The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-09-14

ers, Copper Mines and Banks.
The Standard Oil company was or
ganized IN 1870 with capital of ST.
100000. 1t has just distributed quar-
terly dividend in cash and scrip CT
$23,O00,000. But even If we admit
that the last dividend is exceptional
the actual returns for nine months
show that the Standard OIL profits
for the current fiscal year can hardly
fall below $6O,O0O,O0O. There was a
dividend three months ago of $1O,OOO,-
600 and one three months before that
of $s,OOO,OOO.
The United States government was
organized under the constitution in
179S Its total gross income-not prof
its-was less than $52OOO,OOO as late
as 1862, when 1t was 70 years old. The
net profits of the Standard Oil COM
pany are greater now than the gross
income of the United States govern
ment was at more than twice its age.
In the four years 1896, 1897, 1898
and 1899 the profits of the Standard
Oil company amounted to $127, OOO,-
600. In the same four years the in
come of the United States govern
ment ran behind its expenses to the
amount Of ,$17O,414,3 O7.27. Is not Mr..
Rockefeller already "biger man"
than old Uncle Sam?
The Standard Oil company, which
30 years ago was worth $1,OOO.OOO
at the outside, is worth now, on the
basis Of the market quotations, about
$55,0OO,000, an increase of $1,000 per
cent. AS an income producing prop
erty 1t is worth twice that.
In the same length Of time the aggre-
cote wealth of the United States has
increased from $50, O6s, 51s,5 O7 to about
100000, 100000 or about 23O per cent.
How long will it take for $4,000 per
cent to overtake 23O per cent? Work
out the problem and you will know
how soon Mr.. Rockefeller and his part
ners will own the United States.
You will not put the date quite early
enough. however, for these figures do
not show the full extent Of the growth
of the Rockefeller monopoly. In the
first place, the Standard Oil company Is
making money faster than 1t ever did
before. 1t lis going ahead with acceler-
ated velocity. In the next place, the oil
business is altogether too small to fur
nish opportunities for the investment
of all the wealth that is pouring in
upon the magnates of the Rockefeller
group. They are reaching out for the
control of every branch Of industry.
They employ $4,000 men in Standard
OIL alone larger army than the Unit
ed States had before the war with
Spain-but that is only detail.
They own the greatest iron mines in
the world, carry their ore to the lakes
on their own railroad, and thence to
market on their own steamers. They
have enormous fleets Of freighters on
lakes and ocean. They are heavily In
terested in the great passenger ships of
the International Navigation company.
They come rear to controlling the cop
per supply of the world. They own
coal mines, railroads and gas works all
over the country. They have a share
in the new salt trust. They have I'M
mense interests in street railroads
They are building up colossal banks
and controlling the money supply.
With from $50. 100000 to- 500, DOC, 600
to invest every year in income produc-
Ing property which makes the revenue
still larger the next year, what can
keep the Standard Oil company from
owning the United States? Nothing
but another trust too rich to be bought
and too strong to be crushed or legisla-
ton to keep the concentration of
wealth within bounds. There are no
indications of the appearance of the
former antidote, and the people will
have to get to work without much
more delay If they wish to be in time
for the latter.
People MAKE sF0vu.
The sugar trust Is taking 1t out" Of
the people now SO that when the flyers
Of campaign fat" shall call upon 1t to
yield some Of It's accumulated richness