Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-25
KNAPP STILL SELLING OIL
Ohanute Dealer Continues to Supply Omaha
Gas Company, Says ClGbaugh'
TARBtLL STORY RAISES A QUESTION
u the standard sIasquerRding Under
the Kansan's Name I'm order
to sell 60 Omaha
COncernt

Is the Standard oil company masquerad-
ing as II. n. Knapp in order to sell OIL
to the Omaha Gas company?
Miss Ida M Tarbelrs story in McClures
as to how the Standard Oil company
forced l. n. Knapp of Chanute, Kan,
out Of a profitable business with the Omaha
and Kansas City Gas companies in crude
petroleum Is considerably different from
the statement made by Vice President
Clabaugh of the Omaha Gas company.
The obstacle TO fun and accepted belief
In the reported easy victory OF Standard
OIL, in this instance, lies in the fact that
the Omaha Gas company is still buying
oil from Mr.. Knapp, and Mr. Knapp only
so far as it is aware.
A reporter for The Bee was shown a
bill typewriter on stationery OF the
knapp Tank Line" and dated August 2
1905. Il mentioned the price of a car OF
oil shipped 10 the Omaha Gas company.
How is this bill to be recencied to Miss
TarbclTs statement TO the following effect?
Independence at an expense of $3.50 a car
may mean bankruptcy. Whether II did or
not, Mr.. Knapp felt it was too costly
and in May, 1903, he turned over his crude
oil to the standard, and hencetorth that
concern filled the contracts of the Omaha
and Kansas City gas works: Thus the h,
was freshening the air Of Chanute was
stllled. Mr.. Knapps twenty cars were
sidetracked and in March last, 1905, they
still stood idle at Chanute.
Miss TnrbeIrs story.
The story OF Knapp as related in the
magazine is to the effect that he went
into the Chanute field in 1899 and found
a market for his oil with the Omaha and
Kansas City Gas companies, that until
May, 1902, things went well and the rail-
roads made him fair rates. but that they
then increased the weight as reckoned on
crude oil per gallon. the result amounting
to $3.50 oar in freight rates. This oc-
CURED week after Knapp had made con-
tracts with the Omaha and Kansas City
gas works and for eleven months he had
TO fill his contracts at the disadvantage.
This is what Vice President Clabaugh
says:
THE Omaha Gas company has not had
any dealings with the Standard Oil COM
pany for over five years About that long
ago bids we're received from dealers for
supplying us with crude petroleum. Mr..
Knapp submitted the most satisfactory fig
ures. Ever since then we have bought all
the oil we used from Mr.. Knapp, so far
as we know. Our dealings with him have
been with him personally and there has
been no interruption in his. service He
never complained to us about railroad
rates or intimated that conditions had
made his contract with US valueless to him.
Are They Being BuncOedF
80 far as l have any knowledge we are
still buying our oil from Mr.. l. N Knapp,
not 1. E. Knapp as the Tarbell story has
it. His present contract expires some time
next spring. We use about 100000 gallons
crude petroleum a year. If Mr.. Knapp
turned his contracts over to the Standard
Oil people we certainly don't know any
thing about it."
Miss Tarbell says:
What has the Standard Oil company
to do with this manipulation? One who
knows the history of the Standard oil
company will not ask the question. That
is why its history is useful today. What
happened TO Mr.. Knapp happened to scores
OF Pennsylvania refiners and shippers back
in the '7Os and sos ana left hundreds OF
cars sidetracked as his were"
At the same time it is shown that part
If not all, of the story as given by the
author was taken from court records.
incidentally the Omaha Gas company
would like TO know II the Standard oil
company is masquerading as l. N. Knapp.