THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
PUBLISHER’S DESK 
How many times can the suckers be 
worked? Some of the publishing pro¬ 
moters are trying to demonstrate. The 
old Circle Co. sold its stock to the dear 
public, and failed. The Success Co. sold 
bonds, and failed, with a half million 
indebtedness in excess of the bonded 
debt. Then they formed the Post Co., 
and sold stock. Finally the new con¬ 
cern failed ignominiously, suspending 
publication of the paper and throwing 
over 30,000 subscribers who had paid 
for life subscriptions. The relic of the 
concern was bought in for $2000 by the 
old promoters of the defunct Circle Co., 
and now the old victims are invited to 
put up cash for 25 per cent of their 
losses and take another chance of get¬ 
ting rich quick. “Once a sucker always 
a sucker” is the theory of the frenzied 
financial promoter. 
Will you kindly look up the standing of 
the Clover Farms Co., 34 and 36 West 48th 
street, New York City ? They are about to 
open up a plant at Afton, N. Y., on April 
first. MILK. 
New York. 
This company was incorporated in 
1901 with an authorized capital of $51,- 
000. It succeeded a partnership of L. 
L. Campbell & Bro. It was claimed at 
the time that $1500 to $2000 cash had 
been invested in the business. Later it 
was admitted that the stock of the com¬ 
pany was issued in exchange for the old 
company. Several attempts have been 
made to get a financial statement from 
them, but they declined to make any. 
They have the reputation of doing a 
large business, and we have heard no 
complaints in local circles. At the same 
time, if they open a milk station and 
buy milk from farmers on the usual 
terms, they will be asking more credit 
than their present rating justifies, and 
producers should demand a detailed 
financial statement or other security for 
their protection. It is time milk pro¬ 
ducers exercised ordinary business pre¬ 
cautions in marketing their milk. 
Can you give me any information about 
the Autopress Co., of New York, ofl3ce 299 
Broadway? They sold stocks at $11 per 
share, which were to pay seven per cent 
dividends. I have had them two years 
and they have not paid any dividends yet, 
and are now sending this enclosed notice 
to the stockholders. What do you think 
of them? If you will kindly inform me 
you will greatly oblige a subscriber. 
Ulster Co., N. Y. h. C. 
They now want you to give up $25 
worth of stock and take in its place a 
$100 seven per cent gold bond, paying 
the extra $75 in cash. But what better 
hope have you of drawing interest on 
the bond than the promised dividends on 
the stock? “Gold bonds at seven per 
cent” sounds good, but interest on bonds 
cannot be paid, if not earned; and the 
bonds are simply notes of a company 
that has had difficulties in financing its 
affairs. We have never seen a statement 
from this concern to show the condi¬ 
tion of the company and to justify an 
investment in either the stock or these 
notes. The bond proposition is simply 
the old scheme of promoters to work 
the old victims all over again. The ex¬ 
perience of. sending good money after 
money lost in a bad investment does not 
bring results to encourage the practice. 
The person unfortunate enough to have 
his money in such stocks will do well 
to take his loss and profit by the ex¬ 
perience by avoiding both the stocks and 
notes of this and similar concerns. 
An agent by the name of Powell has been 
here selling the American Improved silo, 
for the Universal Exchange Corporation, 
Columbus, Ohio. How about the reliability 
of the company? They seem to be agent 
for everything from farm seeds to machin¬ 
ery. I have ordered $40 worth of seeds to 
be sent me subject to examination. Please 
give me what information you have access 
to. e. n. B. 
Illinois. 
Our information is that the spirit be¬ 
hind this concern is John W. Woodruff, 
of American Farm Co. fame, once lo¬ 
cated at Buffalo, N. Y., and later of 
Lake Erie Seed Co., of various loca¬ 
tions. The American Farm Co. adver¬ 
tised a silo under this name some 10 
years ago, but the material sent for 
them was of poor quality, and many 
farmers refused to take it from the 
depot. Men who did were never able 
to set it up because the silo had never 
been properly constructed. The illus¬ 
trations used then are practically the 
same as those used now. 
As to farm seeds, we found at that 
time that the company bought Western 
corn by the carload out of the eleva¬ 
tors, and sold it to farmers as a won¬ 
derful new production of their own. 
We also had statements to the effect 
that they bought potatoes from farmers 
in the Fall, put them up in small sacks, 
and sold them back to other farmers in 
the Spring by the pound as entirely new 
varieties originated by themselves. The 
same illustrations and descriptions used 
by the old defunct concern 10 years ago 
now appear in the catalogue of this 
Universal Exchange Corporation. The 
illustrations of corn, oats and beans are 
identical, and the descriptions are word 
for word with occasional changes of a 
few words to suit new conditions. They 
are, however, all masquerading under 
new names. We are not informed 
whether these wonderful new creations 
have been rejuvenated after 10 years of 
slumber, or whether Mr. Woodruff 
thinks he has produced another set of 
plants that are best described by the 
illustrations and romantic descriptions 
given other wonderful plants of 10 
years ago. We assume, however, that 
a description of elevator seeds would 
not vary very much in 10 years. 
