Page:The History of the Standard Oil Company Vol 1.djvu/360



[From "A History of the Rise and Fall of the South Improvement Company," pages 30-41.]

, March 30, 1872.

William G. Warden affirmed and examined.

By Mr. C. Heydrick (Counsel).

Q. Are you an officer of the South Improvement Company?

A. Yes, sir; or rather, I was.

Q. What office did you hold?

A. I held the office of secretary during all the previous meetings, and was a director of the company.

Q. When was the company organised?

A. Our minutes will show that, if you will allow me to refer to them, and I desire to put them in as evidence. On referring to the minutes I find that the corporators' meeting was held January 2, 1872. As I understand that these minutes are to go in as a part of the evidence, they will furnish you all the information you desire in regard to the organisation and proceedings of the company.

[The chairman stated that the witness could refer to the minutes as memoranda, and that the committee would determine hereafter as to whether they should be received as evidence.]

By Mr. Heydrick.

Q. For what object or business was the company organised?

A. For refining oil.

Q. That meeting was under the charter which has been presented?

A. That was the first meeting held after we got the charter.

Q. The gentlemen who attended that meeting on the second of January were those named in the act of the incorporation?

A. Yes, sir; they met and transferred the company under the charter over to tr stockholders.

Q. Did the incorporators named in the act transfer their interest to the stockholders, as you have stated on that occasion?

A. Yes, sir.