The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1906-1908, 1906-10-19
INTERESTING CONTEST.
Heavy Cost of Unpaid Postage.

One Of the most curious contests
ever before the public was conducted
by many thousand persons under the
offer of the Postum Cereal Co., Ltd,
of Battle Creek, Mich, for prizes of
81 boxes of gold and 800 greenbacks
to those making the most words out
Of the letters Y-I-O-Grape-Nuts.
The contest was started in Febru-
airy, 1906, and it was arranged to have
the prizes awarded on Apr. 80, 1906.
When the public announcement APP
peared many persons began to form
the words from these letters, some.
times the whole family being occupied
evenings, a combination of amuse.
ment and education.
After while the lists began to
come in to the Postum Office and be.
fore long the volume grew until it re.
Many of the contestants were thought
less enough to send their lists with
insufficient postage and for period
it cost the Company from twenty five
to fifty-eight and sixty dollars day
to pay the unpaid postage.
Young ladies', generally those who
had graduated from the high school,
were employed to examine these lists
and count the correct words. Web
ster's Dictionary was the standard
and each list was very carefully cor.
rected except those which fell below
5000 for it soon became clear that
nothing below that could win. Some
of the lists required the work of a
individual list. The work was done
very carefully and accurately but the
Company had no idea, at the time the
offer was made, that the people would
respond so generally and they were
compelled to fill every available space
in the offices with these young lady
examiners, and notwithstanding they
worked steadily, it was impossible
to complete the examination unit
Sept. 30, over six months after the
prizes should have been awarded.
This delay caused great many in
quiries and naturally created some
dissatisfaction. 1t has been though
best to make this report in practically
all of the newspapers in the United
States and many of the magazines il
order to make clear to the people thu
conditions of the contest.
Many lists contained enormous
numbers of words which. under tn,
rules, had to be eliminated "Pegger
would count "Peggers" would moi
Some lists contained over 5000
words, the great majority of whicl
were cut out The largest lists wer
checked over two and in some case
three times to insure accuracy.
The $4,000 gold prize was won b
L. D. Reese, 1227-15th St.. Denver
Colo, with 9941 correct words. Tn
highest $1,000 gold prize went to
K. Fraser, Lincoln, Pa, with 1921 Co
rect words.
A complete list of the 331 winner
with their home addresses will b
sent to any contestant enquiring on
postal card.
Be sure and give name and addres
clearly.
This contest has cost the Co. man
thousand dollars, and probably hs
not been a profitable advertisement
nevertheless perhaps some who hs
never before tried Grape-Nuts foe
have been interested in the contes
and from trial of the food have bee
shown it's wonderful rebuilding po'
ers.
1t teaches in practicable mann
that scientifically gathered food 81
ments can be selected from the fie
grains, which nature will use for
building the nerve centres and bra
in a way that Is unmistakable
users of GrapeNuts.
There's a reason
Postum Cereal Co., Ltd. Battle Creek, Nj