New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-08

The firm built Up the largest produce business In
the country. In 1850 Mr. Elkins purchased MS
partners interest and continued the business alone
until the discovery Of petroleum in Pennsylvania
n 1852 Mr. Elkins made large investments II
oil company shares and. disposing Of his produce
business. wen, to Western Pennsylvania anu Ina1e
a thorough investigation OF the oil regions Beng
convinced that the supply Of petroleum was pI1C-
ticauy inexhaUstble he returned TO Ph1Iaoeipllla
and became one Of the first 70 engage IN the renh-
ing Of crude oil. He purchased several snnaH re-
dneries. leased the Belmont OIL Works and soon hao
control of the entire local industry OF OIL reIiis
He afterward became largely interested N tne
manufacture OF gas securing interest in num-
Der Of gas works in different parts OF the country
In 1875 he became a partner OF the Standard OlA
Company and six years later disposed OF MS inter
est to the company, retaining some OF us STOCK,
but giving up all active connection Win me OH
business.
Mr.. EIkins then turned his attention to the
street railroads OF Philadelphia, and planned the
organization Of a company which, ~ controlllns
a number OF the best paying roads OF the c4'''
would enable them operate at minimum o. eA
pepse and maze each road serve as FEEDER LOT
the others The result Of his efforts was the Tor
nation Of thu Philadelphia Traction Company and
Ia ter OF the Union Traction Company which con-
trolls and operates many Of the most valuable INES
IN Philadelphia and whose service extends 10 every
party Of the city.
The operators of Nj Elkins were by 10 means
confined TO his own city. but he had extensive in
terests in street railways in New-HoTk. chicago
Pittsblirg and other cities
In company with his friend and partner, ? A 3
vvide2er. Mr. EIklus engaged extensively IN build
ing operations in the northwest part OF PhlladeI-
mia where they purchased large tracts % land
NJ T-7kins was married IN 1858 TO Miss Louisa
T7roou1aI OF Delaware County, Penn, ana they nao
NO sons ana two daughters. Mr.. Elklns rarheo
among PhiladeIphias liberal and PUBLIC spirited
~irizeGs and while a strong Republican, had never
beId public position. except as a commissioner
- -ar,raseut his ,ity the Vienna EXpOSIIou II
~ ard 81 the Paris Exposition n 800. Mr.. FL
~ v-ss trustee and director II many corpora IONS
an5 financial Institutions He was trustee OF the
1.5~aTd estate and director Of the PennSyl a
cIUhs including the Union League
N5r EIkins lived IN fine mouse IN broa1-st-'
where he had q valuable collecuon OF paintings,
representing the best examples OF european ana
American art 80, - -. -,
r6rtaut financial corporations, the chief one OF
v-rir1 was me United Gas Improvement company,
vri+i7 cspi al Z s0O0O0O0 and controlling plants In
eixfv different cities Re was a vestryrnan or
81 PauTs episcopal Church at Ashoourne, where
a had one of the finest private residences IN amer
ia He was a member Of the Historical, Genea-
o~ioaI and Colonial sociot Of Pennsy lvania. He
Us also a member of the FaiTmount Park Art
TI+l6 ~ the Germantown Cricket Club, the Mary
land club OF Baltimore and Of the Manhattan Club
- %aw-YOrk. He had two sons, George w FL
- and William Z. Elkins IT.. and two daugh-
80 IDA Amelia. married TO Sidney +. Tyler. and
i-iesror married 10 George D. Widener. son Of
1fiss Kate Fallon. and George ". Elkins married
81 FrT