CONTENTS

PREFACE

Pages, vii-xi

CHAPTER ONE

THE BIRTH OF AN INDUSTRY

PETROLEUM FIRST A CURIOSITY AND THEN A MEDICINE-DISCOVERY OF ITS REAL VALUE-THE STORY OF HOW IT CAME TO BE PRODUCED IN LARGE QUANTITIES-GREAT FLOW OF OIL-SWARM OF PROBLEMS TO SOLVE-STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION-REFINING AND MARKETING- RAPID EXTENSION OF THE FIELD OF OPERATION-WORKERS IN GREAT NUMBERS WITH PLENTY OF CAPITAL-COSTLY BLUNDERS FREQUENTLY MADE-BUT EVERY DIFFICULTY BEING MET AND OVERCOME-THE NORMAL UNFOLDING OF A NEW AND WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUAL ENDEAVOUR

Pages. 3-37

CHAPTER TWO


THE RISE OF THE STANDARD OIL COMPANY

JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER'S FIRST CONNECTION WITH THE OIL BUSINESS- STORIES OF HIS EARLY LIFE IN CLEVELAND-HIS FIRST PARTNERS- ORGANISATION OF THE STANDARD OIL COMPANY IN JUNE, 1870-ROCKE- FELLER'S ABLE ASSOCIATES-FIRST EVIDENCE OF RAILWAY DISCRIMINA --- TIONS IN THE OIL BUSINESS-REBATES FOUND TO BE GENERALLY GIVEN TO LARGE SHIPPERS-FIRST PLAN FOR A SECRET COMBINATION-THE SOUTH IMPROVEMENT COMPANY-SECRET CONTRACTS MADE WITH THE RAILROADS PROVIDING REBATES AND DRAWBACKS-ROCKEFELLER AND ASSOCIATES FORCE CLEVELAND REFINERS TO JOIN THE NEW COMBINA TION OR SELL-RUMOUR OF THE PLAN REACHES THE OIL REGIONS.

Pages. 38-69

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CONTENTS

CHAPTER THREE


THE OIL WAR OF 1872


RISING IN THE OIL REGIONS AGAINST THE SOUTH IMPROVEMENT COMPANY -PETROLEUM .PRODUCERS' UNION ORGANISED-OIL BLOCKADE AGAINST MEMBERS OF SOUTH IMPROVEMENT COMPANY AND AGAINST RAILROADS IMPLICATED-CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION OF 1871 AND THE DOCUMENTS IT REVEALED-PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND GENERAL CONDEMNATION OF THE SOUTH IMPROVEMENT COMPANY-RAILROAD OFFICIALS CONFER WITH COMMITTEE FROM PETROLEUM PRODUCERS' UNION - WATSON AND ROCKEFELLER REFUSED ADMITTANCE TO CONFERENCE-RAILROADS REVOKE CONTRACTS WITH SOUTH IMPROVEMENT COMPANY AND MAKE CONTRACT WITH PETROLEUM PRODUCERS' UNION-BLOCKADE AGAINST SOUTH IMPROVEMENT COMPANY LIFTED-OIL WAR OFFICIALLY ENDED- ROCKEFELLER CONTINUES TO GET REBATES-HIS GREAT PLAN STILL A LIVING PURPOSE

Pages 70-103

CHAPTER FOUR


"AN UNHOLY ALLIANCE"


ROCKEFELLER AND HIS PARTY NOW PROPOSE AN OPEN INSTEAD OF A SECRET COMBINATION-"THE PITTSBURG PLAN"-THE SCHEME IS NOT APPROVED BY THE OIL REGIONS BECAUSE ITS CHIEF STRENGTH IS THE REBATE-ROCKEFELLER NOT DISCOURAGED-THREE MONTHS LATER BECOMES PRESIDENT OF NATIONAL REFINERS' ASSOCIATION-FOUR-FIFTHS OF REFINING INTEREST OF UNITED STATES WITH HIM-OIL REGIONS AROUSED-PRODUCERS' UNION ORDER DRILLING STOPPED AND A THIRTY DAY SHUT-DOWN TO COUNTERACT FALLING PRICE OF CRUDE-PETRO LEUM PRODUCERS' AGENCY FORMED TO ENABLE PRODUCERS TO CON TROL THEIR OWN OIL-ROCKEFELLER OUTGENERALS HIS OPPONENTS AND FORCES A COMBINATION OF REFINERS AND PRODUCERS-PRODUCERS' ASSOCIATION AND PRODUCERS' AGENCY SNUFFED OUT-NATIONAL REFINERS' ASSOCIATION DISBANDS-ROCKEFELLER STEADILY GAINING GROUND.

