The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-01
State Ban on Standard Oil
Company Is Removed.
Giant Corporation viii Help
Develop States Fields.
GOVERNMENT BEHIND MOVE
Company Asked To Help In
crease Nations Oil Supply.
New Refineries May Be Built
Following Development.

Under a special decree by the
supreme court today, the Standard Oil
companies of Kansas and Indiana will
be permitted to engage in the produc-
ton of ell in this state. Earle W
Evans of Wichita, general attorney
for the two companies, said immediate
action would be taken by the COM
panieS- looking toward extensive oper-
atiens in Butler county and adjoining
fields Large sums would be spent
at once, he said, for new pipe lines
and drilling equipment
Entrance of the Standard OH COM
pany in Kansas as producing COM
pany is, perhaps, the most important
move in the oil game in this state
since the opening of the big fields in
Butler, Cowley and Greenwood coun-
ties Under a journal entry in the old
custer suit against the Standard, the
companies of Kansas and indiana
were prohibited from engaging in the
oil business as a producing company.
The Standard of Kansas operates ii
refinery at Neodesha and engages in
the manufacture of refined oil anu
gasoline and oil products. The
Standard of Indiana engages in the
sale of manufactured products.
To Spend Large Sums.
Not until recent developments in
the kansas field has the Standard
sought to enter the state as pro
Queer Even in the days before the
filing of the custer suit, the company
did not compete with other companies
in the producing business. With eX-
tensive holdings in the Kansas fields,
however, the Standard will spend
large sums in development work.
The supreme court order modifies
the journal entry in the custer suit
by permitting the companies OF Kan
sas and Indiana to become producers
as we'll as refiners and distributors.
Under the old order, the Standard of
Kansas was restricted to the refining
of OIL The province of the Standard
of Indiana in this state was limited to
the marketing of oil and gasoline and
oil products.
start work at Once.
While no announcement has been
made as to the territory in which the
Standard will begin operations, assur-
anees are practically given that the
| giant oil company will enter the state
on an extensive scale. Work will be
gin in the oil fields this winter, Mr..
Evans stated while in Topeka, and ex-
tensive pipe lines laid and new wells
| located. At present crude product
used by the Standard of Kansas re-
finery is purchased from Independent
| producers. ~
Entrance Of the Standard Oil com
pany in Kansas as a producing COM
pany was at the request of the ma
uonaI government. ACCORDING 10 state
ments today. The government has
asked the Standard for a maximum
production of oil. AS d result of the
demand, the company decided to enter
this field in competition with other
producers. Their program will mean
Immediate opening of activities and
investment of hundreds of thousands
Of dAI1ars in the state.
The plan of the Standard is be-
lieved to include not only heavy pro-
| duction but construction of new re-
fineries and pipe lines in anticipation
| of a greatly increased output from the
Kansas fields. Many valuable leases
in Butler county adjoining fields are
now held by the Standard, it is as
| serted