Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1906-02-05

ganization. The case of the produc-
ers was then taken to the legislature
The simple story of what had happen
ed was related to the legislature and
published throughout the state. 1t was
then that the sense of fair play, which
is pronounced in Kansas, asserted it.
self. From every quarter of the state
letters and messages and delegations
poured into Topeka to make common
cause for the protection of the great
and promising industry that had just
been developed within the state
against the Standard Oil monopoly
the greatest monopoly in the world
which was attempting to reap the
whole benefit of the discovery and de-
of the Kansas oil field .
The legislature took up the work
fearlessly and intelligently. The lob
byists of the Standard Oil company
found cold reception at Topeka, and
left in the night.
Two laws of great benefit were en-
acted and Immediately went into ef-
fect-the maximum rate law, which
fixed a rate for the transportation Of
to below so cents per barrel in the
Kansas field. During the time the
price of Kansas crude was going down
from $1.16 for North Neodesha to AS
cents, and from 1856 to 6S cents for
South Neodesha, North Lima went
down only from S136 to 81 cents, 1t
has not yet been explained to the sat
isfaction of the Kansas oil producers
why it is that the Standard monopoly,
during the development of the oil field
in Kansas and before the laying of the
pipe line and construction of a refin-
cry at Kansas City in which the pro-
duct of the field could be handled,
could pay the same price as for North
Lima oil, while after the construction
of the refinery and pipe line, Kansac
oil was only worth 6S cents and Lima
81 cents.
at was this discrimination against
the Kansas producer that aroused the
people of the state and brought on the
fight for the protection of their pro-
duct During the heat of the fight
the price of the best Kansas crude
went below so cents, and in many
places, the Standard, as a war meas
ure. refused to take the oil at any
price.
Producers Ire Aroused.
"On January 70, 1905. at Peru,
Kan. an organization was formed,
embracing all the producers of crude
oil within the state, and the anti-dis-
elimination law, general in its pro-
visions, requiring the seller of a COM
modify to sell at the same price,
freight added, throughout the state.
This law was enacted to stop the
practice of the Standard monopoly
from going into a territory that was
being supplied with oil from an inde-
pendent refinery and reducing the
price to such a limit as would result
in driving the Independent refinery
out of the field, and at the same time
raise the price in a community not
reached by the product of an inde-
pendent refinery to an amount suffi-
cient to reimburse the monopoly for
the loss it sustained in driving It's
competitor out of business i'm the COM
peting territory.
Both these laws have been of great
benefit to the people of the state and
to the oil industry. The freight law
unquestionably made the Kansas mar
ket available to Independent refneries
of crude oil. Prior to the passage OF
the maximum freight law. the rate
was II cents per hundred from Hum
boldt to Kansas City, an advance OF
about Z cents per hundred having
gone into effect simultaneously with
the completion of the Standards pipe
line from the Kansas field to Kansas
City Today, refined oil can be ship
ped from Chanute. Kan, to Kansas
City. Kan. a distance of 1913 miles fol
I 1-2 cents per 100 pounds. FrQp
Chanute to Kansas City, Mo, a dis
tance of 1876 miles, the'rate is II cents
per hundred pounds. The INCREASE o.
three miles in distance more than dou
bles the freight rate. The STANDARD
oil monopoly has a refinery on Sugal
creek at Kansas City Mo. and b!
reason of this difference in freigh
rates. has been able to control the re
fined oil trade in Kansas city, Mo.
and its suburbs on the Missouri side o
the line.
"The freight rate from Chanuto
Kan, to Weber Kan, a distance o
254 miles, is 10 10 cents per TO-
pounds. The freight rate from Chan
ute to Superior, Neb.. on the SAM
line of railroad as Weber and dis
tance seven miles further, is 30 cent
per 100 pounds. The increase of sew
en- miles in the distance nearly dou
bles the freight rate There is NJ
change of routing, there is no chang
of cars, there is no change OF roal
1 the crossing of the imaginary In
adds three times to the freight rate.
"The freight rate from Chanute L
/ IIinwa, Kan, a distance of 13l nlia
/ is Q cents per 100 pounds. The freiEh
rate from Chanute to Alva, Okla
/ distance of 199 miles, is 35 cents pc
! 100 pounds. An increase in distanc
of 1S miles nearly quadruples tn
/ freight rate
"The rate on petroleum and the pro
ducts of petroleum from Chanute I
Coolidge, Kan, a distance OF as
miles, is Is cents per 100 pounds TN
rate on petroleum and the produc'
of petroleum to Holly, in the state q
Colorado. distant from Chanute, 40
miles, is so cents per 100 pounds /
this instance, an increase in the dis
Itance OF miles nearly quadruples IN
freight rate, and both rates are owe
the same line of railway.
"The freight rate on refined OIL
tank carloads to Galena, Kan, fror
Cherryvale. Kan, a distance OF
miles. Is t-2 cents per lou pouhu
while the freight rate from Chorry