Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-10-15
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 chance to Sc
cure lands, and the auction sale is to en-
able the Government to realize by ac-
tive competition among buyers some
thing like their value let us attend one
of these sales, observe the manner in
VIII CHI they are conducted. and note
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 few capital
lists that certain townships of land are
soon to be restored in the usual way.
AT once they are actively though quiet
ly engaged sending off crews of two or
three men each, practiced handbook
ers, on whose Judgment they can rely,
to make careful examination 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 like man
ner, similar examinations, so far as the
limited time will adm t or their means
justify.
On the night preceding the day of
sale those who are regarded as bidders
at the so-called auction 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 bidding will be
spirited, and the choice lots will be
run up to high figure" We enter
the throng, and learn something of it's
purpose. That slee.2-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
New York syndicate of unlimited capi-
tai, having an estimate of each forty
acres to be offered, and hungry for
pine. 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 ability
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 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 glib-tongued. red-nosed
person, with the uncertain eye and
anxious look, is also a land examiner
with information for sale. Beware of
him. He is on the watch for tender
feet. His minutes are made up from
hearsay and his general knowledge of
the country, and compiled at his lods-
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. Notice the gentleman who in
his general makeup" reminds one of
the ''briefless barrister.' He wanders
about. listening closely, and OCCASION
ally dropping with well-assumed care
lessness word to indicate his |
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 |
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 |
deputlzed to induce him to retire; he |
names his price, transfers his bids. and |
gracefully abandons the unequal con-
test. To the efforts of this adventurer
is the Government generally indebted
tor 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-
'pired against the interests of the pub
lc-the sale is sham. The choicest
ands are gone at the lowest figure, the
remainder left on hand. subject to pur-
:hase at the same price Feeder b.
Pane, en- Harper's Magazine.