Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-10-29
pUeLIc LAND sAle4.

he Various Kinds Of sharks who Atteud
Auction Sales OF 0overnment Lands-
Their Plans and Dod.ea.
As the intent of advert's ng to give
I'll the people an equal chance to Sc
cure lands. and the auct on sale il to en-
able the Government to realize by &C.
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 noe
the result in dollars to the United
St: .es Treasury. We must. however.
understand that several weeks OF
months before the public are notified.
it has come, in some mysterious man.
ner. to the knowledge of few capital
lists that certain townships of land are
soon to be restored in the usual way.
At once they are actively though quiet
" 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-
viduai: or firms undertake. in Ike man
Ter. similar examinations. so far as the
limited time Will adm OF their means
Justify.
On the night preceding the day of
sale those who are regarded as b ddcrs
at the social i auct on are assembled
at the village hotel. and the scene is
one of extreme though cautious activi-
ty. Verify. says the outside spectator:
ION the morrow the b dding will be
spirited and the choice lots will be
run up to a high figure" We enter
the throng. and learn something OF It's
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
physiquc. is the representative of a
New York synd.c cate of un United cap
tai. having an estimate of each forty
&C es to be offered, and hungry for
Dine. The Younger man is recognized
as the shrewdest land-dealer in Michi
gan. and is well informed about the
lands. They are now sizing each
other up as to information and alb lity
to purchase. Here. again. is man
whose whole exterior tells of hardship
and exposure. land examiner who has
been in the woods for weeks exploring
on his own account and who has Il
pOcketful of minutes, which he is
ready to sell for cash. or an interest in
the lands. the later preferred. His in
formation is proba sly 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 tendo.-
feet. His minutes are made up from
hearsay and h 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 ard sells for what he
can get Not ce the gentleman who in
his general makeup" reminds one of
the ''briefless barrister." He wanders
about. listen ne closely. and occas or
ally dropping W tn well-assumed care
lessness word to indicate h 8
intention to invest heavily on the NOR
row. His plan is to hold aloof. refuse
to join any combination. hoping that
some one will be weak enough to buy
him o i from bidding at all. And if he
has the courage to run mp the price on
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 pr.ce, transfers his bids. and
gracefully abandOns the uae equal con-
lest. To the efforts OF this adventurer
is the Government generally indebted
for whatever it may 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-
sp.red against the interests of the pub
,ic-the sale is cham. The choicest
lands are gone at tia lowest figure, the
remainder left on hand. SUI. .ect t. pur-
chase at the same price.-Veede, y.
Paine. IN Harper's Magazine.