The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1883-06-27
Correspondence.
CHICAGO, June 10Th, 1883

CHICAGO, June 10Th, 1888.
Editor Chronicle:
When one man thinks he knows more
than all the rest of the world about any
thing in particular, and when that same
individual concludes that he can control
more money than the combined purses of
all his opponents wherewith to handle
the aforesaid thing, Chicago is perhaps
the very place of all others for him TO
come to, in order to follow out that
thought to its Logical conclusion; and then
again perhaps it isn't. Ten chances to
one he will go on the Board of Trade and
ventilate his opinion among the boys,
and when his voice is lifted up and he is
trying to back his opinion Of a particular
commodity with his shining sheckels the
boys will whisper one to another, "be-
hold, our eyes see new and an exceed
ing fresh daisy, whose dew is like unto
the tears of Niobe. Let us arise and
pluck it." and they stretch forth their
hands and 10; it is plucked daisy in
about two jerks of a lambs tail-and that
is what ais tho late sovereign Of lard
McGeoch, Everingham & Co. 1t takes
money to handle lard, whether on mar
gins, or cash trades. Nc, and his crowd
had it; they came from Milwaukee with
the express purpose of cornering this
market; they proposed to show the
youths of the Board that Milwaukee
knew how to 60 the whole hog. They
seized the Board by the slack of its un-
mentionables, raised it from it's base and
just as its victory seemed complete, the
deal slipped through their greasy fingers
and the great firm Of Nc. 4 Co., we're
minus two and one-half millions Of the
mighty dollar. You have probably re-
ceived all particulars before this. To-day
operators are clearing away the wreck
and feeling of their bruises. Owing to
the promptness of such men as Phil
Armour and his crowd who foresaw that
in case the panic in lard when the corner
broke would unless stopped, bringanother
"Black Friday" all over the country the
market is again firm and the damage is
confined to but few. Eleven millions
of dollars are said to have been required
to hold up the market, but they managed
to raise it without borrowing from your
correspondent.
In quiet way, barb wire has made
quite rafting among the dry bones Of
late. The recent decision of Judge Treat
gave Washburn & Moen very black eye.
Hitherto that firm have held all other
manufacturers in check except two under
a license system, backing up their posi-
ton by the decision of Judge Drummond.
Treats view of the validity of their
ground floor patents has led to a small
rebellion among the licenses and they
threaten to manufacture as they please
without further royalty-as this royalty
amounts in the aggregate to nearly two
millions annually, Washburn & Moenare
both to lose it and to-day they are out in
a circular, announcing that they will
fight in defense of their patents clear up
to the Supreme Court. 1t appears to
man up tree like game of bluff, but
with so many millions at stake it is prob
able that by threatening interminable
litigation, coupled with the fact that he
who has the biggest pile usually is able
to raise the other fellow out, they may
be able to dictate the price of barb wire
for years to come to the whole country.
Great is patent right.
Chicago is at present over run with
snide mining corporations. Some of
them such bare-faced swindlers that the
wonder is how they prosper. They have
been worked so shamelessly that in some
instances the law has taken hold of them.
The wild excitement and reckless invest
ments in Colorado mines four years ago
is oyer and the multitude WHO sought to
be rich BY investing hundred dollars in
a mining corporation stocked at six to
ten millions have had time to mediate
on the folly of expecting much OF div
idend. Nearly every one has been bit,
but tucked away in some place where
friends will not be apt to see them, you
will find stock certificates for which good
dollars have been given up and for which
good dollars will never be returned. The
result is that business men are shy of
taking hold of new mining enterprises.
1t is almost useless to endeavor to raise
money for mining enterprises in this city.
Now matter how good the prospects may
be or how well recommended the owner
,na,, como unless he il willing To give the