Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-11-19
UiL lhAUL HIOIUhl l
John D. Rockefeller Gives His Version
of Development Of Business.
BEGAN IN SMALL WAY IN 1850
Growth is Due to Economy and
Improvements
WAS ALWAYS ABSOLUTELY FAIR
No Coercion Used in Acquiring Other
Companies.
ALL NEGOTIATIONS WERE SQUARE
standard Stock aud Cash L. Generally
Paid for Business and
Assets of Rival
Companies.

NEW YORK. Nov. 1s--Relating his story
with the air Of a country gentleman OF
kindly mien engaging a host OF friends
with incidents OF days long past John ID.
Rockefeller. president of the Standard oil
company, though for nearly ten years re-
tired from the active cares of company
direction, for over two hours today re-
viewed the history of the early oil trade
and the development of the first companies
that after grew into the present so-called
OIL trust. Mr.. Rockefeller was a witness
for the defense in the suit to dissolve the
Standard, which is being prosecuted by
the United States government and his
appearance at tti. hearing before Judge
Franklin Ferris the referee, brought a
large crowd to the Customs building.
The head of the big oil combine was
surrounded by an imposing circle of coun-
sci and when he began his testimony he
gazed complacently upon a swarm OF news
paper men behind whom pressed close a
throng of people that filled the room. MIR.
Rockefeller appeared at complete ease and
when John G. Mburn of counsel for the
Standard oil company, propounded his
first question, the witness spoke out In
full tones as If he desired the most dis
tant spectator in the chamber to hear
| Then, in a manner that indicated a pleas
ure at what he was about to tell, Mr..
Rockefeller spoke of his start in the oil
| business and how under adverse conditions
! that business grew to the proportions OF
the Standard oil company of Ohio, with its
capitalization of sl,OO0OOO. Mr.. Rockefel-
| ler's eyes sparkled in reflection on that
early financial organization and speaking
of it's 81 600 600 capitalization with almost
boyish enthusiasm, he said:
! at seemed very large to us, who began
with only $4,000 In 1862.
Thus the proceedings lost in a sense their
| official aspect, because of the engaging
manner which Mr.. Rockefeller displayed in
his answers, which now and then contained
flashes of kindly humor. A glow Of health
| showed in Mr. Rockefellers smooth-shavcn
face and to inuuirlng newspaper men he
replied that he had never felt better The
president of the Standard on company was
dressed in a plain business suit of dark
material and across his vest was suspended
a heavy gold watch chain. \ dark purple
necktie, in which a large pearl pm was
set snuggled close to high collar.
| The development of Mr.. Rockefellers
testimony today, which carried him to the
organization OF the Standard OIL company
of Ohio, indicated that one of the lines oi
defense would be that the Standard oil
company is not the result of an aggressive
policy to gain the mastery of the oil trade,
as charged, but the natural outcome OF an
economical development which the eXigen-
cies of the oil industry demanded.
Beginning of OIL Business.
Mr.. Rockefeller had scarcely entered
when his counsel motioned him 30 take
the witness chair The president Of the
Standard oil company gave his testimony
i'm a clear. resonant voice, which could
be heard all over the court room.
g-nn HHul1
name?' asked Mr. Miller.
John d. Rockefeller"
Where do you live?"
"My legal residence is In this city. at
4 West Fifty-fourth street"
What was your first connection in the
oil business?"
About 1850 or 1862. not earlier than
1860, nor later than 1852. I was quite
a young man, much younger than 1 am
now"
In reply to the question as to who were
associated with him in the oil business
) in the beginning he gave the names OF
Morris James and Richard Clark and
Samuel Andrews.
"a co-partnership was formed" said
Mr.. Rockefeller, "known as Andrews,
Clark & Co, which operated at Cleveland.
Ohio"
Mr.. Rockefeller said that the refinery
was a small one and his co -partnershi ip
with Andrews, Clark & Co., continued
until 1855, when IT dissolved. 81 bought
the business and the property, and
organized the firm Of Rockefeller and
Andrews" he said.
Did you continue in the refinery busi-
ness?"
Yes"
did your business increase"
yes" said Mr.. Rockefeller. 1T In
creased steadily"
What developments or change in the
company took place later?'
We'll, in 1866 there was a change. The
firm of VIII am Rocket, Her & Co. The
Rockefeller was William, my brother, and
the company was Rockefeller and An
, drews."
Other Companies Organized.
: Mr.. Rockefeller said the refinery Of this
compGny was In Cleveland, and that after
p wards another company under the name Of
, William Rockefeller &. Co. was organized
in New York. The same firm members
, that composed the Cleveland company
made up the New York company.
Asked what had been the course OF tha
oil business up 10 the time OF the or
, ganzation of the Standard on company
Of Ohio, Mr.. Rockefeller replied:
! we had a steady growth and increase
from the organization of the first firm In
1860 or 1862, until that time"
> Mr.. Rockefeller said that every member
J of the firm devoted his entire time and
; attention to promoting the company's
4 growth and that none of them had any
other business.
Mr.. Rockefeller said the company did
a refining and warehouse business and
. that his brother, William Rockefeller. took
1 up his residence in New York 70 develop
the business here and to save expenses
when did the next change take place ?'
I'm 1867 an the properties OF Rockefeller
and Andrews, William Rockefeller & Co.
: and Rockefeller & Co. were taken over
under the firm name Of Rockefeller. An
! dreWs and Flagler."