The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1907-08-24

Some Of the Plans 70 Secure Money
Without Adequate Compensation

Plans 70 secure money from the
people without giving adequate 10
turns are numerous. Not alone are
the residents OF country districts
made the victims Of schsmers. bat
city people as well are now and then
humbugged by shrewd fakirs. Within
the past year or two II was announced
In the columns Of magazines and the
farm papers Of q seedless apple being
evolved A few months later seediess
apple trees were widely advertised
from different parts OF the country.
One concern which started In 10 OBJ
crate on an extensive plan organized
seedless apple companies In different
states OF the western country. Within
n few months hundreds OF thousands
Of dollars were taken from the peck
cts OF the people for seediess apple
trees. These trees were just the
ordinary kind. and poor stock az that
So bold were the operations OF the
seedless apple tree schemers that the
secretary OF agriculture found nee
essary 70 issue bulletin warning the
people OF the fraud. and later the post
once department issued fraud orders
against those engaged In the nefarious
business. There are nurseries located
In nearly every state II 10 q good
plan for the residents OF farming and
fruit growing districts 10 carefully In
vestigate concerns selling fruit trees
and similar lines before they are
given patronage.
number OF petty gratis have late
iy been worked throughout the coun-
try. One Of the common ones Is the
hiring Of agents 70 sell soaps. per
fumes and other commodities on the
premium plan. The concerns which
operate games of this class generally
have their headquarters in some large
city and through Advertising sscure
the names Of people desiring employ
ment es canvassers and AgentA To
snch they send letters holding out eI-
traordinary Inducements. Those who
agree 20 act as agents sign q contract
which Is an agreement 70 pay for such
goods as may be sent 20 them on con-
Segment The sample outfits which
are forwarded, or the small stock OF
goods, are billed In such way as 20
allow the concern an exorbitant profit
II the agent succeeds in selling che
goods and RENTS promptly there Is
not likelihood OF being any trouble,
but generally the goods are so poor In
quality that they remain dead stock
in the hands OF the canvasser, and
he will find that the agreement he has
signed will hold him TO pay for the
goods.
One OF the humbugs that is perpe-
trated upon the people of many com
munities is the selling OF stock in co
operative mercantile companies. Dur
ing the past three or four years the
residents OF many small towns and az.
riculturh districts have lost hundreds
OF thousands OF dollars, II not mil
lions, through the buying OF stock in
alleged cooperative establishments ia
large cities. One company with head.
quarters In Chicago. doing mail
order business. sold stock In excess OF
$1,000 900, and when the concern went
into the hands OF receiver about
year ago there was not ten per cent.
OF assets 10 return TO stockholders.
Other alleged cooperative deals In.
volye what Is termed profit sharing
plan. This plan does not require the
purchase OF stock. but the cooperative
part is purely scheme devised for
the securing OF trade.