Daily Kennebec journal., 1881-02-04

dollar in q letter to the eastern Manuf.c.
turing Co." At Mechanic Falls. and AZ the re-
suit he receive. in return a piece of eoa,mo,
sheet iron 3 inches long BY II inches ride,
representing The Excelsior Corn Shei.er; :"
and piece Of pine rood, 8 inches Iona in
me shape ofa hree-cornered file, this haring
been dippad about half its length in sheliae
and sedaftty eorered ~ith rery thin coating
OF emery, to represent The Ame,Iean Emery
AoHt"g Machine Knife Sharpener." The
cost OF transporting both these article, by
mail was just two cents: And the entire ex-
pense OF manufacturing them could not have
exceeded two cents more,,. Thus for
every four cents that Swan expended in his
operations he feeced the pocket of the
unsuspecting agent of one dollar, giving
the latter, for his honest money, articles that
were entirely useless, and which he would
not dare exhibit, lest he became the laughing
stock Of the community in which he resided
lime was when farmers turned their barn
shovels into cornshellers, but a cornsheller
consisting of piece of sheet iron inches bv
"a inches in size, is something that no farmer
ever heard of until Swans invention, which
he describes in the circular as ''simple, effec-
tive and easily operated"
SWAN CHEATS THE FACTORY GIRLS.
Beside the circulars of the eastern Man.
ufacturing Co.," Swan sent ont circulars pur-
porting to be issued by the mechanic Falls
Jewelry Co." These circulars were in sub
stance as follows: 'That the company had
just established factory for the manufacture
of heavy plated jewelry, and were de.irous
of Introducing their goods into every town in
the United States. They proposed to send to
any young lady who had been favorably &C.
commended, heavy gold plated chain and
brooch pin, free, provided such young lady
would wear these articles and recommend
them to her companions and associates. The
young lady. however, was to send 80 cents to
the company, to pay cost of transportation
for either the chain or brooch, if only one
was ordered; one dollar if both were ordered
These circulars were sent chiefly to factory
towns, to cheat the factory girls of their hard
earned wages. So far as can be learned no
jewelry has been sent out in return for letters
enclosing money in answer to these circulars.
Not even cent chain has been rec eived
by the factory girl who invested her so cents
or one dollar in the bogus jewelry concern of
T. B. Swan, the champion of the poor against
the rich.
Two MORE BOGUs COMPANIES.
There were still two other companies which
arose at Swans magic incantations. One
was called the "Poland Manufacturing Co..
circular issued in its name promised to
give town clerks in var ious towns throus hout
New England so cents for every 25 names Of
farmers, and the same sum for every 25
names Of y oung ladies. who would like to act
as agents for the eastern Manufacturing
Co." and the Mechanic Falls Jewelry Co.
The other com pany was called the "Ricker
Rake Co." of Mechanic Falls. This also
promised in its circul ar 30 cts. to town clerks
for every 20 names of good farmers. These
companies were merely auxiliaries to the
Eastern Manufacturing Co." and Mechanic
Falls Jewelry Co.." intended to supply them
18th names to address their circulars to. The
town clerks who took the trouble to send in
names are still waiting for the pay offered
them by the circular. Not one of them has
received a cent
A WHOLESALE Rascal.
<Lo ~ -,
culars. Swan has sent out, as nearly as can
be estimated, from 10000 to 1000. In an
swer % these he has received about 500 ordi-
nary letters probably containing one dollar
money orders for one dollar each. These
circulars have all been mailed by T. B. Swan
in person or by parties working for him in
his office. The letters containing money til at
have been received in answer to circulars
have all been delivered to Swan. and the
registered letters and money orders have all
been receipted for by him in the name of the
eastern Manufacturing Co." or "Mechanic
Falls Jewelry Co.
When Swan came to Augusta to take his
seat in the legislature, he enjoined the Post
master at Mechanic Falls not to deliver his
letters to any person but himself, and none
have been delivered to any other person.
SWAN THINKS He Has D-D Coon THING.
At the start the circulars were to be sent
out ostensiblv in the interest of the pump
business with which Swan is connected. No
circulars have been mailed at Mechanic Falls,
but at other offices. The first lot sent out
was 80, for which he received $50. He said
to a person at Mechanic Falls, after his re-
turns came in, that if he could send out from
10, 600 to $1,000 circulars, and get returns in
proportion to what he received for the first lot
sent out, he had ''got ID good thing.
CLEARING THE LAW.
To another pers on who had obtained some
knowledge Of his operations and asked HIM
what he proposed to send out for Corn
Shelter and Moving Machine Knife Sharpen
er. he replied that if he got good return out
of his scheme. say from one to two thousand