It was the largest such company in the oil regions during this time, and was operated under the administration of Henry Harley.
[2] A charter from the State of Pennsylvania in 1864 gave the company a unique right to carry oil via pipelines to railroad yards.
[2] In 1868, Jay Gould bought control of the company for $250,000 in an effort to gain increased rail traffic over the Erie Railroad via the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad.
[3] In a contract signed on June 4, 1868, John D. Rockefeller's firm (Rockefeller, Andrews & Flagler) along with Cleveland's other two largest oil refiners - Clark, Payne & Company; and Westlake, Hutchins & Company - were given a 25% of the interest in the Allegheny Transportation Company in return for $1.
[5] Gould's gift would help finance Rockefeller, Andrews & Flagler through the next two lean years.