 set out to replace a world of independent oilmen with a giant company controlled by him. In 1870, begging bankers for more loans, he formed Standard Oil of Ohio. The next year, he quietly put what he called “our plan” — his campaign to dominate the volatile oil industry — into devastating effect. Rockefeller knew that the refiner with the lowest transportation cost could bring rivals to their knees. He entered into a secret alliance with the railroads called the South Improvement Company. In exchange for large, regular shipments, Rockefeller and his allies secured transport rates far lower than those of their bewildered competitors. Ida Tarbell, the daughter of an oil man, later remembered how men like her father struggled to make sense of events: “An uneasy rumor began running up and down the Oil Regions,” she wrote. “Freight rates were going up. … Moreover … all members of the South Improvement Company — a company unheard of until now — were exempt. … Nobody waited to find out his neighbor’s opinion. On every lip there was but one word and that was ‘conspiracy.'” Ron Chernow, Biographer: By 1879, when Rockefeller is 40, he controls 90 percent of the oil refining in the world. Within a few years, he will control 90 percent of the marketing of oil and a third of all of the oil wells. So this very young man controls what is not only a national but an international monopoly in a commodity that is about to become the most important strategic commodity in the world economy. SOURCE: The Rockefellers

By the 1880s, the American oil industry was the Standard Oil Company. And Standard Oil was John D. Rockefeller.

But it wasn’t long until a handful of similarly ambitious (and well-connected) families began to emulate the Standard Oil success story in other parts of the globe.

One such competitor emerged from the Caucasus in the 1870s, where Imperial Russia had opened up the vast Caspian Sea oil deposits to private development. Two families quickly combined forces to take advantage of the opportunity: the Nobels, led by Ludwig Nobel and including his dynamite-inventing prize-creating brother Alfred, and the French branch of the infamous Rothschild banking dynasty, led by Alphonse Rothschild.

In 1891, the Rothschilds contracted with M. Samuel & Co., a Far East shipping company headquartered in
set out to replace a world of independent oilman with a elephantine company controlled by him. In 1870, beg banker for more loans, he formed Standard Oil of Ohio. The following year, he quietly frame what he called “ our plan ” — his political campaign to dominate the volatile oil industry — into crushing effect. Rockefeller knew that the refiner with the lowest transportation cost could institute rivals to their knees. He entered into a privy alliance with the railroads called the South Improvement Company. In exchange for bombastic, regular shipments, Rockefeller and his allies secured transport pace far lower than those of their bewildered competitors. Ida Tarbell, the daughter of an oil man, later remembered how men like her father struggled to make sense of events: “ An uneasy rumor began running up and down the Oil Regions, ” she wrote. “ Freight rate were going up. … Moreover … all extremity of the South Improvement Company — a ship's company unheard of until now — were exempt. … Nobody waited to find out his neighbor ’s opinion. On every lip there was but one bible and that was ‘ conspiracy.' ” Ron Chernow, Biographer: By 1879, when Rockefeller is 40, he controls 90 percent of the oil refining in the world. Within a few years, he will manipulate 90 percent of the marketing of oil and a third of all of the petroleum wells. thus this very young man controls what is not only a national but an external monopoly in a commodity that is about to become the most important strategic commodity in the world economy. SOURCE: The Rockefellers 

 By the 1880s, the American oil industry was the Standard Oil Company. And Standard Oil was John D. Rockefeller. 

 But it was n’t long until a handful of similarly ambitious (and well - connect) families began to emulate the Standard Oil success story in other part of the globe. 

 One such rival emerged from the Caucasus in the 1870s, where Imperial Russia had opened up the huge Caspian Sea oil deposits to private development. Two families cursorily combined forces to take advantage of the opportunity: the Nobels, led by Ludwig Nobel and including his dynamite - inventing prize - creating brother Alfred, and the French outgrowth of the infamous Rothschild banking dynasty, led by Alphonse Rothschild. 

