Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-21
AUGUSTA. MAINE. MONDAY MORNING. DECEMBER 81, 1896
HAD 1opAY UP.
Oxford County Farmers Much Asitaied Over
Men Who Sold Ranges.

worked up on account of certain sleek
looking and smooth talking men who
went through Maine during the past
season selling ranges. Their stove
teams were fine looking affairs, and
were each drawn by four or six white
mules. Sometimes four or six of these
teams travelled together. and they i'm
pressed the cOuntrymen something as
the circus does.
The statesmen drove into the yards of
the farmers and offered the ranges for
sale at the price of $50, which Is quite
stiff one, but then, the men wanted
no money down-only a note for five or
six months time-and the farmers say
there was definite verbal promise that
the time should be extended if neces-
sary. for the purchasers to MAKE easy
payments. .s
The scheme was one which took with
the farmers. and it is said that hum
dreds of the ranges We're sold. The
days of reckoning came, however, and
now that the farmers have to face the
collector who is a far different man
from the urbane statesmen, there is
weeping and wailing and the sound of
words not found in the Bible or used
in polite society. The people who gave
notes and signed contracts are held to
the letter of the writings.
The note which was given reads as
follows:
$50. State of Maine. On the 1st day of
November 1886 after date. we. or either
of us, promise to pay to the order of
Wrought Iron Range Co.. s6a. value re-
ceived. without discount or offset. waiv-
ing our rights to all exemptions allowed
us by law with interest at per cent.
from date. if not paid when due or when
presented. County of Oxford. Witness
After the range was set up and the
farmer had signed his name to the
note he was asked to sign that of his
wife. the agent saying it would do just
as well as for her to sign herself. The
agent would produce contract which
had not been mentioned before, and
the purchaser was asked TO sign it. The
following is d copy of the contract:
State of Maine oxford county. This
memorandum of agreement made and en-
tered into this - A. d. Is, between
the Wrought Iron Range Co. of st. Louis,
Mo. of the first part. ana = OF the
second part witnesseth: That the
Wrought Iron Range Co. has, this day
Soid TO the parties OF ,he secoiio p pr 3 dn
liyered the same in good order and in
consideration of the same, the parties Of
the second part have caused to be exc
cuted their promissory note. bearing even
date herewith. for the sum OF 500. pay
able TO the order of Wrought Iron Range
% Without discount or offset and due
on the list day of November. 1896.
Now be it understood that the
W'roupht Iron Range Co warrant said
range to bake. boil and do all kinds of
cookinp in a good Workmanlike manner.
Ana agrae ia furnish free of charge any
narts Thai may with ordinary use get on:
Of renair sufficiently to iniure the work
ing Of said range during the period of Il
months from the date of this writing.
nrovided that the above note is paid
wb.n 1t,a and nresented and that the
narties of the second part furnish such
f,ue and fueI as is necessary to its per-
fant ouaration
II L. further agreed that the range is
not transferable until paid for and re
GENTS discounts or offsets will not be ac
cented against the above note This is
~ onlv arreement or Stimulation recog-
nizad IN tha purchase and sale of said
range and no alteration of above con-
diti0ns or erasure by statesmen is au-
thorized or will be recognized by said
comnanv.
1Sirned in duplicate)
WROIGHT IRON RANGEsCO.
,,o 80 49, ,ho,., ooo
On the other side OF the above con-
tract is this:
, .. -, ,,a
ut nrices regulated by the company. and
no other time for payment given than as
MS lhs,.ue'tu ~, ~ or,.',res ar aIteratinns upon
notes or warrants. or any Endorsements
allowing discounts. except Tor casn pald
on aco4 ;1i1 oi ,nrhdisn w. furnish our
statesmen with Autograph receipts. num-
bered and signed with fac-simiie OF name,
as oeio n5 " ,,sad Nv them in navment of
hills to customers or for cash received
from parties who are indebted 10 US lor
i .loine ,',;nr -, th;s scrin nartIv for. the
protection of ourselves. but more par
ticularly for the proteclioii OF our eun
.uiiie arsons NJ renresentinp themselves as
having authority from us, have collected
money ON sales and given fe cen aor ,n'
S.,,e' ,n Want 70 caution an persons that
no receipts OF money. bus 81 ahEth s,,s