The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-13

why not 2 tney asked, amazed.
" 1t isn't safe"
Then they wanted TO know tho reason for
such an assertion seemed 10 them ridiculous.
There were wells up at Pithoc that coined
thousands every week and paid back tho
original investment in day. Hero were men
who camc into tho region with few thousand
dollars. and now they had as many hundred
thousand. Would the oil give out did he
hnk2 Scientific men said that there was
petroleum enough in the earth there to supply
the world for ages.
That isn't it," the gentleman said; but II
isn't safe. because II isn't business. II | could
put my money in Il we'll and sell out and clear
out when got fair percentage. that would do.
But before petroleum producing becomes
systomatized business. regulated in n business
way, there will be plenty Of suffering and gem
eral losses. tell you that new business is
only mustered at the cost Of bitter experience.
In five years time. gentlemen. those who are
now in the business and stay In 1t will, in my
opinion be bchndhand. There's money in it.
and always will be; but somebody Is going to
stop in by and by and take advantage OF your
costly experience. When that time comes I'll
come down here and look around"
Should the Boston gentleman 20 into the oil
country now. Producers would tell him he was
prophet. and that the time Of which he spoke
that night. In the little shanty called hotel. has
come.
But thoy did not believe him then. They
threw out their money as freely rs the oil camo
out OF the ground. Cities were built in day.
Pithole and Petroleum Centre sprung Ike
mushrooms In n pasture. " Why. at Pit
hole have counted many morning. Just at
daylight" said a gentleman. g 1900 farmers
teams waiting TO be loaded with petroleum TO
be- carried To- the nearest railway" Ten thou
sand people got there In day almost; pal
ace hotel' went up In u month. and an opera
| house followed in week. Oil was gushing out
| In great streams. and they couldn't take care OF
| it all.
| city. Pittsburgh's glory ns the western
emporium OF Pennsylvania WIS gone. They
| laid out town lots far down tho valley. and cut
streets in the mountain side. Banks were
| established IN shanties and enormous barracks
went up and were called by high-sounding
| nnmes. after the New York hotels.
| Money! Tho Producers pocketbooks were
princes. Diamonds began TO ,glisten on their
bosoms big rings .cncirclcd their fingers
| and enormous gold chains dangled from their
vests while they ate with their knives just as
| In their humble homes. in Whatever part OF the
country. before they got their few hundreds OF
| savings or borrowed money together and came
been in the oil region since 1861 described It to
the writer; WHY, remomber In 67 :, he said
standing on the street corner In Titusyille
talking with a gentleman a rcflner from New
York. A fellow dashed by driving spanking
span oi bays. You could see his lewclry, ana
venture that the cigar he had In his mouth cost
Who's that 2 said my New York friend
"' That's Ed. P. He used to be machinis
UP In York State. and camo down here with
couple Of thousands. He got two LITTLE i've
barrel wells. and they bring him in sI5 day
| It's turned his head. He pays man $40 "a day
TO look after them, and he's spending tho money
like nabob He's specializing. too. like all the
. He'll go by the board my friend said anC
he did He's in the region now. but he weare I
fQur-year-old overcoat. and smokes hNe-cen
Almost all the Producers who have stayed ii
tho region have had similar or even worse
and left. and there are many who knew enough
TO hold on to what thoy made but the difference
early years and tho despair OF those nov
IN the business IS not less mnrkcd tnnl
A GFfRSs aGS ,RsS 6 Ss'vsH sG TEa4s Rse .os civ
the bustling. feyer-heated city then. there nov
remain Of hrSe s6Sa,ss , WIN wdS 1e9r s me- sa
n barrel OF whiskey. ana the railroad that raj
there from Titusyille is torn up. and grass l
growing over the sleepers.
In their changed condition the Producer
have been looking around for the causes OF thei
troubles. and the cisarest, headed OF them them nay nay
, their own folly the other the standard O
monopoly, and IL hns boen OF thei fooshncs
that the Standard Oil monopoly has tak9n tn
advantage OF them. Just Rs the Boston gentleman
said that men with money ana bruins would DC
With these causes clearly defined. the Producer
arc Just now bracng themselves for hgh
They stand face 10 face with the Standar
with law books and ballots for weapons; and
, these do not bring relief. they say that ther
will come violence.
The Standard Oil combination, with whic
these Producers are Just beginning wha
promises to be the most desperate struggle be
tween producers and capitalists that thi
country has ever seen, ls in splendi
shape for n fight. and the Producers kno'
H. IL represents forty millions OF wealtl
, and the almost absolute control OF the oil refr
, ing interests Of the world. II pays royalty fo
brains and can call TO its aid the best talent /
the country. II controls the great trunk line
and II pays dividends TO ts stockholders, 4
| nearly rs can be estimated. OF million dolla.
q month. perhaps more. II has controlled legi'
, | latOn and Congressional committees haN
bowed to It. II buys 40 900 barrels OF crude Q
, n day and its pipe lines and tank lines TAX
all the crude OH produced TO the various r,
:, nneries and the refined oil to the seaboard. Il
, II simple telegraph desp'tch 1t can throw thol
, | sands OF men out OF employment, and II ca
, draw It's check for tl 100000 in settlement OF
, | suit without the appearance OF disaster II hi
: made all its money in less than ten years. al
| made il in oil.
= With these general statements of the relati'
| positions OF the Producers and the Standal
. | Oil Company. as they now stand drawn up !
battle line the reader Is prepared for the d
tails Of the history that leads up TO this point.