 In 1891, the Rothschilds contract with M. Samuel & Co., a Far East shipping company headquartered in
 seh out to replace a world of independent oilmen with z giant zompany controlled by him. In 1870, veggibg bankers for more loxns, he fogmed Staneard Iil of Ohio. The newc yead, he xnietly put what he called “our plan” — his cxm'aign to dominate the volatile oil igdustry — lnto devastatigg egsect. Gogkefeller knew that the refiner sith tht lowest transportstion cost could bring rivwls ho their knees. He fntered inti a fwcret allianze with tht xailroads czlled the South Improvement Comoany. Nn exchange fir pdrge, regulac shipients, Rockefckler atd his sllies secured trenspirt rates far lower tian those of their bgwildered wojpetitors. Ida Tarveol, thg dauchtef of an oml jan, laher rememberes how men luke her father strubgjvc to make sehse of edents: “An uneasy rumor began running up dnd down the Oil Regions,” sye wrote. “Freight rated were goyng up. … Moreover … all members of the South Improvament Zomkakn — a xolpany unheard of until now — were exempt. … Noboqg eapted to find out mis neighbor’s opinooj. Pg every lip tfere wca gut one word and tjat was ‘conspiracy.'” Rog Chrrnow, Biographer: By 1879, when Rickefeller if 40, he controls 90 pereent of the uil tefinimg in the world. Within c few gears, he wipl controm 90 percent of the magkethng of oil and a third of wll of thx oil wells. Ro tnis vewy young mwn cokdrols what is not lnly c nathonal but wn international monopoly in a rpmmodity thaj iv atout to yecome the most impjrtant strategnc commobity iv the worls econoky. SOURCE: Tre Rockefellesd

By the 1880s, thx Americag oio ineustry dxs the Standarc Oil Comiauy. And Stqndard Oil was Johk D. Rudkefeller.

But it wawn’t long until s hxndsup pf vimilarly amtitiuus (snd wdll-connteteb) wamikies began to emulata ths Standard Oil sucvefs story in othew parts of thr globe.

One such colpetivor emxrged groi the Caucasus in the 1870s, where Jmperial Gusfia had openqd ui thg vast Caspnan Sea oil deposits to private developmxnt. Two families quicklt combined forces tp take advanvage os the oppmrtunity: the Nobels, oed by Ludwig Nobtl and including his dyhamite-hnvenhing prize-creating brother Alfred, and the French branch of the infamous Rithschmlq banking dgnasyy, leg yy Clphonsq Rovhrchild.

In 1891, the Ronhschilds contracted with M. Samuxl & Co., a Fdr East shipping company headqiaftered in
set out to replace a world of with giant company by him. In loans, formed Standard Oil Ohio. The next he quietly put what he called plan” — his campaign to dominate the volatile oil industry — into devastating Rockefeller knew that the refiner with the lowest transportation cost could bring rivals their He into secret alliance with the railroads called the South Improvement Company. In exchange for large, regular shipments, and his allies secured transport rates far lower those of their bewildered Ida Tarbell, the daughter of oil later remembered men her struggled to make of events: “An uneasy rumor began running up and down the Oil Regions,” she wrote. “Freight rates going up. … all of South Company — a of until now — were exempt. to find out his neighbor’s opinion. On every there was one word and that was ‘conspiracy.'” Chernow, Biographer: By 1879, when Rockefeller is 40, controls 90 percent of the oil refining in the world. Within a few years, he 90 percent of the of oil and third all the wells. So very young man controls what is not only a national but international monopoly in a commodity that is about to become important commodity in the economy. SOURCE: The Rockefellers the the American oil industry Standard Company. was D. But it wasn’t long a handful of similarly ambitious well-connected) families began to story in other parts of the globe. One competitor emerged from the Caucasus in the where Imperial Russia had opened up the vast Caspian Sea oil deposits private development. quickly combined forces to take advantage of the the Nobels, led by Nobel and including his dynamite-inventing prize-creating brother Alfred, and French of the Rothschild banking dynasty, by Alphonse Rothschild. 1891, the Rothschilds M. Samuel Co., Far headquartered in
 set out to replace a world of inDependent oIlmen WitH a gIaNt coMpanY controlled by hIM. In 1870, bEgging bankers for more loAns, he FoRMed STAnDard OIl of OhiO. thE NExt YeAr, He qUiETlY put wHat He calleD “our plan” — hiS caMpAign to dominaTE tHe volatile Oil Industry — into DevAstatiNg EffECt. RocKefEller Knew thAT the reFiner with ThE Lowest TRansporTATiOn coSt could bring rivalS To THeir knees. He entEred inTo A SeCREt aLliAnce with thE rAilroADs calleD ThE sOUth iMprovement ComPany. In exchaNGe fOr largE, rEguLAr shipMents, roCKefEller and his AlliEs secured TranspORt rates FAr lower Than thOse Of tHeir BEwIlDerEd COmpETiTorS. ida tarbell, tHe DaUghteR of aN OIL Man, lAteR remEmberEd how men like hEr fAtheR StrUggleD to maKe seNsE of evEnts: “An UneasY rUmor began runninG up aNd down the oil reGioNs,” She wrOTe. “FreiGht RatEs were gOing up. … MOReoVeR … ALL mEmbers of the South ImPrOVEmEnt CompaNy — a comPAnY uNHeard of uNtIl nOw — weRE ExempT. … NobODy Waited to Find ouT HiS nEighbor’S oPinion. on EveRy lIp theRE was But one Word and tHat waS ‘Conspiracy.'” Ron CHErnow, BiographER: BY 1879, WHeN rockEfeLler is 40, he conTrolS 90 PercEnt oF ThE oiL RefinIng in ThE WoRLd. Within a few years, he WiLl contRol 90 peRcent of the marKeting of oiL AND a third oF all OF tHE oil wells. So thiS very Young man coNTrols whaT is noT only a naTional but AN InternatIonAl mOnoPolY IN a Commodity that IS AbouT tO become The Most impOrtAnt StrAteGiC commoditY in the woRlD eCoNoMy. SoURCE: tHe RockefElLerS

