New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-19


by Mr. Rockefeller:
that you have mentioned with your associates :
Ave continued until the early part OF 'he
Via change took place at that time 1,- A.
TIE dissolution of the copartnership OF Andrews 5
eNSnd what succeeded? Al bought t TIE
business arm which we then organized
oLHsd YOU any other associates when you
organized that firm than yourself end MI t an
drews? A--None at that time in ms rehneTN
o&Betxeen the time that you started. whether
when you organized the firm of Rockefeller &
fThe capacity Of your refinery? A--Yes we had
steadily increased the business and the capacity
-of the refinery.
This firm continued for about two years, but
there vas a change in 1866 when the firm Of
William Rockefeller & Co. was organized, and
Mr. Rockefeller said that this company built a
refinery adjoining the one Of Rockefeller &
Andrews in 1865. The next change was the or
sanizstion of Rockefeller Co, 70 take hold of
The New York export business. But he made il
clear after while that the three companies
were composed OF three men-himself, his
brother William ard Mr.. Andrews. The de-
termination TO make enterprise. with economy.
the guiding principle came out in the elucida
5sior OF the organization OF the New York COM
oany-
YORK business A~William Rockefeller removed
10 New York. took up his residence there
40 5eTeiop Fhe n ssIe Of oil from that point and
20 for our business the expenses Of the COM
business to reduce if possible. 10 the minimum %
's ne isls t c. ne o the rra1gafidn of that
firm ir 1885 and at that time there the three
wben vas the next change A-The next change
sook place in the year 1857 one year after the or
Rockefeler & CO and Rockefeller & Co. of New
Q.-Hnst vas that change in 1857 Al the prop
s~rties % Rockefeile- & Andrews William Roeke-
EetheT. taken over by the firm Of Rockefeller An
Q-was NJ F1ag3er an addition to your orgsni-
fzaiirl ~ that time? A-MT. F7agler man
riread~ or large business experence and valuab BILE
snd large amount OF capital vas then added at
Q.-Theu 81 that time you had The two rehneries
nie- heq pee 9o, 81 fi @isu 1 a. x tIe Toro
s-A-EeS- had the commission business in New
i- M or, a-5 fSe 7nsnS1fsctnrfne was done
hy these NO refineries al Cleveland
The witness after telling Of the advent OF Mr..
T1sgler came TO the time of the organization
scf the Standard Oil Company OF Ohio, when in
ss7o number OF capitalists were interested and
-he incorporation made This company was
declared Illegal by the state courts in 1892.
When organized it had a capital of sl.000,0Oo.
- hich showed 8 growth from the 1850 bust
ness with its $4,000 Of capital. that Mr.. Rookie
teller alluded with twinkle in his eyes
This new company took over all the properties
Of the other companies in Cleveland and New
York City. Mr.. NiIburn then started line Of
questions 10 show that the development Of the
business vas not due to an aggressive policy,
but the natural outcome Of an economical de-
vslopment ending in the mastery of the oil
trade.
Q-W-lsat had been the course Of your business
during those years the time Of the organize
iien Of The Standard on COMPANY OF ono; VIII WE
ne hse stead SD % ss from 6 fsi e Oh
Q-Ti1at s. it had been one o. growth and in
ssse grow sl ta = s 9T increase ana
o-And how was it as 10 the attention that you
r. its sPsc n n9 RTrssfd et H. ssSe
were. Of course: constantly devoting ourselves to
-out n eye-r de e1,ar Of the manufacture
g - contribute 70 its prosperity We had no other
ksfef nor 20 Mr. Mr. F rag Psse- Soo nor ~
Mr.. Rockefeller said that up to 1870 the pro-
fuction OF crude OIL was confined largely
90 Venango County. Penn. This oil was
s.fned in Cleveland, Pittsburg, Philadelphia,
Baltimore. Parkersburg and New York and al
on City UP and down Oil Greek. Reineries
multiplied rapidly: il was q prosperous business.
she witness SAID People turned 10 refining oil
from al sorts OF other occupations But MI
Sockefeier said that his re1nerles were HloueiS-
gssr Andrews had an interest in the business
because OF his practical knowledge Cleveland
Ess the best distributing point. Mr.. Rockefeller
said for the domestic trade. its transportation
ssciIifses by rail and water being especially
good His reliance the Northern rail-
road. however-the Lake Shore. the New York
s1entral the Atlantic e Great Western and the
Aras BY water The canals we're used 10 the
,s5udxon 10 the warehouses. This last route was
a. especial advantage TO the STANDARD Oil Com
-canv because it had the capital to stand the
slower transportation. The ,ompanys refinery
On 1870 was the best and largest in the country.
Then Mr. Milburn came to the innovations in
sroduced owing TO the keen competition.
o-Csn YOU mention any innovations or in-
,srovemen1s In the oil business during these years
that your firm introduced. either in the mode of
Al 90 not know that can give particularly the
successive steps We were steadily Incorporating
Yew ideas and putting them Into practice for the
As 10 one. among Others. that began the manu-
facture OF own barrels by machinery Shall
o-Yee tell Us about that A--The barrels
which used were Of capacity Of about forty
fhese barrels Of the small barrel makers who
bought their slaves from stave dealers here ans
there about the country The barrels that We
secured from them were not 50 good TO hold the
eli The barrels were not always dry
Then came the determination 30 make their
for barrels which were not always good, ami
there vas much trouble and loss in the ship
Inents. BY getting the best Of woods buying the
timber and drying il in the forests and in kns
snd inanufs curing the receptacles the