, 1884-08-22
SCHEMlNG FOR sHEKELS
The Ways of the Wyoming Terri
tOrial Historical Company.
A Brace of Foxy Fellows and
Their Little Game.
How A Magnificent Mountain
Dwindled Into A Mole Hill.

Nearly every reader of TIE LEADER,
almost all Of the business men ofthe city,
and perhaps a majority of the stockmen,
will remember that last Spring a grand
scheme for the benefit of the Territory
was announced with great eclat by certain
parties who claimed to be the representa-
tives of a so-called Territorial Historical
Company"
The men at the head of the enterprise
were a certain man named Brown, who
figured as the secretary and treasurer, "
and a colleague named Wilkinson, who
appeared mysteriously in the background
as the president. Those parties Sc
cured apartments at the Inter Ocean
hotel as headquarters, and early in the
year began operations. Having employed
an artist, a literary man, and a number of
agents, they sent ont a prospectus. They
protested to compile a full, complete and
accurate history Of Wyoming, from the
time Of he landing of Columbus on bleak
New England's shores down to the present
day. The Work" as they preferred to
call it, was also to include an exhaustive
and reliable description of the wonderful
resources of the Territory; it would con-
tain elaborate and expensive engravings
of the picturesque scenery; it would en-
body a portfolio of views of the Yellow
stone; it would give a carefully prepared
history of early Indian wars and early
pioneers; all public buildings would
be pictorially represented and each
county aud town would be given n dis
tinct classification in the wonderful book.
1t was alleged that the book, or work, if
you please, would be so elaborate that
nearly two years would be employed in
preparing it, while its cost would, be so
large that it could not be sold for less
than SIS.
The enterprising men of the Territory,
convinced that such a book, or work,
would be Of value, gave it a hearty ap-
proval, and cordially welcomed the afore-
said foxy gentlemen, Messrs. Brown and
Wilkinson, as public benefactors and
Ministers Plenipotentiary of Philan-
thropy-
Now the protested purposes of the His
torical Company were, in themselves, not
only plausible, but worthy of general sup
port. But there existed a contingency
which was understood by only the off
GERS Of the Company" When they
first came here they talked long and
proudly of their record in Montana
where they had just completed their la
borious exertions, and where, after being
the pets of the people for two years, they
had prepared a marvellous history Of the
Territory.
Now comes the announcement.
Shortly after they began their labors
here they sent a messenger TO Omaha
with instructions to talk with Mr.. Morse,
the Passenger Agent of the Union Pacific,
with a view of obtaining passes for some
fifteen or twenty men who would be en-
gagged in preparing the wonderful work.
Corr e~spondence with the officials of the
road being of no avail, the messenger
scheme was deemed diplomatic. Upon
arriving in Omaha, the representative of
the Company learned from Mr.. Morse
that Messrs. Wilkinson and Brown
were not unknown to the railroad.
He also learned that they
were considered tricksters and schemers.
Il is needless to say that he returned
without the commissions to travel over
the road as guests of the Union Pacific.
After bis return the gentleman, who was
employed by the Company in a literary
way, began to see through the scheme of
the Work and thereupon he promptly
resigned. The artist and an agent we're
sent out with a team to work the country.
MIR. Wilkinson returned to the Com
pany's 'headquarters'' at Chicago. Mr..
Brown Travelled along the line of the
Union Pacific and the Large force of
men was thus thrown into the field for
the two years campaign.
4 careful investigation has disclosed
these facts of the operations of the Com
pany:' Agents were sent to the wealthy
men Of each town. The scheme of the
Company was displayed in seductive and
attractive form, and notes of
the life of the victim we're
taken. Subsequently he would be again
approached with a proposition to have
his picture inserted in the work at a cost
of $50 or $40, according to his reluctance.
means or wishes. A picture of his resi-
dence would also be inserted for SIS for a
full page or $50 for a half page. His
business house would be represented for a
like sum. OF course he would subscribe
for a copy of the work. Five dollars down
"as a guarantee of good faith"
and the balance when the
book was published. Several gentlemen
here gave large orders and paid large
sums to the Company. After a time
Brown and Wilkinson disappeared, and
nothing has been heard of them for some
time. But they have bobbed up serenely.
The artist and the agent who went cut
into the wilds to gather facts and collect
money, left the Company some
time ago, and Mr.. Brown has
been going it alone. At Laramie, Raw
Inns, Evanston, Green River and other
points he has worked the people for
enough to pay his expenses for the Sum
mer, but he has no. made much of a
boom. Meanwhile the people Of Mon.