The evening times., 1896-02-17
CALL 1T A VAST FRAUD
New Yorkers, Too, Are Fighting
the Acstylene Fake.
1t is characterized as IA Great stock
Speculation Uprn Al Basis
of Gas"
New York sun.

The Sun desires TO sound 4 warning note
10 all persons who may 'r about to invest
money in stock companies which are either
formed or forming 10 20 into schemes Of
any kind in connection with the production,
sale or usc of tic EcwIy exploited gas.
acetyIene, or the material from which it
is produced, calcium Carbide.
In doing this The Sen does not proposc
TO raise any question concerning acctyIcne
as an Illuminating material. independently
of its cost, nor OF its OIL er value, as great
or perhaps even greater, IN the hands OF
commercial chemists for the production OF
other things fol r;he u sc of mankind. Viewed
from these standpointS calcium carbide and
| aCetylcne are among the most interesting
| uf modern products and are undoubtedly
destined TO play an important part in com
1 aiercial chemistry ard in the great in
iustries OF our times.
! II is such facts as these. skilfuIly used,
| which have been made a basis for L
great network OF schemes formulated by
| promoters, in which The public is now
! being asked to invest.
That these schemes have Eeen in incuba-
tlob has been known for several months.
hut il Is only within n few weeks that
evidence came To hand that they Were
about TO hatch in great quantities
This evidence cane, - Goes 4 great deal
Of ike evidence, fIonI = publication liz the
World. Three weeks ago there appeared
fUHpage story, telling ali about the
wonders OF acctylcrc, end iHtinlatiBg in ~
strong manner a. TIE promoters OF
the acetylene schemes dared, tnat there
must DE enormous profits in every and
any investments which might he made in
any kind OF stock which contains the
magic word ''aCetylcnc." Its character
and location Were sufficient TO awaken
suspicion.
Every person VITO j. asked to invest in
any OF the various forms OF acctylcne stocks
with which the country is .oon to he
flooded. 81 ouid bear tlese TWO pertinent
facts in mind:
First, tEat although the so-CalIcd dis
covery OF Tie process for making calcium
carbide was made ,cveraI years ago. ami
the Electro Gas Company. which owns
the patents taken ont 10 cover the dis
Covery, has been in existence for about a
year. there is rot today in existence any
where in this country 4 commercial plant
where calcium carbide is being produced,
and not pound of 1t is for sale except
at chemists prices, and not a cubic foot
OF acetylene gas j. tcing produced and
sold commercially; and, sCcondlp. sssSt ne
person who i directly andTesponsibly con
nectcd with the owners of the Electro Gas
Company will give any estimate whatever
as to the cost OF the calcium carbide or
the resultant gas, which lie win guarantee
to be either a correct figure or even
maximum figure or cost.
One other very pertinent fact must be
taken into considerI tIon also. THIS is
that the companies which are about to be
formed and some that are now offering
stock for sale have none OF them bought
o. agreed to Duy from the parent company
a1y rights except such a may pertain TO
the use OF calcium carbide ard acetylene
for the production OF light, heat aud
power, and no matter how many profit
able uses may be found for the new
IL Is IN these otter direc-
lions that many people believe that its
real commercial value VIII be found-ao
purchaser under any of the rights which
have so far been barcIincd for or sod,
viii get one particle OF benefit thercfrom.
IL such values develop. the purchaser
Tao is now invited 10 buy ''unsight, un-
cen" viii see new carbide and acctylene''
licensed to enter his own field
md TO make the money which he is by
implication led to believe wCu'G be his ir
IT, takes on faith the glowing fairy ts!es
which the promoters new set before him.