The New York herald., 1878-09-16
THE OIL MONOPOLY.
Bradford Producers Explain Their
Grievances to the Herald.
INTERESTING FACTS.
Glance at Pipe Line Books and the
Company's Tanks.
m TT Z PIT " PITT
INTERESTING FACTS.
TIL E UsY DRILL.

politicians 10 only necessary TO point TO tho TACT
shat the local satcsmen, aspirants for ONCE, great
and small. focking to these valleys whore they
biandly confer with various leaders, and doubt
encourage strongest electors by the statement that
their side OF the question the which will un.
doubtedly prevail the Legislature OF the State and
Capitol OF the nation Two weeks since Governor
Harranft was IN rtusve overlooking the quo war
ranto proceedings against the United Pipe lines Attor
ney General Gilbert pushing before Judge Taylor
Yesterday General Hoyt the republican candidate Tor
Governor, was in OH City. To morrow (9th inst)
Speaker Sam Randall Will be IN Oil City TO inquire, it
Is sad into the producers gries and the transporta
ton troubles. Why is IL that suddenly SO much IN
terest has been developed by the polti
clans in these good people OF Butler. Clarion,
Allegheny, Venango and Bradford countiesY The
reason is obvious. The railroad question, tn right
OF common to discriminate as between ship
pers is the great political question OF the future and
that legislation Will be shaped in order that the
abuses will be corrected-at least IN measure
there is but little DOUBT. The large number CT oi
producers this busy regIon seem to DC IN oarnes
aud their memorial sent to e Governor is one OF the
strongest papers OF the kind read OF late years
Hearing all sides of the question: then discussed by
men OF all degrees of Intelligence, and knowing the
interest taken by oil producers in tho HERALD reports
your correspondent was not surprised
through the secretary OF the Producers Council
copy OF the following telegraphc despatch:-
BRADFoRD. Sept. 5. 1878.
Please make arran gements for the NEW YORK
HERALD correspondents at Oil City Bradford
WAY: MecULLAGH.
ESskT. ESshT HoHG Roaa'
EVANS.
BRADFORD
In obedience to tho desire of this very respectable
committee of OIL producers / made a trip to the
Northern oil fields, which are about one hundred and
twenty-five miles from the Allegheny River and OIL
Creek districts, and found myself at the close OF the
Journey picturesque, mountainous region. very
similar IN topography to OIL CITY, housewife, Cherry
Run and the lower country, the history OF which in
the old tmes-its rise and iallseems like the phan-
OF n dream. Tho writer counted In oil these
''runs" at Tarport about mile from Bradford, IN
the line OF his less Than hundred
enty-six derricks wells he assured pro-
ducing, in tho aggregate. 10000 barrels Of oil
per day. The difference this region from that
OF all others discovered s in the number OF It's iow
Ing wells. / have already described in the HERALD
the pumping wells, or those OF small production,
pumped by "hoads' three or four times day.
These do not rule, produce over four i've bar
res per diem out the value OF the Bradford district
wells lies in the fact that il gets
q we--and failure to do so Is the exception,
not the rulc-ho gets "howcr," aud the gas
forces tho oil out into tanks without any appica-
tiou OF his steam force He has merely to watch so
much money flowing into his tanks hourly--a very
pleasant process l 90 not 6nd that tho producers
who have flowing wells nd any very grent fault with
the Standard Oh Company, who have, until recently,
been paying per barrel tor crude petroleum. II is
generally the men who nave pumping wells who
demonstrate anybodys satisfaction that tho bus-
ness don't pay.
THE PRODUCERS
sI.a 80 stx~
Producers Council, who found ready and will.
