d of continued dividends, I would have
been opposed to selling the business, but that was out of the
question. I know of the ten thousand dollars that was added to the
purchase price of the property at your request, and I know that you
paid three times the value of the property, and I know that all
that ever saved our company from ruin was the sale of its property
to you, and I simply want to ease my mind by doing justice to you
by saying so. After the sale to your company I was simple enough to
go to Buffalo and try it again, but soon met with defeat and
retired with my flag in the dust. I then went to Duluth, and was on
the top wave, till the real-estate bubble broke, and I broke with
it. I have had my ups and downs, but I have tried to take my
medicine and look pleasant instead of sitting down under a juniper
tree and blaming my losses to John D. Rockefeller.

I suppose I would have put off writing this letter for another year
or more as I have done so long, had it not been for a little chat
that I had with Mr. Hanafin, Superintendent of the Buckeye Pipe
Line Company, a day or two since when I was relating the sale,
etc., of the old B.O. Co.'s business, and in that way revived the
intention that had lain dormant since the last good resolution in
regard to writing it was made. But it's done now, and off my mind.

With much respect and admiration to John D. Rockefeller I remain,

Yours truly,

H.M. BACKUS.

It appears from the affidavits that the negotiations were conducted on
behalf of Mrs. Backus and her company by Charles H. Marr, who had been
in the employ of the Backus Company for some time, and by Mr. Maloney,
who was the superintendent of the company from the time of its
organization and was also a stockholder; and on behalf of the Standard
Oil Company by Mr. Peter S. Jennings.

There has been an impression that the Standard Oil Company purchased
for $79,000 property which was reasonably worth much more, and that
this sacrifice was occasioned by threats and compulsion. Mr. Jennings
requested Mr. Marr to submit a written proposition giving the price
put by the Backus Company upon the several items of property and
assets which it desired to sell. This statement was furnished and was
annexed to Mr. Jennings's affidavit. The Standard Oil Company finally
decided not to purchase all of the assets of