The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1906-1908, 1906-04-06
Fake Mining.

The term Wild-cattlng is a
common expression among some
of our eastern friends, many of
whom are sincere in the belief
that the cat" is the natural pro-
duct of western mining camps.
Indeed so convinced are they with
this idea that they would be dis
appointed, if, upon visiting the
mineral sections of this inter-
mountain region, they failed to
stumble upon a nest of Wildcats
and innumerable kittens at every
turn Of the road; and yet, were
they to tell the truth, they would
say that they found the west
more free from fake mining
schemes than is the great tran
Mississippi region and the far
east, AS a matter Of fact, the
wildcat is an animal of east
ern product and culture, and it is
not the fault of the west if
frauds are perpetrated in the
east with alleged western mines
and prospects as the basis of the
fraud.
In looking over the mining stu
alton. The Mining Review is
proud to be able to make the
statement that it is rarely that
western mining man is ever
found to be engaged in wild
eating" or in unloading worth
less mining property upon the
eastern public. AS a general
rule it is the eastern shark who
deludes the innocent investor
and the gullable public of the
Atlantic and middle states.
This class of men come out here,
secure prospects of doubtful
value, with title uncertain.
Then they incorporate in the
east under some highsounding
name, use money freely in adj
vertising, and take in thousands
of dollars for which they give
nothing of value in return.
Later on, the victims of the
shark awake to the fact that
they have been skinned, when
they begin to talk knowingly of
the Wildcats of the west, and
condemn mining in all its
branches.
We have before us newspaper
Published in Iowa that is full to
overlooking with large display
advertisements Of fake mining
companies, whose shares are
fully paid aud nonassessable. ("
You may look through the
pages of legitimate mining papers
of the west and you could not
find single one of these adver-
tisement in their columns. Two
reasons exist for this apparent
oversight, one of which is that a
reputable mining paper would
not carry them at any price, and
the other is that if offered, the
publishers of such papers would
investigate into the merits of
mining companies thus offering
its patronage, with the result
that manv Of them would be ex-
posed in due time as fakes and
frauds of the first water
Taking the eastern papers of
large circulation, one is amazed
at the way their Sunday editions
are almost swamped with adver-
tisements of this character.
The general high standing of
these publications give a certain
tone and standing to their fake
advertisers and as a consequence
victims are roped in by the
hundreds of thousands by the al
Turing promises made Of sudden
wealth to be made by investing
in the stock of mining companies
whose properties are near
neighbors" of some producing
and dividend-paying mine of
note. Dividends will be paid
in six months is q fine bait and
suckers are plentiful, but, in the
wind-up, the principals in the
steal disappear, the Office is
closed, and, in many cases, it is
found, upon investigation. that
the company never possessed a
foot of ground in any Of the
leading mining camps Of the
west. But the west has to bear
the brunt of the disgrace, of the
anger and chagrin of the victim.
and is time and AGAIN DESIGNATED