Old subscribers will remember that 
the American Farm Company was 
driven out of the State of Ohio by the 
State's Attorney. Judgments were issued 
against it in Pennsylvania on charges 
of misrepresentation and fraud, and 
some of the Western States found in¬ 
dictments against its officers. It was 
reincorporated several times over, the 
last time for $2,000,000, and finally, like 
several of its predecessors, went to the 
wall. Its principal scheme was to or¬ 
ganize local companies and erect a ware¬ 
house, the farmers taking stock to fur¬ 
nish a capital. From $12,000 to $20,000 
would be taken out of a neighborhood, 
and sometimes a little building-was -put 
up at a cost of $1200 to $1500. The R. 
N.-Y. showed up the scheme in New 
York State and the company then 
turned to the West. 
I dislike to bother you but I don't see 
any other way without going to more ex¬ 
pense than I can afford, especially as 
South Dakota is nearly dried up. Last 
Fall I got a car of Kieffer pears from 
Delaware. At first I refused to accept the 
car, but finally did so upon promises of 
the railroad that all loss would be made 
good. The hampers were smashed all up 
and pears badly bruised; besides the car 
had been flooded from a defective or clogged 
water pipe or trap. I had to hire drays 
and men to unload one end of car and re¬ 
pack and haul back again what I did not 
sell. It was about the middle of November, 
1910, when I presented my claim. About 
three months later they offered me $100, 
which I refused. Now my letters remain 
unanswered. If you can do anything with 
this it will be very much appreciated. 
South Dakota. w. h. h. 
The above reached us June 26, 1911. 
The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul 
Railway Company was the carrier. The 
$100 was offered us, and repeatedly re¬ 
fused, as no reason was given why the 
whole amount should not be paid. Just 
at the time our patience began to be 
exhausted, a representative of the com¬ 
pany come in with a check for $138.71, 
being the full amount of the claim. It 
took us nine months to get the settle¬ 
ment and the shipper had labored with 
it seven months before it came to us. 
And yet railroad officials go into farm¬ 
ers’ meetings and talk about the interest 
taken by their roads in the prosperity 
of the farm. 
Do you consider stock in the Augustine 
Rotary Engine Co., Buffalo, N. Y., a safe 
investment? p. h. s. 
Connecticut. 
No, we do not. From information 
at hand we regard it entirely a specula¬ 
tive proposition and not in a class that 
could be called investment. 
I received the book “Hind-Sights” in 
fine shape, and am pleased with it. I thank 
you for it. I had to laugh at Captain 
Rand’s magic stones, for I know a lot of 
folks right here in Tilton that they worked 
the very same game on. d. a. 
New Hampshire. 
If you have carefully read “Hind- 
Sights” you will have the laugh on any 
schemer who comes along, as well as on 
his confiding victims. We doubt if one 
will find any new swindles that will dif¬ 
fer much in principle or character from 
some of the schemes described in the 
book. 
I inclose you clipping of Globe-Democrat 
of St. Louis reporting the criminal trial 
of E. G. Lewis. A relative of my wife was 
in the employ of his brother, John Lewis, 
who is an attorney and co-worker. They 
paid her $25 and expenses to care for a 
three-ye^r-old child. They went to a Sum¬ 
mer resort in Wisconsin last Summer. Mrs. 
Lewis did not even clean her own finger 
nails; hired it done. n. b. 
Illinois. 
Why should a woman care for her 
own children or clean her own finger 
nails when thousands of honest working 
but too confiding people are sending 
her their savings? The testimony is 
that the Lewis Publishing Company 
was losing $80,000 a month while it 
was advertised as one of the greatest 
and most prosperous publishing con¬ 
cerns in the world. But the advertising 
brought in easy cash from people who 
worked hard for it, and to be liberal 
and easy with other people’s money is 
no uncommon virtue. Sometimes it de¬ 
velops into a crime. j. j. d. 
N 
JoofTnO I 
Vhere's a 10year\ 
Guarantee in 
every roll op 
CONGO 
ROOFING 
And the guarantee is 
in the form of an In¬ 
surance Policy issued hy 
the National Surety 
Company. 
This Policy insures your 
Congo 2- and 3-ply Roofing 
for ten years at the manufac¬ 
turers’ expense. You simply 
fill in the blanks telling the 
date you lay the roof and the 
buildings you put it on. 
If Congo should fail to last 
ten years, you get a new roof. 
It is simply a device of 
the manufacturers to break 
through all the unfounded 
claims that aremadefor other 
roofings, with something spe¬ 
cific and definite. It makes 
the buyer absolutely certain 
of what he is getting. Surely 
nothing could be fairer. 
