Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-07-06
Company controlled not alone the pro-
duct in the oil fields, but included every

hennerleS had sprung up IN the
meantime, in order to transform the
crude oil into condition fit to enter
into home uses. But the retiners could
do nothing without the product, and in
their very incipiency they found them
selves crippled and at the absolute
mercy of the Standard Oil Company.
This was Rockfeller's opportunity. E.e
foresaw when he started his great
scheme precisely what the result
would oe. The refiners for time
were indignant, and positively refused
to enter into any combination, threat
ening to purchase property in the oil
regions, to work their own oil wells,
and thus secure the crude oil with
which to set the wheels of their refiner-
les in motion; but when they attempt
ed to do this they found that the rail-
roads, which were essential to convey
the fluid from the producing regions to
tide water, had already given the Stand
ard oil monopoly exclusive rates and
absolute carrying facilities, and only
through the medium of this vast mo-
nopoly could the refiners secure the
raw product. Here began one OF the
most oppressive monopolies that has
ever disgraced civilized community.
In the hands of few men to-day,
every one of whom counts his wealth by
tens of millions, the vast product Of
the oil fields is vested. The Standard
Oil Company not alone controls the
product, but it absolutely owns the
miles upon miles of pipes which con-
vey the oil to the various points at tide
water; it owns the tanks into which
the oil is emptied; it owns the f1at-cars
upon which the tanks are loaded !;
it owns the refineries into which the
crude oil enters; it dictates the price
at which the refined oil shall be sold to
the middle-men and general dealers; it
absolutely forces the corner grocery
man to stand by certain scheduled
price by which he must deal the oil by
the pint, quart or gallon to the ordina-
ry consumer; and last, but not least, it
it CONTROLS thc millions of gallons of
oil which leave these shores and enter
| into and become a part of the vast
American export system. 1t Is said by
those who are familiar with facts, that
as at present organized, the Standard
Oil company, with its cheap methods
Of production, with its special railroad
rates as affected by drawbacks and
other extraordinary privileges, and its
use of manufacture, can produce the
refined product, in barrels ready for
shipment or home use, at ten cents a
gallon, leaving a splendid marginal
profit, and yet the masses are COMPEL
ed to pay twenty-five cents gallon for
every drop of oil that reaches the legal
test. The total product last year con-
trolled by this Standard oil monopoly
was 900 900, 900 gallons, of an aggregate
value of between sixty and seventy
millions of dollars, and yet this COM
pany, which controls the entire output
and dictates the plice which refiners
shall charge and consumers must pay,
has only an original capital Invested
of SO, 500'000. Efforts have been
made from time to time by
reputable men in the trade to
reduce the price of oil to consumes,
by starting independent companies,
but they have failed, simply because
they have either been bought OFT or
choked off. One of the most danger
Gus elements in connection with the
Standard Oil company, is the class of
men who are interested in it. 1t en-
braces among its stock holders state
legislators, railroad officials, and even
Judges on the bench have soiled the er-
mine in the speculation of this COM
pany, and have draggled their sacred
robes in the greasy products of she oil
fields. Efforts have been made also to
bring this monopoly to terms by forcing
it to pay its legitimate taxation. Suits
were begun in Pennsylvania, and this
company was able for years to stave of
results. 1t stffied legislative inquiries.
It shut down the gates on national leg
islation. 1t hedged the lines of the jul
dietary by its potent but dangerous
methods of open and notorious brides
and corruption.
So far has Rockefeller usurped tie
functions of transportation mpanies,
Legislators, judges and congressman,
that to-day there is not railroad COM
pany which is dependent to any extent
upon the oil traffic for its revenue, that
he is not its king. The late Commo-
dore Vanderbilt was once approached
for relief from the grinding exactions
Of this company, and for the first time
| in his career the commodore was non
plused, and turning to his interrogation
he said with great force, coupled with
his usually severe explosives;
81 am powerless to aid you, and |
am free to admit that Rockefeller is
the only man in the world who can die
tate to me-"
What sorry spectacle is here pre-
scented? One man, who by vir'ue of
his office as president of the standard
oil company, can walk into the office
of the president of the great
railway corporation which trav'
erses the Empire State from sea shore
to lakes can dictate to him how he
shall run his road, what freight rates he
| shall give, and who shall have the priv
iIeges in connection with the produc-
ton OF one of the most important
traffics Of everyday life. The poor
man must have oil to burn it is az es-
septisl to the comfort of his home as
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