118 
THE RURAb NKW-YORKER 
January 23, 1915. 
P UBLISHER’S DESK 
After reading all of the enclosed I am 
simply paralyzed. “Sim” has all the 
others left at the post. The way those 
fac-simile letters—especially the first two- 
are used, leaves me gasping. This is 
both the nerviest and the most sickening 
sucker bait I have seen put out since oil 
stocks and race tips were in fashion. 
New York. H. G. 
The above refers to the get-rich-quick 
literature of the Missouri Cattle and Hog 
Ranch Co. of Rock Spring, Mo., with 
offices at Broadway and Wall St., New 
York City, which is being sent out over 
the name of Simeon J. Thornton as presi¬ 
dent. We think, however, that this 
scheme is entii'eiy harmless as far as 
country people are concerned. The 
claims are so preposterous that anyone 
who ever raised a hog, or had any con¬ 
nection with any branch of farming, 
would know at once that it is a get-rich- 
quick scheme. City people who have 
been reading the romantic stories of the 
“easy money” to be made in farming will 
be the easier victims. The farmers would 
have to have some better assurance than 
Mr. Simeon Thornton’s bombastic liter¬ 
ature before they could believe that they 
can grow and fatten pigs without feeding 
them as he claims to do. 
“Our company has arranged what we 
call a drawing contest. This contest con¬ 
sists of this package of just common 
write-up envelopes; we have two envel¬ 
opes here for every home in the town¬ 
ship. Now, some of these envelopes con¬ 
tain coupons, but most of them are emp¬ 
ty, as is always the case in all draw¬ 
ing contests, but as a means of giving 
everybody an equal opportunity of ob¬ 
taining one of these beautiful paintings, 
we are going to allow each home two 
draws from this package. To anyone 
that is fortunate enough to draw one of 
the coupons, which is mighty seldom 
done, it entitles them to either of these 
paintings at the manufacturing cost.” 
The above paragraph is taken from lit¬ 
erature sent to us which seems to be the 
“selling talk” given to their agents by 
the Chicago Portrait Co., of Chicago, Ill. 
We thought we were familiar with all 
the portrait agent schemes, and while this 
drawing contest is by no means a new 
one, we had never heard of its being psed 
by portrait canvassers before. It is very 
similar to the prize puzzle contest with 
which the public is already familiar, and 
the prize building lot scheme used by 
so many of the Long Island real estate 
promoters. 
Of course, every house visited draws a 
lucky envelope, and then it is made to 
appear that the lucky person can get a 
$10.96 painting at $5 less than the regu¬ 
lar price, or for $5.96. Such fake puzzle 
schemes would not be permitted to pass 
through the U. S. mails, but unless some¬ 
one takes the pains to swear out a war¬ 
rant for the arrest of the canvassers re¬ 
sorting to such methods, there is no 
means of stopping this sort of deception 
and fraud. We have often advised our 
readers to beware of all portrait can¬ 
vassers, and this “selling talk” of the 
Chicago Portrait Co. abundantly justifies 
the advice. 
Have you noticed the enclosed article 
issued by The N-ew York Times? The 
(Hole is apparently also falling into line 
for honest advertising. With The R. 
X.-Y. heading you may be termed “The 
Three Guardsmen.” s. w. b. 
New York. 
The “enclosed” covers the kind of ad¬ 
vertising they will not accept, and they 
also offer a reward for information lead¬ 
ing to arrest and conviction of anyone 
who may have obtained money under 
false pretenses through the medium of a 
misleading or fraudulent advertisement. 
The New York Tribune has also been 
guaranteeing advertisers, and this work 
should certainly prove effective. The 
Vigilance Committee, an organization of 
business men, started a vigorous move¬ 
ment in this direction and met with con¬ 
siderable success, but we feel a degree of 
pride in knowing that Tiie R. N.-Y. was 
the first in the field to guarantee its ad¬ 
vertisers and protect its subscribers. The 
Tribune prints the following advice, 
which our people will recognize as the 
text of many warnings given them in 
Publisher’s Desk and in private letters, 
but which is worth repeating, and is a 
safe rule to follow: 
“Buy no land which you have not seen, 
either in person or by trustworthy proxy. 
“Invest in no stock or enterprise which 
guarantees or promises in its advertising 
an exorbitant rate of interest. You will 
never make 50% by following this advice, 
it is true, but you will save 100.” 
It is a good sign when metropolitan 
papers of wide circulation take up the 
slogan. It means honest advertising 
must prevail. 
Will you kindly inform me whether L. 
P. Gunson & Co. of Rochester, N. Y., 
seedsmen, is a reliable firm to deal with, 
doing an honest business? e. s. f. 
Vermont. 
L. P. Gunson & Co. of Rochester, N. 
Y., are one of the seed houses, the meth¬ 
ods of which have been repeatedly re¬ 
ferred to in this department. In 
order to sell seeds through the ex¬ 
pensive method used by this concern 
(through agents) they necessarily have 
to charge an exorbitant price. The 
only way they can induce farmers to 
sign orders for the seeds at the price 
they ask is to make claim that they have 
some wonderful new variety of seed that 
will yield double that of other varieties, 
and all this sort of guff. Concerns of 
this kind always have a wonderful new 
variety each year, and for the most part 
the varieties boomed to the sky the year 
before are abandoned. Reports from our 
subscribers buying seeds from this kind of 
concerns are in effect that the seeds turn 
out to be very ordinary, and no doubt are 
some old varieties under new names. 