For a copy of this Policy and 
a sample of Congo, address 
UNITED ROOFING & MFG. CO. 
Philadelphia Chicago Kansas City 
San Francisco 
April 6, 
When you write_adyertisers mention The 
R. N.-Y. and you'll get a quick reply and a 
“square deal.” See guarantee editorial page. 
fpHE most complete implement book pub¬ 
lished. Illustrates and describes the 
best line of farm tools made. Tells when 
and how to use them. It answers every 
question about farm machinery. No farmer 
can afford to be without this book. Write 
for it today. 
John Deere Plows, Culti¬ 
vators, Harrows and 
Farm Tools - 
Trade-marked goods that have received 
the gold medal at every world’s fair and 
international exposition since 1840. The 
world’s best in farm implement building. 
Everything from the smallest walking plow 
to an engine gang—high class and up-to- 
date. Have the best. The John Deere 
trade-mark protects you against inferior 
goods. Take no chances. 
No matter what implement or farm tool 
you want, write us what it is and then be 
sure to ask for the big illustrated book, v __ 
"Better Farm Implements,” package No. AuO 
Get Quality and Serulce — John Dttro 
Dealert Give Both 
JOHN DEERE PLOW CO. 
Moline, III. 
‘Jmt?. __ 
ivk ' 7 
*S£ 
/•As Low as $10> 
And any boy can operate it and earn the price of 
this saw In two days easily by contracting to 
saw lumber, firewood, lath, fences, posts, etc., 
for neighbors. 
Saw 
Hertzler&Zook 
Portable Wood 
Is positively cheapest and best. Guaranteed 1 
P year. Our $10,000 bond protects you. 
“ Strictly factory prices—yon save job- 
Vf I) hers’ profits. Stick sits low—saw 
V x v y —^clraws it on immediately machine 
starts—ensuring ease of opera¬ 
tion. Only $10 saw to which 
ripping table can be 
added. Money refunded 
and freight paid both ways 
If unsatisfactory. Write for 
catalogue. 
HERTZLER & ZOOK CO. 
Box 3, Belleville, Pa. 
per day 
HEL/N BUGGIES 
Lr FOR 1912 £^$362§ANDUP 
TA/RITE for FREE prepaid catalog; shows 250 
' ’ styles, vehicles and harness; lowest whole¬ 
sale prices. No cash with order; no deposit. 
You pay if satisfied after 30 days trial. Write N 
DELIN CARRIAGE CO. 1732 Central Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio 
Monarch 
DO NOT KEEP 
The Parker Governor Pulley 
If it does not run 
your Cream Sepa¬ 
rator just right, as 
we will pay the 
freight both ways 
after thirty days 
trial if it is not 
just as we tell you. 
It will run in either 
direction, and can 
be adjusted from 
35 to 65 revolutions 
without stopping 
your separator. 
Write for prices 
and our guarantee. 
BROWNWALL ENGINE & PULLEY CO., Lansing, Mich. 
Hydraulic 
Cider Press 
Net owners 25i! to 1004 
on investment per year 
Ask for Free Cat¬ 
alog and “Good 
Tip” booklet tell¬ 
ing how. 
Monarch Machinery Co., 609 Hudson Terminal, New York- 
EnEMl 
Different than all 
others and better be¬ 
cause of the double 
gears, big oil boxes, 
drop-forged wrist pin, 
removable bearings, 
center lift. No side 
strain, no noise. Big, 
heavy and powerful. 4, 6, 
8, 10,12.14.16.18, 20 ft. 
diameters. Send for cata¬ 
log. Also feed mills, pump 
jacks and gasoline engine*. 
STOVER MANUFACTURING CO. 
188 Samson Ave., Freeport, Ill. , 
Make Your Own Drain Tile 
THE FARMERS’ CEMENT TILE MACHINE 
Makes tile 3 to 8 inches in diam., 1214 inches long. One man or boy operates it by hand 
or power. 500 tile per day by hand, 1,200 by power. Tile thoroughly cured by patent 
process. No tamping or use of pallets. This machine and tile used by Experiment Sta¬ 
tions of Agricultural Colleges and the U. S. Dept, of Agriculture. 6,000 farmers have 
doubled the yield of land by underdrainage, and saved 75% of cost by using our Machine. 
You can do the same. Save cost of hauling and breaking. Make perfect 
tile $3 to $5 per thousand. MACHINE SOLD DIRECT FROM FACTORY 
TO YOU. TEN DAYS’FREE TRIAL. SEND NOW for 36-page Illustrated 
Catalogue. Tells you about great benefits of underdrainage, how to take 
levels and get grades, make and lay your tile at low cost. 
FARMERS’ CEMENT TILE MACHINE CO., 
Box 604 . ST. JOHNS, MICH. 
