The Mena weekly star., 1908-11-26
MADE 570 MILLIONS.
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER TELLS OF THE STANDARDS PAID
 EARNINGS.
WAS THE PROFITS FOR BUT NINE YEARS
Examination, Insisted That the Bus Iness Is Hazardous One--An- swered Questions Under Protest Of Attorney--Told of Rebates.

New York. Nov. 21.Mr. Rockefel Ter was again on the witness stand when the Standard oil hearing was resumed Friday. His cross-examina- ton was at once begun by Frank B. Kellogg. the special assistant district attorney.
 MT. Kellogg said that the cross-ex. animation would not be confined to the period between 1862 and 1882. con. corning which Mir Rockefeller gave evidence on his direct examination, but would cover also subsequent de velopments which were connected di- rectly with those of the period de scribed by MT. Rockefeller.
 In response to questions about the hazardous nature of the oil business. owing to the possibility of failure of supply, Mir. Rockefeller said that the production of crude oil in the Pennsyi- vania field had steadily increased from 1862 to 1900.
 NIT. Kellogg read figures from an of ficial report showing that the Pennsyl- vania field reached it's highest point of production in 1900 Mir. Rockefeller denied that the supply of crude oil had always been ample, and asserted that 1t had fluctuated, but that the supply Is larger now than when he was actively engaged in business.
 He was asked about the develop ment of oil fields in Ohio and Okla holna, but said that he knew little about them as they had been actively worked since he retired from the busi- ness He described the drilling and production of oil as of the character of mining business. He said 1t was the policy of his company to pay for it's oil al the wells. and that the larger part of the oil 1t refined was pur- chased from the producer
 You have been prosperous since the beginning?" asked Mr Kellogg.
 "Yes"
 Do you consider a business hazard ous that on an original investment of 67 million dollars. paid dividends amounting to 591 million dollars and had lent surplus of 300 million dol lars?"
 T do not consider the amount of money made determines whether the business is hazardous or not" said Mir. Rockefeller.
 Mir. Kellogg again asked If he con sidered the business risky on such a showing. and MT. Rockefeller again retorted that the profits did not de- termine the risk. Ir was evidence that the business was prosperous He as sented to MT. Kellogg's figures show ing that the company earned 49o mil lion dollars from 1899 to 1906. Add ing the earnings of 1907 would give total earnings of 5I0 million dollars.
 Then where does the hazard of the business come in?" asked Mir. Kellogg,
 .'In the first place. since the first re- fnery was built. more than fifty years ago, we have been prepared at any moment. day or night. to hear the fire alarm. We are dealing with very explosive product. Fires are constant ly happening"
 But your profits were above your fire losses, which have been charged to profit and loss account"
 "Yes. sir"
 Mir. Rockefeller said another risk was the peculiar construction of re- fling machinery. which could be used for no other purpose. One could nev- CT tell when he would awake and find the crude oil supply exhausted.
 Replying to Mir Kellogg's question whether the Standard oil company was the only one to get the rebate, the witness said that the greater volume of business given by the Standard was in part responsible for the rebate and that in those days fl was the custom for large shippers to receive consid- eration.
 ''We sought to secure what all ship pers then and now seek" said Mir. Rockefeller