Ing give all the information In their power In
regard to the methods OF ransacpg business of what
they called their naturai enemy" the STANDARD OH
Company l bound TO say also they included in
their conde nation that very respectable body OF
gentlemen known to. compose the United Pipe Lines
Company. Inc meeting between the hEsALD corre.
and the delegation of producers ri Bradford
heid Ia The Office OF the Equitable Pipe Line Com
any--oprosltion 10 tue Uulted-and the writer On
trenched behind n commodiouB desk OF the pany,
took aow the statement OF each complainant winch
Is herewith gwen as faithfully as possioie:--
hr. Boyer id:-"l an an oncor of the opposition
fEQuitable) pipe line. We became corporate body
list OF last February. since our organization
we have laid about iorty-slx mics OF pipe, running
oil from th. Buffalo and Mexican Railroad to Foster
Brook, the extreme eastern portion oil the oil deve
load three miles 20 the junction Of
Mexican, Buffalo and Philadelpha Railroad; thence
Buffalo. and from there We load into canal
boats (Erio Csna) by winch means our oil reaches
New York"
"Wnat arc the grievances your company complain
or" the reporter asKed
~ viii Tell you We we're told whea we started
that when the oil run to tho railroad that cars
would be ut the rack whcn called Tor would
be no delays IN shipment. But found ali sorts of
delays. When complaint was made IL was charged TO
tho bad mt OF the person controlling that
brauch OF business the Mexican hallway; but his
successor dId better Our company finally, dis-
cover so many obstacles thrown IN their Way, IN
stituted quo warranto proceedings before Judge Will
iams, at Smethport, Mexican county. The writ WAS
granted, out by agreement of counsel proceedings
were discontinued aud the railroad threw no further
impodiments IN the mpany's way.
kQUirABLE PIPE LINE TROUBLES
"ln the outset our producers-who Dy the way, con-
troll thus pipe line and maBage equitable business
principcs-had arran gements with New York parties
10 take oil IRON This pine, aud thoy actually nad TO
build the cars themselves and put them on the Buff
1alo Philadelphia Railroad TO take the oil from
the Bradford district to Buffalo Oar line had agreed
with the railroad TO the rate OF freight, out when
the care owned by the outside retners were put ON
tho track the Equitable Pipe line was not ready with
their oil ana the parties sent their TO Olean to be
loaded from the racks OF tns United Pipe lines
"Ine Buffalo, New York and Philadelphia road was
Then nouhed by a. j. Cassatt, of the Pcnnsy vana
Railroad, II the iormor railway oaded tho cars and
hauled them over their road be would Withdraw the
through freight OF the Pennsylvania kniiroad from
.oem. Tbis throat had iis elect and laid
0loan un the Equitabs fipe line ready with tnor
OIL
what explanation can you give, Mr. Boyer, OF such
an extraordinary proeeedingY''
''fners rs only one The oid Empire Transportation
Compan y-PennsyI IvAnia Railr lroad-Lad contrast
with the Buffalo, New York and Philadelphia road by
when all eastward oound OIL should be shipped ovcr
the Pennsylvania Central Railroad"
s'wny 40 mud such howl hore In the region
against the United lines ana complaint about
Equable Is not the explanation that the producers
own your iner"
sNo Il lies rather IN tho fact that havo donc all
wo could TO accom- nodHte customers Al tho
time We Instituted SUIT against the railroad aud found
" Impossible to get cars, IN order 10 make room
our tanks for customers We pumped our oil on the
ground or every barrel OF wbicn, OF course, we hnd
to pay.n
al nave heard II stated you had difficulty In getting
pipe To lay your lines; what are the factsf"
'Just these. AT the commencement OF our opera
lions bought lot OF pipe from the pipe comDina-
tion In Philadelphia 10 be forwarded mere with bill or
lading and draft attached. This was At tho time
agreed TO and deemed satisfactory. When seven cars
loaded with the material IN Pniladelphia the
Equuabie line was notified shipment would not bc
resentatye OF the company was Immediately sent
there, paid The cash and tho pipe was forwarded
think am warranted in saying, from proof We pos
saas inaI Inc sLnnnurh Lnmnanx IlraaIa nnd Inc