New-York tribune., 1907-09-29
PIPE LINE UNDER PARK
PAYS CITY NO RENTALS.
May Be Operated Under Franchise
Granted Nezu York Central.

Persons who were interested In the oil busi-
ness way back in the 7Os, before the original
Standard Oil Company was organized "ere
wondering yesterday whether that mysterious
pipe line which cuts across Central Park In Its
run from the Jersey shore to that OF Long Island
is not the same old line which was laid osten-
sibly by the New York Central & Hudson River
Railroad Company in July. 1877. Those persons
were rather surprised at the wonderment occa-
stoned by the disclosure II the government
suit to dissolve the oil company that right be-
meath the chief park OF the city ran pipe line
which was said to be worth IN rentals more tnan
81 600 coo a year to its owners. and yet never
paid the city a cent.
The laying OF tho Centrars pipe line in 1877
did not seem to have caused much worry at that
time. except as to the possible increase IN the
danger to property from fre Beyond this ap-
prehension. the Central seems to have had Httle
difficulty in overcoming opposition to the con-
struction Of the line and. Fire Commissioners
Campbell reported TO the Common Council that
there would be extraordinary risk from the
pipe line that body went to work and gave the
railroad the desired permission. The first the
public heard Of the pipe line was IN July. 1877.
No mention Of rental TO be paid to the city by
the Central was made in the brief entry on the
records OF tho Council which allowed tho rail-
road company TO lay iron pipes in 65th street
fror., Eleventh avenue TO the East River and
across the East River and Blackwelrs Island to
the Long Island shore. Thence the line was TO
connect with the reinerfes Of the Standard OH
Company.
The Central did not seek undue publicity OF It's
desire to lay a pipe line at the time. for two
days after the fact became generally known
that permission to lay the pine line had been
granted II was discovered that the Central had
<or {r,e az work. When the secret
came out II was found that the pipes ran from
the North River through $50 street. up Central
Park West and across the park 10 Second ave-
nue.. whence It detected downtown for a
few blocks before being laid under the Esst
River.
RAILROAD COMPANY FRANK
Ths railroad authorities at tho time said
frankly that il was their purpose to save time
and expense In the transportation OF oil from
West SD street and the North River to the Pratt
rehneries Of the Standard at Hunters Point
An entire day. It was pointed out. was required
to carry the oil in boats around the Battery. but
when the line completed It would take only
three or four hours TO pump the same quantity
of oil through the pipe line.
The Job Of completing the line took about a
fortnight. Through the fve-inch pipe II was
estimated that ten thousand gallons OF Oil could
be pumped every hour At the time the Centrai
laid its line II was rumored that the Erie which
with the Pennsylvania and the Central formed
the great trio Of oil carrying roads, would also
build a pipe line from its terminal at Jersey
City to Hunters Point William c. Whitney.
brother law Of Oliver II. Payne. one OF the
big six" In Standard Oil. was then Corporation
Counsel OF the city.
Some interesting testimony as to the close con-
nection between the Central, the Pennsylvania
and the Erie with the Standard Oil interests
WAS brought out during the last week By Frank
p Kellogg In his Interrogation of Josiah I>om-
bard a member OF the old oil firm Of Lombard
e. Ayres Mr.. Lombard told OF his appeals to
the officials Of the three roads for transporta-
ton Of his oil and how he was turned down In
each instance In the case of the Central he
was fatty told that he not going to be al
lowed TO place that road in Jeopardy by getting
IT involved IN difficulties with its biggest Gus
TONER the Standard Oil Company" II is not
unlikely therefore, that the Central, which was
SO careful to consider the wishes OF the stand
ard in the transportation of oil. may have trans
ferred ownership Of the ''crosstown" pipe line
TO It's biggest customer"
The pipe continued to pump oil across the
East River but did not ohtrude itself on public
attention until about fifteen years ago. when
some loose OIL floating on the waters OF the East
River caused lively blaze that stream.
The presence OF great quantities Of oil mystlned