The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-13
MAKING A MILLION.
How Mr. Rockefeller Made 81, 100, 900 In
One Deal with Vanderbilt.
Cleveland Letter in Chicago News

How Mr.. Rockefeller Made 81, 100, 900 In
One Deal with Vanderbilt.
Cleveland Letter in Chicago News.
As the crowd filed down stairs on the clos
ing of the oil exchange, an independent
refiner with speculative tendencies turned
| TO the correspondent and asked: Did you
ever hear how John D. Rockefeller of the
Standard Oil Company, salted William II.
| Vanderbilt to the tune of 81, 100, 000?'
Never"
II don't believe it ever got into the papers.
You can be certain that Vanderbilt never
mentioned it, and Rockefeller never talks
business to anyone. 1t got out among the
| oil men, however, and has caused some talk.
1t came about in this way: Rockefeller will
manage things his own way, and those who
do not care to go it blind and obey orders
might as we'll look out for connec-
It's vast and always widening interests,
must be handled like an army on continual
march through the country of the enemy.
One head must plan and one hand direct.
An order is an order, and, while there can
occasionally be a council of war, all the de
tails and many OF the decisions can come
from one man alone There was a time sew
eral years ago that with popular clamor,
official investigations, trouble in the oil
fields, and the always increasing burdens OF
management, several of the old-timers among
the stockholders felt that the day had come
for holding affairs within their defined limits.
Mr.. Rockefeller did not agree with their con-
clusions and quietly ignored all suggestions
as to how he should conduct the business.
Mr.. Sam Andrews, one of the three founders
of the Standard, knew as much as any one of
the dangers threatening the big monopoly,
and on several occasions expressed his opinion
freely Rockefeller said little but with his
Scotch long-headedness laid his plans for a
move at the proper moment Vanderbilt at
that time held a comparatively small interest
in the Standard, but had secured enough aud
seen enough to make him wish for more.
Rockefeller played the big millionaire win
his usual skill, and secured from him pro-
visional offer covering an amount OF stock
equal to that held by Andrews. The next
time upon which a question of policy came
up between Messrs. Andrews and Rockefeller
the latter suggested that if Andrews was dis
satisfied with his connection he had better
sell out. Get rue a million dollars fer nv
stock said Andrews Immediately, and out [
go!' Mr.. Rockefeller smiled and offered
him 100000 Andrews refused, and after
some figuring they compromised on $500, 600.
Then Rockefeller took that block of stock,
without the addition of one-tenth of a share,
and dumped it onto Vanderbilt for two mill
lion dollars. The difference went into his
own pocket"
Are Vanderbilt and Rockefeller on good
terms?'
"Oh, yes; as such things go. They keep a
sharp eye on each other, however, and
neither would care to get into place where
the other could give him squeeze. Rookie
Teller let Vanderbilt into the Standard be.
cause he wished the inside on railroad trans.
portation. and Vanderbilt went in because
he believed it a good thing. The old Commo~
dore liked Rockefeller immensely, and al
lowed him to make his own terms for tra;,s-
portation between Cleveland and New YORK.
You, of course have heard the story about
the Commodore declaring that Rockefeller
was the only man who could dictate to him,
but don't believe he ever said it,"