The History Of The Standard Oil Company

"Muckrakers" was the name that Theodore Roosevelt gave journalists of the early part of the 20th century who exposed abuses in American business and government. Ida Tarbell, one of the original muckrakers, was able to help shut down the Standard Oil Company monopoly that had hampered her father's efforts in the oil industry in Pennsylvania. Standard Oil founder John D. Rockefeller, irked by her stinging expose, dubbed her "Miss Tarbarrel." The History of the Standard Oil Company is listed number five among the top 100 works of twentieth-century American journalism by the New York Times in 1999. This muckraking classic, which eventually led to effective regulation of the Standard Oil Company, was the inaugural work for crusading journalists whose mission was to expose corruption in politics and the abuses of big business during the early twentieth century. The history combined descriptions of John D. Rockefeller's business practices with his personal characteristics, creating an image of a cunning and ruthless person--a picture that not even decades of Rockefeller philanthropy were able to dispel.

"The History of the Standard Oil Company" is an exposé about the Standard Oil Company, run by oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller, the richest figure in American history. The inspiration behind this book was largely fueled by author's childhood experiences. Her father worked for Standard Oil and lived through what she called "hate, suspicion, and fear that engulfed the community." As a direct witness to the schemes and horizontal integration of John D. Rockefeller and his associates, Ida Tarbell began building the foundations of "The History of the Standard Oil Company" early on, using her own discontent as a starting point. This book inspired many other journalists to write about trusts and large businesses that attempted to gain monopolies in various industries.

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IDA MINERVA TARBELL (1857-1944) is remembered today as a muckraking journalist, thanks to this 1904 blockbuster expos. Originally published as a series of articles in *McClure's* magazine, this groundbreaking work highlighted the dangers of business monopolies and contributed to the eventual breakup of Standard Oil. "In this era of financial crisis compounded, and even perhaps enabled, by a dearth of investigative reporting, it is valuable to go back in time to learn from the work of great journalists with the courage to have taken on avaricious corporations and irresponsible business practices. "Perhaps no book demands our attention and respect as much as the one now in your hands. The unabridged edition, long out of print, of Ida Tarbell's study/expose of the history of the Standard Oil Company is an American classic, a model of careful research, detailed analysis, clear expository writing, and social mission. It has been hailed as one of the top ten of journalism's greatest hits." In Volume II, Tarbell explores: [ battles over oil pipelines [ the marketing of oil [ the political response to Standard's domination [ breaking up the oil trust [ competition in the oil industry [ and more. Investigative journalist DANNY SCHECHTER is editor of Mediachannel.org and author of numerous books on the media, including *Plunder: Investigating Our Economic Calamity and the Subprime Scandal* (Cosimo). For more, see www.newsdissector.com/plunder. He writes in his new introduction, exclusive to this Cosimo Classics edition:

The Standard Oil Company emerged out of obscurity in the 1860s to capture 90 percent of the petroleum refining industry in the United States during the Gilded Age. John D. Rockefeller, the company’s founder, organized the company around an almost religious dedication to principles of efficiency. Economic success masked the dark side of efficiency as Standard Oil dumped oil waste into public waterways, filled the urban atmosphere with acrid smoke, and created a consumer safety crisis by selling kerosene below congressional standards. Local governments, guided by a desire to favor the interests of business, deployed elaborate engineering solutions to tackle petroleum pollution at taxpayer expense rather than heed public calls to abate waste streams at their source. Only when refinery pollutants threatened the health of the Great Lakes in the twentieth century did the federal government respond to a nascent environmental movement. Organized around the four classical elements at the core of Standard Oil’s success (earth, air, fire, and water), Refining Nature provides an ecological context for the rise of one of the most important corporations in American history.

*Includes pictures *Includes Rockefeller's quotes about Standard Oil *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading "The secret to success is to do the common things uncommonly well." - John D. Rockefeller The discovery of rich dark pools of oil residing in the pockets beneath humanity's feet remains one of the most pivotal revelations in all of history. Crude oil, a type of fossil fuel, is found swimming near the surface in tar sands and in the cracks of sedimentary rocks. These underground jackpots are used to create petroleum products across the globe, from gasoline and different fuels to heating oils, lubricating oils, and asphalt. For centuries, humans have been combing the lands in search of the lucrative resource; after all, there is a reason they call it "black gold." Historical records show that humanity has known the importance of oil since the beginning of time. Traces of natural bitumen (a crucial component of asphalt) were found on 40,000-year-old stone tools unearthed in Syrian Neanderthal sites. According to Greek historian, Herodotus, asphalt taken from ancient oil pits and river banks near Ardericca were utilized in the construction of the Babylon towers. Meanwhile, across the globe, bitumen was used as an embalming substance for Egyptian mummies. The earliest oil drilled oil wells were found in the Sichuan Province of China in 347 CE. These primitive wells ran up to 800-ft deep, and were dug up by a manual rig still used in rural areas today. The apparatus was made of sturdy pipe bamboo and a sharp iron drill attached to it. A group of 2 or more men operated the machine. Some stood on the wooden lever, which activated the pulley system. The machine hoisted the drill stem off the ground and back into the ground repeatedly, slowly breaking through the earth. 10th century hand-dug wells were also stumbled upon in Oman, Yemen, Sicily, and surrounding territories. Oil exploration eventually made its way to North America in the 17th century. Natural oil seeps found in New York attracted the attention of many beyond the seas, including a Franciscan missionary, Father Joseph De La Roche d'Aillon. Over a century later, Peter Kalm charted a map of the Pennsylvania oil seeps in 1753. Curious German missionaries recounted the oil wells prevalent in North America, which led to a boost in international trade. In 1790, a man named Nathaniel Carey became one of the first to use the process of "oil skimming," which is to extract oil floating on the surface of water. Carey capitalized on the skimmed oil from the seeps in Titusville, Pennsylvania, gathering the oil in small barrels and hopping on his horse to make the deliveries. The oil seeps in Titusville were later dubbed "Oil Creek." As the United States entered the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century, the thirst for oil was at its peak. In 1859, a man named Edwin Drake made history when he erected the first drilled oil well in the United States. His steam-powered rig bore a 69-ft hole in the ground, boasting production of 25 barrels a day. By the next year, 40 kerosene plants had cropped up across the nation. That year, plants in the United States saw production of 500,000 barrels. The next year, that number had skyrocketed to 2.1 million. The oil boom revitalized the nation's people. Everyone wanted to dip their toes in the pools of black gold. It would not be long before a young man by the name of John D. Rockefeller got wind of the news, and like many others, he was intrigued. With the help of his brother and 2 other partners, Rockefeller created the legendary, and perhaps infamous, Standard Oil Company. Little did anyone know, this very corporation would soon hold the reins of the industry. Standard Oil Company: The History and Legacy of America's Most Famous Monopoly examines the history of Rockefeller's infamous company.