Pages 104-128

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CONTENTS

CHAPTER FIVE


LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS OF A TRUST

VIDENCE OF REAPPEARANCE OF REBATES SOON AFTER AGREEMENT OF MARCH 25 IS SIGNED-PRINCIPLE THOROUGHLY ESTABLISHED THAT LARGE SHIPPERS SHALL HAVE ADVANTAGES OVER SMALL SHIPPERS IN SPITE OF RAILROADS' DUTY AS COMMON CARRIERS-AGREEMENT WORKED OUT BY WHICH THREE ROADS ARE TO HAVE FIXED PERCENT AGE OF EASTERN SHIPMENTS-OIL REGIONS ROBBED OF THEIR GEO GRAPHICAL ADVANTAGE-THE RUTTER CIRCULAR-ROCKEFELLER NOW SECRETLY PLANS REALISATION OF HIS DREAM OF PERSONAL CONTROL OF THE REFINING OF OIL-ORGANISATION OF THE CENTRAL ASSO- CIATION-H. H. ROGERS' DEFENCE OF THE PLAN-ROCKEFELLER'S QUIET AND SUCCESSFUL CANVASS FOR ALLIANCES WITH REFINERS-THE REBATE HIS WEAPON-CONSOLIDATION BY PERSUASION OR FORCE-MORE TALK OF A UNITED EFFORT TO COUNTERACT THE MOVEMENT.

Pages 129-166

CHAPTER SIX


STRENGTHENING THE FOUNDATIONS


FIRST INTERSTATE COMMERCE BILL-THE BILL PIGEON-HOLED THROUGH EFFORTS OF STANDARD'S FRIENDS-INDEPENDENTS SEEK RELIEF BY PRO POSED CONSTRUCTION OF PIPE-LINES-PLANS FOR THE FIRST SEABOARD PIPE-LINE-SCHEME FAILS ON ACCOUNT OF MISMANAGEMENT AND STAND ARD AND RAILROAD OPPOSITION-DEVELOPMENT OF THE EMPIRE TRANS PORTATION COMPANY AND ITS PROPOSED CONNECTION WITH THE REFINING BUSINESS-STANDARD, ERIE AND CENTRAL FIGHT THE EMPIRE TRANSPORTATION COMPANY AND ITS BACKER, THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD-THE PENNSYLVANIA FINALLY SUITS AFTER A BITTER AND COSTLY WAR-EMPIRE LINE SOLD TO THE STANDARD-ENTIRE PIPE-LINE SYSTEM OF OIL REGIONS NOW IN ROCKEFELLER'S HANDS-NEW RAILROAD POOL BETWEEN FOUR ROADS-ROCKEFELLER PUTS INTO OPERATION SYSTEM OF DRAWBACKS ON OTHER PEOPLE'S SHIPMENTS-HE PROCEEDS RAPIDLY WITH THE WORK OF ABSORBING RIVALS

Pages 167-207

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CONTENTS

CHAPTER SEVEN


THE CRISIS OF 1878


A RISE IN OIL-A BLOCKADE IN EXPORTS-PRODUCERS DO NOT GET THEIR SHARE OF THE PROFITS-THEY SECRETLY ORGANISE THE PETROLEUM PRO DUCERS' UNION AND PROMISE TO SUPPORT PROPOSED INDEPENDENT PIPE LINES-ANOTHER INTERSTATE COMMERCE BILL DEFEATED AT WASHINGTON -"IMMEDIATE SHIPMENT"-INDEPENDENTS HAVE TROUBLE GETTING CARS-RIOTS THREATENED-APPEAL TO GOVERNOR HARTRANFT-SUITS BROUGHT AGAINST UNITED PIPE-LINES, PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD AND OTHERS-INVESTIGATIONS PRECIPITATED IN OTHER STATES-THE HEP- BURN COMMISSION AND THE OHIO INVESTIGATION-EVIDENCE THAT THE STANDARD IS A CONTINUATION OF THE SOUTH IMPROVEMENT COMPANY- PRODUCERS FINALLY DECIDE TO PROCEED AGAINST STANDARD OFFICIALS- ROCKEFELLER AND EIGHT OF HIS ASSOCIATES INDICTED FOR CONSPIRACY.

Pages 208-240

CHAPTER EIGHT


THE COMPROMISE OF 1880


THE PRODUCERS' SUIT AGAINST ROCKEFELLER AND HIS ASSOCIATES USED BY THE STANDARD TO PROTECT ITSELF-SUITS AGAINST THE TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES ARE DELAYED-TRIAL OF ROCKEFELLER AND HIS ASSOCIATES FOR CONSPIRACY POSTPONED-ALL OF THE SUITS WITH DRAWN IN RETURN FOR AGREEMENTS OF THE STANDARD AND THE PENNSYLVANIA TO CEASE THEIR PRACTICES AGAINST THE PRODUCERS- WITH THIS COMPROMISE THE SECOND PETROLEUM PRODUCERS' UNION COMES TO AN END-PRODUCERS THEMSELVES TO BLAME FOR NOT STAND ING BEHIND THEIR LEADERS-STANDARD AGAIN ENFORCES ORDERS OBJEC TIONABLE TO PRODUCERS-MORE OUTBREAKS IN THE OIL REGIONS- ROCKEFELLER HAVING SILENCED ORGANISED OPPOSITION PROCEEDS TO SILENCE INDIVIDUAL COMPLAINT

Pages 241-262

APPENDIX

Page 263-406

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