The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-17
LOCAL MECHANICS
ARE LURED AWAY BY
MAN WHO IS MISSING
Over go Go To New Orleans
to Sail For Work in
Argentina
NOTHING is KNOWN
OF GREAT DYKE CO..
Were to Change Platte River From Its
Course-Object of the Man is
Mystery As He Did
Not Profit

New Orleans, September 16.-(Special.)
Sixty master mechanics locomotive en-
gineers, carpenters, civil engineers, brick
layers, railroad car builders and painters,
mostly from Birmingham. are patiently
waiting in New Orleans to leave for
Argentina, where they were going to
turn the Platte river from its bed or some
thing of the kind. The ship that was
supposed to leave for South America to-
day and take them to their task is steam
ing In the Atlantic ocean from Savannah
to New York The man at the head of the
gigantic enterprise is sought by the work.
men, but cannot be found.
"oh. If could only lay my hands on
that guy" muttered one of the victims
as he told his troubles to United States
Commissioner Browne. He referred to a
man said to be named Taylor, formerly a
carpenter foreman for contracting firm,
and now general manager of The Great
Dyke Land Improvement company.
Made Glowing Promises
L dy lof itttd ttit iiiCNiietiiiNS " NV ~ =
leans from Birmingham by glowing adj
vertisement and much smooth talking
the men claim. They were to receive
double the wages paid in this country, to
have their transportation paid back home
with the end of a year. and to be well
taken care of. In fact it was the oppor-
tunity of lifetime, the men say they
We're told.
Upon their arrival here,s the hunters af-
ter the golden fleece sought their Jason
at a local hotel, by appointment. They
failed to find the suite of rooms fitted
especially for the office Of THE Great
Dyke Land Improvement company The
clerk, subjected to yolleys OF squestion
within the last two days by the sixty
odd applicants, can furnish no infornla-
ton 50 g<g -,
Systematic inquiry by soraesof dAe most
active Of the flock OF job hunters has
Convinced them that tlie' development
company eithersis myth or an organiza
ton which has not yet emerged from the
embryo of ponderous financeering, bu,
above all they feel that they are victims
OF a gigantic fiasco. 81 e z. .,s Z. < y ~.
Taylpr's supposed Missionary. scheme
was one. which Involved the reotanlafipn
of thousands Of acres of swamp land In
Argentina.s The. work. was sone which
would last for eight y ears, he Is. said to
have explained to- the men. First of all,
the Platte river. must be changed frenl
its course aiid. n canal with lock and
dams Substituted for its original channel
A large force and an expensive equip
ment would be needed, but one banking
fraternity was behind the project, II was
related. That was secret which must
be kept within the; ranks Of the pdrtiei.
pants in the glowing project. the work
men say they We're warned. -
Great Secrecy Was Urgedi
An, advertisement appearing In al Bir.
mingham newspaper August 6. {nd |
attracted the mems attention, At Tay
lor's office on North Twenty-fifth Etreei
the scheme was unfolded to scores 6f ap.
plicants. The men were ia; 60 I'd New
| Orleans. where a ship purchased by .sThs
Great Dyke Improvement q6mpany
would sail with them for Bucrjbs Ayres
September 16. ~
| Tt is gainst the laws sof ANbalna IL
take labor out Of the state. AL SO they
were urged to maintain tho creates
secrecy. Secret meetings werA held ii
ecsntisset 81 Pees lnaFl1