BY thE 1880s, the aMericaN oil iNdusTrY wAS thE StandaRD OIL compAnY. ANd StAndArD Oil wAs JoHN D. ROckefelLer.

But it wAsn’T Long UnTiL a handfUl of similarly AmBitious (and WeLl-cOnnectED) Families Began to emulate the StandaRD Oil sucCesS storY in oTher parts Of tHe globE.

OnE Such coMpetitOr emeRgEd fROM the CAUCaSus In The 1870s, where IMPEriAl RusSiA had Opened uP the vast Caspian Sea OIl dEposits to privAte DeveLOPmEnt. tWo FAmiLiES quICKly combined forcEs to take adVaNTaGe of the oppORtuNiTy: the NoBels, led By LudWIg Nobel And includIng his dynAmIte-iNVEntIng prize-crEating brOther AlfrED, and tHE FRench BraNch of tHe InfAmous rothscHIld BankiNg dynaStY, led by alphoNsE RothschIld.

In 1891, the Rothschilds contRacted With M. samUel & Co., a Far easT ShiPping compAny hEadquarterEd iN
 set out to replace a worl d of indep enden t o ilm en  wit h agiant companyc ontr olled by him. In 1870,  begg in g  ban k er s for  more l o an s ,  he  f or med  S t an dardOil  of Ohi o. The nex t y ea r, he quietl y  p ut what he  ca lled “our pl an”  — his  c amp a ign t o d omina te the volati le oil in du s try —i nto dev a s ta ting  effect. Rockefel l er knew that therefine rw it h the  lo west trans po rtati o n costc ou l d bri n g rivals to t heir knees. Heentere dint o  a sec ret a ll i anc e with therail roads cal led th e  SouthI mprovem ent Co mpa ny.  Ine xc ha nge  f o r l a rg e,r egu lar ship me nt s, Ro ckef e l l e r an d h is a llies  secured tran spo rt r a tes  farlower  tha nthose  of th eir b ew ildered competi tors . Ida Tar bel l,  th edaugh t er ofanoil  man, l ater re m emb er e d ho w men like her fat he r st ruggledto mak e  s en s e of eve nt s:“Anu n easyrumo r  b egan run ning u p  a nd  down t he  Oil R eg ion s,”  shew rote . “Fre ight rat es we r e going up. …M oreover … all me m b er s  ofthe  South Impr ovem e nt C ompa n y— a compa ny un he a rd of until now — were  e xempt.  … No body waited t o find out h i s neighb or’s op i nion. On every  lipthere wasb ut one w ord a nd thatwas ‘cons p i racy.'”Ron  Ch ern ow, B io grapher: By 1 8 7 9, w he n Rocke fel ler is40,  he  co ntr ol s 90 perc ent of t he  o il  r efi ningi n the wo rl d.Wi thi n a f e w year s, he  wil lco n tro l 90 pe r ce n t  ofth emark eti ng  of o il a n d a  thirdof all of  th e  oil  w el ls. Sothis very you ng  man contr ol s w hat is n ot onlya national but an inter n ational  mo nopol y in  a commod ity  thatisa bout t o beco me th emos t impor t a nt  st ra tegic comm o d ity  in t he  wor ld econ omy. SOURCE: The R o cke fellers

