Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-09-27
V|G0|k|l'['D'
"A Seed Potato schems Worked
Among Farmers In lows end
Other statsa
Specimens Were Colored With Ana
line Dye and q Phenomenal
Yield Claimed.
Ten Dollars q Bushel Paid by
the Victims Plan Of
Swindlerl

ST. /
Swindlera /;
buque say the farmers up north are just
beginning to realize that they have been
made the victims of new scheme by ,
whicfa clever individual has cleaned UP
in the neigh borhood of 100000 in that
state, Illinois. Indiara and Missouri.
There have been no cases reported in
this state. The plan resembles the Boz
hemian oat deal OF several years ago.
Early last winter company vas in
corporated with an alleged capital OF
81, 00O, COO Soon after the company was
incorporated the mails were filed with
letters in each case to some well-to-do
farmer. This letter stated that the
company had purchased a quantity of
phenomenal seed potatoes.
That, with ordinary ground, this pota-
to which they were handling was guar
anteed to yield from 800 to 1000 bushels
per acre. Seed could be procured Of
thsm only al a cost OF so per bushel and
would be sold to any one purchaser at
this price. In no case was payment de-
lslred in advance, and the company
would undertake to buy back. the fol-
lowing season. an equal number Of bu-
shells at the same price. Those who
We're interested were invited to cores
pond with the new company.
Enclosed with the letter was a clip
ping from a Chicago paper containing
the following encouraging nformation:
Long Island farmers have discov-i
cred a potato which returns phenome-
nal yield. The failure IN this vicinity
thru blight this season of the potato
crop compelled the farmers to look
about for a variety new to their soil. 7
There is much promise In one promul-
gated about two years ago in Suffolk
county, which is said to be not only a
prolific producer, but excellent in quail
| ity as we'll. A few pounds each have
been distributed to the farmers for trial
and the results reported from them are
somewhat phenomenal. From one
pound tests sixty to ninety pounds have
been produced, and one farmers yield
was at the rate of 900 bushels per acre. Z
| This served to whet the appetite of
1.-THE granger for more recommends tons
lconcerning the prolific potato. The seed
ioffered was known as the Pink Pro-
lducer." and was declared to be satisfac-
tory for any use. OF course, there were
many responses tosthese letters. and the
4 farmer would then receive an answer
Ito the effect that the state agent would
soon call. Within q fortnight a we'll
4 dressed business man would appear.
with a sample peck of the potatoes
4 They We're clean-eyed specimens, and
leach one a bright pink color. "A deal
would be made for anywhere from two
Il and a half to ten bushels delivery to be
made in ten days. The farmer would
give his promissory note. due in two,
4 three or four months, as the case might
4 be, and he would receive in time an
sIagreement to purchase a corresponding
number of bushels at the $40 price the
atsneXt season or to give the farmer the
township agency If he preferred it. OF
Icourse, all the farmers notes We're dis
|eounted at the nearest bank, OF in any
slevent they passed into third and an
innocent purchasers hands In Orton-3
sIville and Odesso MINI. alone over $3.-
500 worth of these notes We're collected
Hast month. All along the line of the
a milwaukee railway, from Glencoe to
4 Ioorhead, there is hardly station
where dupes have not been found. Min
4 Inesota must have been touched for a
q ful 100000. while Indiana was sWindled
worst of all. The residents of Illinois
are said to have contributed over double
II the amount that is credited to Mime
j sofa.
1t has been discovered that the po-
tatoes sold under the name of Pink
l. Producers We're bought last spring in
a Ohio. and. after being carefully washed.
) were given q bath OF analine dye. which
added the desired tint. In other respects
: they were Of the ordinary variety,
This fraud probably would not have
{ come to light SO early in the year had
lit not been for personal difficulty
J (which two members Of the company had
! two weeks ago in Detroit. One thought
> he was getting the worst of the tinan-
e cial end Of the deal and protested. The
Iother tried to convince him he didn't
n know what he was talking about, and
4 1.-The result was blows and the police
n lcourt. The former then told about the
e paying scheme, and is now sojourning
f in Windsor, Canada, waiting for the
e storm to blow over.
Pella Fair Opens.
Pelia, Sept. 27.-The Pella fair opened
: here Tuesday under very unfaYora bic
circumstances. it having rained all the
4 lday and night previous. The weather