Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-03-04
Auction Snlca of pnhlic lands.

As the intent OF advertising is to give
all the people an equa chance to secure
lands. and the auction sale IS to enable
the government to realize by active
competition among buyers something
like thrir value let us attend one OF
these sales. observe the manner in
which they are conducted, and note
the result in dollars TO the United
States Treasury. We must. however,
understand that several weeks OF
months before the public are notified,
Il has come. in some mysterious mar.
ner 20 the knowledge Of a few capita
lists that certain townships Of land are
soon to be restored in the usual way.
At once thov are actively though quiet
" engaged sending of crews Of two or
three men each, pcactlscd land-looEers,
on whose Judgment they cn rely, to
make careful examination and report
on cacn forty-acrc lot, each crew wor6-
ing within separate and prescribed
limits.
After the proclamation otherindivid-
uals or firms undertake., in like man
ner, similar examinations, 50 far as the
limited time will admit or their means
justify.
On the night preceding the day Of
sale those who are regarded rs bidders
at The so-caIlcd auction are assembled
at the village hotel, aud the scene is
one of extreme tHough cautious actiyI-
ty. verify says the spectator, ION
the morrow tine bidding viii be
spirited, and the choice lots viii be run
up to high figure We enter the
throug, and learn something of its
purpose. That Slcck-lookiug, self-cOn-
tanned gentleman engaged 50 earnestly
in conversation with the smoOti-yis-
aged young man, with tho twenty-four
inch head and Napo.couic physique, is
the representative of u New York sym
dicatc of unlimited capital, having an
estimate OF each forty acres TO be Of
fered, and hungry ior pine. The
younger man is recognized rs the
snrowdcst laud-dcalcr IN Michigan, and
is we'd Informed a5out the lands
Tbej arc now sizing each other up
rs to information and ability to pur-
chase. Here, again, is man whose
wav,c exterior tulis of hardship and OK
posture. "a laud-cNaminCr vino has been
IN the woods Tor wccE, exploring on
his own account, and who has a peck
ctW OF minutes, which he is ready
TO -oii for cash, or am interest IN the
lands, the laltor preferred. His inlor-
NATION is propu0y reliable and OF
va.ae. TIM, sGu-tou2u.d, red-uosed
person, with inc uncertain eve and
anxious iOoE, is also "a laud-cNuuiucr
Wlju information for safe Beware OF
him. He is on the watch for tender
feet. Ills minutes are made up from
hcarsay and his general knowledge Of
the country, and compiled at his lodg-
ing>. a, nc draws on his imlglua-
ton for mis- facts, he describes only
the choices, selections, holds them at a
good round price, and sells for what he
can get. Notice the gentleman who
in his general "make-up' reminds one
OF the "bueiicss oUrrister lie wan
dets about, listening closely, and oc-
casonuliy dropping with wcll-as-umcd
calcicssuess % word TO Indicate his IN
tcuuon 10 invest ucayiiN on the NOR
row. His plan is 10 hold aloOt, refuse
10 JON ans combination, Aopna that
some one will oe weak enough 10 buy
him of from bidding at ALL And il he
BIZ, the courage TO run mp the price ON
a few piece, no the opening OF the sale,
he VIA succeed. Some one win be-
dcpu zod 10 induce him 20 retire; he
name, u, price, transfers his blds, and
gIuc tuDy auanduus the unequal con-
test 10 the efforts Of this adFeuturer
is the government generally udcOted
Tor whatever 1T may rcalize az the sale
above the minimum price. All the
Other conflicting interests having
made the best torn, possible, and
ag,ccd not to bid against each other
in fact consprod against the interests
OF the public the SAFE IS shaun. The
choicest lands are gone at tnc lowest
figure, the remainder left ON hand, sun
lect TO purchase at the same price, -
bcedlr ~, tauls, IN Htrpcr'S hayu.Hc
tOy. tJcfgbgr