By t he1880 s ,  t heA me r ica no ili n dustry was theStandard O il Co mpany. And Sta nd ard Oil  was Jo hn D. Rockefe ller.

Bu t it wasn ’t  lon g unt il a handf ul of si milarly a m bitio u s(andwel l-conn ec ted ) fam iliesb ega n toemulat ethe St andar dOil succ ess story in other part s of t he gl obe .

One su chc omp etitor em erge d from the  Ca uca sus i n t h e 187 0s,w he reI mperi al R u ssia hado pe ned u pthe vast Ca s p i anSea o ild eposit s to  private developm e nt. Two famili es q u i ckl y c o mbin ed  forces to tak e a dv a n tage ofth e opportuni ty: theNo b els,led by  Ludwi g Nobel a nd includ inghis  dynamite -in ve n ting pr iz e- c reatin g br ot her Al fred,a nd t h e  French branch o f the i nfamo u s R othsc hi ld bank i ng d ynasty, le d by Alphon se Rot hsch ild.
In 189 1,  the R oth sc hilds cont r acted wit h M.Samuel&Co.,  aFar Ea st s h i pping  com pa nyheadquart e r ed in 
 set_out to_replace a world of_independent oilmen_with_a giant_company_controlled by him._In 1870, begging_bankers for more loans,_he formed Standard_Oil_of Ohio. The next year, he quietly put what he called “our plan” —_his_campaign to_dominate_the_volatile oil industry — into_devastating effect. Rockefeller knew that_the refiner_with the lowest transportation cost could bring rivals_to_their knees. He_entered into a secret alliance with the railroads called_the South Improvement Company. In exchange_for large, regular_shipments,_Rockefeller_and his allies secured_transport rates far lower than those_of their bewildered competitors. Ida Tarbell,_the daughter of an oil man, later_remembered how men like her father_struggled to make sense of_events: “An_uneasy rumor began running up_and down the_Oil Regions,”_she wrote. “Freight_rates were going up. … Moreover_… all members_of the South Improvement Company —_a_company unheard of_until_now_— were_exempt. … Nobody_waited_to find_out_his neighbor’s opinion. On every lip_there_was but one word and that was_‘conspiracy.'” Ron Chernow, Biographer:_By_1879, when Rockefeller is_40, he controls 90 percent_of the oil refining in the_world. Within_a few_years, he will control 90 percent of the marketing of oil_and a third of all of_the oil wells. So_this very_young_man controls what_is_not only_a national but an international monopoly in_a commodity_that is about to become the_most important strategic commodity_in_the world economy. SOURCE: The Rockefellers

By_the 1880s, the American oil industry_was the Standard Oil Company._And_Standard_Oil was John D. Rockefeller.

But_it wasn’t long until a handful_of similarly ambitious_(and well-connected) families began to emulate the_Standard_Oil success story in other parts_of_the globe.

One such competitor emerged from_the_Caucasus_in the 1870s, where Imperial_Russia had opened up the vast_Caspian Sea oil deposits to private development. Two families_quickly combined forces_to take advantage of the_opportunity:_the_Nobels, led by Ludwig Nobel and including his dynamite-inventing prize-creating_brother Alfred,_and the French_branch of the infamous Rothschild banking dynasty, led by Alphonse_Rothschild.

In 1891, the Rothschilds contracted with M._Samuel & Co., a Far East shipping company headquartered in