Results of the Contest
Petroleum Centre Daily Record, March 27, 1872
The committee from the oil regions appointed to confer with the managements of the different railroad lines of the oil region, are now in New York City, and by special agreement will meet the railway officials to arrange a basis of fair and equitable freights for the producers of the Pennsylvania oil region today. That the committee will be enabled to obtain a fair, and at the same time uniform rate of freights, we have scarcely any reason to doubt. The high officials of the grand trunk lines centering in the petroleum region state frankly that they entered into the contracts with the South Improvement Company under a misapprehension of the real facts of the case, and evince a disposition to make such concession and arrangements as our business interests require. With this point gained, we need fear no monopoly that can be bought to bear. A fixed uniform rate of freights for oil, under a contract or arrangement extending over a term of five or ten years, in as much as we can ask for reasonably, and is certainly all we require.
The Free Pipe Bill1 is passed and is a law. Congress has interested itself in our behalf, and it is to be hoped that our own legislature will so far comply with the wishes of the people of the oil country, as to repeal the charter of be South Improvement and all other such monster monopolies. Such action would go far to redeem them from the many well-sustained accusations of corrupt legislation now on record against them.
The South Improvement monopoly is already powerless and must, in any event, become a defunct institution. Their objects and aims stand forth in such hideous deformity, and they have been so terribly beaten in detail, as to need no extended comment.
The entire country owes a debt of gratitude to the people of the oil region, for to them is due the credit of meeting this monster monopoly that threatens to absorb every industrial branch of business, and crushing it by their righteous indignation.
Justly incensed, laboring under great excitement, and making unequalled sacrifices, our people have, throughout the contest, fully preserved their dignity and high commercial character. Calmness and moderation have characterized their deliberations. They have asked for nothing but their just rights, and knowing the same, were determined to have them at any and all hazards. The foe, seeing the stern array against them, have shrunk back amazed, thoroughly demoralized, and surrendered at discretion. This is something our people may well be proud of.
We consider that the battle has been fought, and that only the details of the capitulation are to be arranged. The Committees already at work, and the organization effected, can easily arrange this.
The loss to the oil region, from the almost general suspension of oil operations during the prevalence of the excitement, has been something, though not as great as might have been. Numbers of wells in process of drilling last month was about 400, at a total cost of about $1,700,000. About same number were being drilled at commencement of present month. We have no means of asserting the number that were stopped but think it will range from one-half to two-thirds. This much then has been added to the cash capital of the oil region, and will come into good use in commencing: active operations again. This, and the stoppage of pumping many wells on the Sabbath, will also have the effect to materially lessen the production, and ensure better prices.
With the monopoly squelched, and an assured uniform rate of oil freights upon each of the transporting lines, full confidence is again restored, and every branch of business in the oil country will receive a fresh impetus. The year that was so clouded at the outset will yet prove the most prosperous we have ever had. Things are bound to be all right again in a few short weeks. The close of the season will exhibit a prosperous and happy people, so far as the Oil Regions in concerned. Send along the cars. — Oil City Register.
- The 1872 ‘Free Pipe Bill’ ended the requirement for companies to secure a separate charter before building pipelines in Pennsylvania. ↩︎