Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-06-28
LAND COMPANIES.
uNwisr INVESTMENTS. rIE NOM AND
rur CANDLE. TWICE TWO CAN'T
MAKE rivE.

>eNersl years sgo an agricultufs
journal devoted q column to the ex
po.urc of "lIumbug Concerns" Thi
column WAS headed by an expressl,'
picture ~ millers slngeing their wing
IN the fisme IL candle. No,withstand
Ing all that has been printed on this sub
iect there Il still abundant proof Of tn
truth of 4. 4. Bsrnum's assertion tina
the American people like Ia be hum
bugged.
Newspaper. are full % advertisement
~ land companies, agencies, and o,hcI
schemes promising large return for !
small Investment. Something Tor moth
Ing L. the lighted candle that slngcs the
unwary miller. The struggle for bresd
Ia 80 hard, composition In trade aud busi
ne.s Ia .o ke.n that people catch at an,
device which promises quick, easy gain
No, long since q Chicago man told
me some facts about the fraudulent
management ~ western so-called "land
companies" Much of the mortgagcI
land l. worthless; NO one would take u
asa gift. Nothing can be raised on II
and no Que would live on Il.
such companies aim to get enough
prominent men into their rim. to give
the brokers confidence. The brokers ar,
not very anxious Ia inform thcm.el,e.
under some circumstances II IL not ~eI
to know too much. They take the ~or,i
20 th. men Who form the company. u
they get the commission they do not
car. What becomes % the principal. II
shouh be a criminal offence Tor men In
high Official position, or Who have held
federal Offices, to lend their names "a
companIe. designed to .windle the pub
lie. such action !. aiding aud ahctting
theft.
MANY so-csllcd Gland companies" arr
merely clever device. Ia catch people
~ho hope Ia get an exorblt.nt return
from small Investment. Here u. an
illustration from my own observation. A
Tract IL sproui land Was bought near q
railroad, lane. called avenues, ~ ieci
aide aud mile long were cut through
scrub oaks and bushes; the land ws.
surveyed and .taked Into lot. ~ bN ID
feet. Every altsrnst. lot VA. given
away. An excursion train was run ou'
from the city on = holiday to railway
.iat.on near the property aud the fc-
naming lot. we're sold AZ prices yarying (
from 81 IT, go zach. Many % the buy
ers we're city mechanics Who know moth
Ing about caltivating land, but TIRED II
indoor toll. hong "a osna bit OF land
whsrc they can have a breath of country
air. Knowing nothing about earning =
living from land they would be as much
cot Of place on q farm a. q farmer would
d. la a machine shop. tine or two w
diVidual. tried to l~gin life In prim'-
tive Nay by camping out on their lot'
bat the result Nas disastrous, sni noN
bushe, are fa., growing up In the
avenue. aud the tax collector gtoNl'
over the trouble aud expense 81 collect
Ing taNe. In small amount. from IRE
.l,on.lble owner. of sprout land.
Sometimes shsr-s are sold Instead ol
lots With promise of larg, seml-annual
dividends. The larger the dividend
usually the larger the fraud. Ihou.and'
of dollar. hs,, rcccntly been hlch~l
from farmers and working people by
share selling land company. The com
iany reserve N. right such companic.
are careful to have pleuty of reserved
righisl Ia sell lot. Ia a certain section I"
the ''origlnal stockholders, meaning
themselves. aud members % the conIa'
nv. The b..t Of everything 10 reserved
fnr the original stockholders.
After paying one or tso large d''t'
dend. th.y stop selling shares aud hnd .
plausible excuse to avoid pa,ing another
ctsh dividend. 4 meeting ~ the .ioyk
holdcrs I. called. presumably ',original,
~ho vote Ia pay script dividend pays.
be In "city Ids." II bots arr acccp'eci
Instead oi cash Il I. saic Ia believe that
In frs months a tax bill Will De pre-
scuis,i. By this time the original man
agrmeut say. "yOu are Ia u aud m1s1
make the beet 10 IT,"
.sThe fool aud his money are soon
parted" apple. 10 thousand. OF men aud
u omen, boz. and girls, Who spend their
hard-earncd savings la vain endeaNof
Ia get large return from small out
Law. Farmer. Who are making four oi
five Ter cent on capital Invested should
~ content With the slow but .urc gain
IN man has farm aud a COW lac Is
reasonably sure of having roof over
M. head. n he can manage 10 make his
farm feed his COW, the COW Will probably
feed him.
Avoid the candles ~ un~ise Invest
ment.. avoid the fiame of clever devices
which .lnges the wings of outside fooI,
New England Farmer.