The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1885-11-18
PUBLIC LAND SALES.

The Various Kinds OF Sharks Who Attend
Auction Sales of Government Lands
Their Plans and Dodges.
AS the intent of advertising to give
all the people an equal cLante to Sc
cure lands, and the auction sale Is to en-
able the Government to realize by ac-
tive competition among buyers some
thing Ike their value, let us attend one
of these sales, observe the manner in
VIII ch they are conducted. and no
the result in dollars TO the United
States Treasury. We must, however,
understand that several weeks or
months before the public are notified,
it has come, in some mysterious man
ner, TO the Knowledge of q few capital
lists that certain townships of land are
soon to be restored in the usual way.
At once they are actively though quiet
IL engaged sending off crews of two or
three men each, practiccd handbook
erS, on whose judgment they can rely,
to make careful eXaminat on and re-
port on each forty-acre lot. each crew
working within separate and prescribed
limits.
After the proclamation other indi-
viduals or firms undertake, In Ike man
ner, similar examinations, so far as the
limited time viii adm or their means
justify.
On the night preceding the day OF
sale those who are regarded as dders
at the so-calltd auction are assembled
at the village hotel, and the scene is
one of extreme though cautious actiYi-
ty. Verify, says the outside spectator:
ION the morrow the b dding will be
spirited, and the choice lots will be
run up to high figure" We enter
the throng. aud learn something of is
purpose. That Sleex-looking self-con-
tanned gentleman engaged so earnestly
in conversation with the smooth
visaged Young man. with the twenty
four inch head and Napoleonic
physique, is the representative of a
New York syndca of unlimited cap
| tai, having an estimate of each forty
| acres TO be offered, and hungry for
| pine. The younger man IS recognized
as the shrewdest la1d-dealer in Michi-
| gan, and is well informed about the
| lands. They are now sizing each
! other up as to information and ability
| to purchase. Here, again, is man
whose whole exterior tells of hardship
! and exposure. a land examiner who has
! been in the woods for weeks exploring
| on his own account. and who has a
| pOcketful of minutes" which he is
| ready to sell for cash, or an interest in
| the lands, the later preferred. His in
! formation is probably reliable and Of
value. This 81 b-tongued. red-nosed
| person, with the uncertain eve and
! anxious look, is also a land examiner
with informal on for sale. Beware of
him. He is on the watch for tender
feet. His minutes are made up from
| hearSay and 5 general knowledge of
| the country, and compiled at his lodg-
! ings. AS he draws on his imagination
for his facts" he describes only the
| choicest selections, holds them at a
good round price. and sells for what he
can get. Not &c the gentleman who in
| his general makeup" reminds one of
! the ''briefiess barrister.' He wanders
about, listen Nc closely, and occas on
ally dropping with well-assumed care
lessneSs word to indicate his
| intention to invess heavily Oh the NOR
row. His plan s 10 hold aloOf. refuse
| TO join any combination. hoping that
| some one will be weak enough to buy
hin Of from bidding at all. And if he
has the courage TO run up the price on
a few pieces at the opening of the sale,
he Will succeed. Some one will be
! deput;zed to induce him TO ret re: he
names his price. transfers his bids. and
| gracefully abandOns the ie Ual con-
| test. To the efforts o. this adventurer
| IS the Government generally indebted
| for whatever it NAV realize at the sale
| above the minimum price. All the
| other conflicting Interests having made
the best terms possible, and agreed not
to bid against each other-in fact. con-
| spred against the interests of the pub
| lic-the sale is sham. The choicest
lands are gone at the lowest figure tue
remainder left on hand. sub, ect to pur-
base at the same price Ieeser b.
Fame, IA Rdrper's NaQa=iHe