West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1881-03-16
Unless the Producers Organize fo1
their own Protection, they will
have to fight it out on this
line of Low Prices
all Summer.
VOLCANO, w. VA, March II.

past thirty days the oil market has
been going down hill with hop,
skip and jump, and is still going
the Consolidated, creature of our
own folly-raising or lowering the
standard of prices whenever it suits
their fancy to do so, regardless of
values.
1t is good time now for us to
stop all this foolishness; to elliptic
wings Of the Consolidated, SO that
they may not soar quite so high,
for never in the history Of the re-
gion have we had a better opportu
nifty to protect ourselves and regain
control of our own business than at
the present time, when oil tanks
are empty, production light, and
the demand good. !
TO accomplish this, concert of
action Unnecessary. Being without
organization, we are left at the
mercy of the Consolidated, and they
have no mercy. They do business
on the plan of "might makes right"
and they make money, while we do
business on the plan of "every one
for himself" and we lose money.
Our plan has brought about the
very condition of affairs which
makes the Consolidated master of
the situation.
This region cannot afford to
bushwhack it out on the line of low
prices all Summer. The present
price of $125 per barrel is below the
average cost Of production and to
sell at this rate only means an
accumulation of debts; therefore
prompt measures shouldbe adopted
to avert this calamity. There are
avenues of escape open to us and
we should avail ourselves of them
and try to better our condition., or
hereafter forever hold our peace
about the thumb-screws Of the Con-
solidated. We must take the
thumb-screws away from them or
they will continue to turn them on
until we are squeezed as dry as a
contribution box.
Ii is evident to every producer in
the region that West Va. oils are
worth more to the refner than the
thin, cheap oils Of Pennsylvania,
This fact has been repeatedly and
even recently asserted by the refn-
ers themselves, who, in great meas
ure, depend upon our product for
the manufacture of their lubrica-
ting and high fire test oils. Then
why permit it to be brought into
competition with Pennsylvania oils
when it may easily be prevented by
a combination or consolidation of
the producing interests, and the APP
pointment of an agent to do the
selling. By this method there
would be but one seller of oil as
there is now but one buyer, and a
market price could be maintained
based upon the supply and demand.
Having through our own folly
created the power which Expresses
us, and which has reduced us to the
condition Of working for nothing
and boarding ourselves" let us
now, while opportunities are favor
able for reform, avail ourselves Of
them.
1t is rumored that Mr. Henry
Caskins, Oil Inspector, is to be re
moved from his position here and
sent into the Ohio Oil District as
Inspector of Ohio crude oils Mr.
Caskins has been in the employ OF
the West Va. Transportation Co. as
oil inspector Of West Va. crude oils
since the Berlin Process of inspec-
ton was adopted about year ago,
and during that time he has, by
strict attention TO business and fair
dealing toward all concerned, serv-
ed his employers well and gained
the esteem and confidence Of every
oil producer. No inspector can be
substituted who will fill his place
50 acceptably to the oil-producing
interests, whose desire it is that he
will not be be removed.
Shafer & Jenkins are about fin
ishing a deep well on the w. Va O.
& O. l.. Co.'S tract, on new plan,