The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-07-19
The Folly Of Being SwindIed.

There is an entire class of confidence
games that appeals not exactly to our
dishonesty but to our avarice; to our
desire to make money faster than by the
ordinary ssslow-coach" ways-to make
money by going little out of our regu-
lar line Of business, by agencies of some
kind, instead of farming. For example,
about half of the farms in q certain
township in Ohio were sold under mort
gage a few years ago, and society and
the church were convulsed and almost
disrupted, as follows: A fine, ministerial
looking gentleman came to town and
iectured on temperance. He was a
good talker, and won the hearts of the
rood, religious, temperance people in
hat rich and moral farming township.
Be staid in the region some time, no one
seemed to know, or at least say, why.
In q strictly confidential way he ap-
preached one after another of the solid
farmers, making each think he was the
only one to have O chance at the bonan-
"a. 1t was this: He was indirectly in
terested in a patent for the manufacture
of an improved spring bed or mattress,
fer superior to any other. County and
State rights were sold for its manufac-
eure. Il very felO Western States were
still unsold. If Mr.. A. wanted q certain
county in Iowa for $50, with the refusal
o. the State at the same rate per county.
he could have it, and the chance to go
out and prospect on the ground. Coun-
ties would sell readily at 5000 to $3.50
each. The thing must be kept strictly
quiet and confidential, or so many would
rush in as TO swamp the thing.
So farmer A. buys county or two at
$50, payment on his return, proUiled he
seiLs. No possible chance for swindle.
All perfectly plain and clear. He had
best not let it be known why he goes
West, or even that he goes at all, if pos
sible. "The still sow eats the corn, "
you know. So he goes, readily finds a
purchaser for his county at $3.50, comes
home with 500 profit, mortgages his
farm and buys the whole State at $50
per county; one hundred counties at
$50 cost 5000. One hundred counties
to be sold at $3.50 will bring S25, 200 ;
profit of the transaction $4,000. So
after q few weeks, his arrangements
are all made and he sets forth to sell the
rest of his counties and finds no buyer /!
The man who bought his sstriaI county,
at $3.50 was 'pal'' of the ministerial
temperance lecturer who sold it to him
for $50, and didn't axk his pay until he
had sold. And it developed slowly that
nearly half the farmers in this town had
bought counties, States, or parts of
States, or had discounted notes given
by others in payment of county or State
rights. I" the man" had taken teams,
notes, money, mortgages, anything in
payment, and before the final collapse
and expose had turned all into what
ready cash they would bring, and left
the region.
Here the appeal was made to the
avarice of these farmers. They left
their regular business of farming,
which they understood, and went into
a doubtful outside speculation which
they did not understand, In the hopes OF
sudden wealth or competence. They
found the scripture true: "They that
make haste to be rich iall into a snare.''
As rule, it is best to avoid outside
speculation, even agencies of an agri.
cultural character; to have nothing to
do with the wonderful, the astonishing,
high-priced seeds, plants, agricultural
or horticultural discoveries, blight
proof pear trees, curculio-proof plum
trees, Russian apple trees that beav al
years or in all climates <snd sell at 81
q piece); Bohemian oats that will make
us all rich-and the seed sells at SIC
per bushel, under an association which
you are urged to join
Then there are agencies offered tc
you as ssthe most infiuentisl farmer II
town." and on which you are sure t<
make enormous profits. You are t.
sign an order for so many wagon jacks
or patent cultivators-or "Revised Nea
Testaments," (for this is one Of tho
latest and most pious dodges) or "farm
diaries" or what not ''to be paid for
when sold" That ssorder" turns up in
three months or so as Judgment nots
for $500, which you have to pay. "To
be paid for when sold" means when you
are sold. Cor. Rural NeD YorSer.