The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-06-04
LAND SWINDLES.

WHAT a NEOhulA MAN WON N LOTTERY.
The eriginators of the Texas land swindle
were enterprising men who wished to de-
Yelop the resources Of the state, but, nnfor-
tunntely for them, the people Of Texas did
not view the matter in the same light, con-
sequently the majority of the parties en-
gaged in the scheme are now gazing at the
beauties of nature through prison bars.
Some years ago the Texas land lottery was
organized by similar band OF individuals,
whose sole desire was to look after the earth
ly welfare of the adventurous immigrant.
The country was flooded with pamphlets
containing the interesting story of poor
young man who came from one of the states
with nothing but good reputation and an
old valise, and how he took chance in tho
land lottery and won beautiful iarm. Tho
pamphlet had the desired effect, and tickets
were sold like hot cakes; but, strange to say,
the farms seemed rather scarce. They per-
haps had pulled up stakes and gone IN
Leadville, or some other place and the per-
sons who had invested in the lottery began
TO realize that they had been sold, and not
few OF them felt as If they would like to
hit somebody with persimmon club. The
milk had been spilled, however, and in
most cases they bore their losses without a
murmur; but there was one man from
Georgia who did not bear his disappoint-
ment so heroically. He had invested fifty
dollars in the lottery, and when the grand
drawing took place he was informed. much
to his delight, that he had won fine tract
of land in a western county. map was
given him, also the necessary deeds, and he
started in company with surveyor tOlocate
his land. BY night he dreamed of his bo-
nanza and the fortune it would bring him.
and he was a happy man. He went about
trying to lend people money, and saying
that man was not fit TO live in this world
If he let little good fortune make fool Of
him. After a week journey be and tb-,sur
veyor reached point in vast Erie fifty
miles from a drop of wa-sr or stick Of
timber.
"Your land is somewhere about here"
said the surveyor, as be got out OF the am
bulance and planted bis instrument.
"You must be mistaken" replied the
Georgian nervously, as he glanced over the
broad sea o: shriveled sage bushes and
mesquite.
The surveyor paid little attention to his
remark, but merely sighted with his instru-
ment and began to figure, then he moved
ahead a hundred yards and repeated the
Performance, after which he pointed with
his finger and said -
"Do you see that dry-lookiug mound
over thereH That's the centre of your
tract"
"what," mOaned the Georgian, "is that
bald-looking spot my landH"
at is"
"But where's the timbered hill and tie
springgushing from the mammoth rock z"
"Duped mortal unsuspecting stranger"
said the surveyor kindly, "nothing can
gush on that land, not even boarding
school girl"
ANthop7 Nou iulaS VuiouS uu W. 1dlu
the Georgian hoarsely "they say thst kind
Of land is good for onions"
"There you are wrong again, stranger. It
would take whole barrel of the meAnest
whiskey in Texas to raise a row on il. The
land is poor"
900 you think could sell it9" inquired
the Georgian, in voice ehoked with emo.
tion.
al don't think you could" replied TIE
honest surveyor. 81 don't believe you could
give il to an orphan asylum" These words
were tho knell Of all his hopes, and there,
far out on the bosom of the great prairie.
the victimized Georgian fell on the survey.
or's neck and wept.-Ne1 Orleans Times.