likely to be the conse-
quences of it. The South Improvement compa-
ny is a union of the interests of the transport
ing railroads and of the refineTs of Cleveland
and Pittsburg. These two cities are IN an adj
vantageous position for supplying the western
market, but not contented with this, they have
laid their plans for supplying the east and the
export trade. But lying further west than the
oil regions, they were compelled to transport
crude OIL TO their rehneries, and thence eastward
over a longer route than the rehneries at the
oil-prOducing regions. They would thus be
placed ordinarily at disadvantage This was
overcome, however, by a discriminating tariff
While the tariff from Titusvle TO Boston was
S1.SO per barrel, the charge from Cleveland,
much greater distance, was only S1.3j. Either
of these charges would yield the railroad com.
panes fair profit Cleveland was enabled to
make good terms by having a choice of routes,
while Iitusylle was dependent upon one road
The complaints from the oil regions were few
notwithstanding the unfair position in which
the district was placed Its great natural ad
Yantages led to a large increase in the refining
business there. This new combination was
therefore resorted to in order to crush out the
refining interest in the producing region. The
plan adopted has been explained. Re-
fined oil from Titusville, must now oay
freight charge of more than two
and half cents gallon, or Sill to S119 a
barrel more than before The refiners of Cleye-
land and Pittsburg GET drawback of more than
dollar barrel--no one knows exactly how
much. The railroad companies get an excel
lent profit on the oil sent eastward from the re-
hneries Of the ring, and they receive eXtortion.
ate rates On all the oil refined in TitusyiIle and
its vicinity. The oil rehneries regulate the sup.
ply and the price, and receive profit which Is
measured only by the rapacity they choose TO
display, The first indication of their dis.
position IN this direction is not one to inspire a
very lively confidence in their generosity, The
advance IN freights was made in a manner per-
iecty regardless Of the rights and interests of
any one not in the ring. Dealers at the east had
| contracted to deliver a certain amount of oil at
| a given price. limitations that an advance was
| impending led them to make unusual efforts TO
| procure the transportation of the oil purchased
| AZ Tue producing points. No cars were forth
comlhgi all were seat to Cleveland, Thea,
| without the notice Of an hour having been civ.
en-, the rates were advanced more iban 90 per
cent, and the contracts TO deliver oil, which
the railroad companies would moi for
ward can only be filled at great
loss, more reckless and unfair adyan.
| sNHN " wy VN'lA WIS never taken. If
the whole scheme were open TO Inspection deal.
ers might know how to act, But they are MT
only at the mercy Of the ring, but they are
worklng wholly in the dark, We wish II miTht
De SAID that the scheme was too vast TO succeed
Inc noldness OF the operators, aud the helpless
condition Of every person Interested in the trode
who is not IN the company, prove the contrary,
The trade Of Boston shares equally with that 81
New York and Philadelphia the burden of this
| arrangement, Assurances had been given thai
In the change Of the tariff we should be put on
an equality with New York, But the promise