Some of the other seed concerns doing 
business on this plan are: Robert Gun¬ 
son & Co. Rochester, N. Y., and the 
Herrick Seed Co., Rochester, N. Y. 
In the same mail with your letter we 
receive check for $110.70. I give The 
R. N.-Y. full credit for the settlement as 
I did not expect to receive it except pos¬ 
sibly at the end of a lawsuit. As a slight 
mark of my appreciation of services ren¬ 
dered I enclose check for $10, and if it 
is against your policy to retain it for 
such service, you can use it for any 
other charitable purpose you deem 
worthy. Two other small accounts long 
overdue were promptly paid when I 
threatened to send their names to Pub¬ 
lisher’s Desk. The R. N.-Y. is invalu¬ 
able not only as an agricultural journal, 
but particularly so as a means of pro¬ 
tection against those inclined to dishon¬ 
est dealings, and no one can afford to 
be without it. g. d. s. 
New York. 
A shipment of 150 baskets of peaches 
was sent to T. R. Thomas & Company, 
Utica, N. Y., on Sept. 22, 1914. Ship¬ 
ment was delivered promptly and no pro¬ 
test or complaint made, but no acknowl¬ 
edgement was sent the shipper, and no 
remittance returned for the goods. We 
wrote Thomas & Co., and they replied 
they would look into the matter at once. 
No report was made to the shipper and 
no payment sent him. We continued to 
follow it up, and in about two months 
from date of shipment check was sent as 
above. There is no excuse for neglect to 
acknowledge receipt of a shipment, and 
certainly no reason to keep the shipper’s 
money for two months. We had another 
complaint against this same firm which 
we were able to collect. They are not 
licensed by the Department of Agricul¬ 
ture. 
Fred Bux of Trenton, N. J., wrote us 
in January, 1913, asking us to ship him 
some celery. We did, and tried for six 
weeks to get a reply, and finally asked the 
express company to trace. They stated 
it was delivered promptly, but still we 
can get no response from Mr. Bux. We 
hardly expect to get anything, but it 
isn’t fair to other shippers to let him get 
away without prodding him up somewhat. 
New York. e. j. l. 
After some letters Mr. Bux finally re¬ 
ported that the celery reached him on 
Saturday, and he was not able to real¬ 
ize the express charges. This did not 
agree with the express company’s report, 
which stated shipment was delivered the 
preceding Thursday. No collection could 
be made, but it is safe to assume our 
people will not want to ship to any com¬ 
mission house that waits six months to 
make a report at which time it is too 
late to hold the transportation company 
responsible. j. j. D 
Miss Smith, the teacher, was hearing 
the history class. “Now, Elsie,” sh< 
said, “Mary followed Edward VI., didn’ 
“Yes, ma’am,” replied the litth 
And now, who followed Mary?’ 
the teacher, hopefully. All was 
she ?’ 
girl. 
asked 
silent for a moment, then Elsie raised hei 
hand. “Yes, Elsie?” queried the teacher 
“Who followed Mary?” “Her little lamb 
teacher.” said Elsie, triumphantly — 
Harper’s Magaz ! ne. 
When you hear of a farmer who gets more wheat to the acre,-or 
more potatoes to the hill, you want to know how he does it— 
what seed, what fertilizer, what method of cultivation. 
When you hear of a farmer whose buildings are better 
painted at less cost, you also want to know how he does it. 
We can tell you. 
zinc 
makes paint protect better and last longer, and therefore 
cost less. 
Let us send you a list of paint makers who make Zinc 
paints and a copy of our booklet, “ Your Move." 
The New Jersey Zinc Company 
Room 455 55 Wall Street, New York 
BELT TO A 
FARQUHAR 
irvniMir 
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that’s what Farquhar Single and 
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our 59 years of manufacturing progress. You can profit from our experi¬ 
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an lUustrated account of the Farquhar Line. 
Write a postal today and the book comes prepaid by return mail. 
A. B. FARQUHAR CO„ Ltd., Bor 430, York, Pa. 
The Farquhar Line. 
Engines, Boilers, Saw 
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Presses, Potato Diggers, 
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etc. Illustrated litera¬ 
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Planters 
Cultivators -i nfl°/ 
PlantintTf BIGGEST 
TTMore important than ever, j ( YIELDS 
r rheU.S. will export potatoes this 4 
/year. Every bushel raised will be ^ With 
needed. Potash is scarce. Seed 
r will be high. This planter 
f puts one piece only in every 
/ space, saves at least one show 
' bushel of seed every acre* >j|A . you 
[no injury to seed, no planter 
[ disease carried, best |k and write 
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fertilizer* illustrated 
Ask your V r booklet, 
dealer 
to 
Bateman 
M'f’o Co. 
Box 25 
Grenloch, 
N. J. 
Plan for High Priced Market, 
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Planter opens furrow, drops 
seed—any size—covers, 
marks next row, and 
and if desired sows 
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ation. M 
for free booklet. 
ASPINWALL 
MFG. CO. 
437 bin St.. Jackson, Mich, 
Cutters. Planters, Sprayers, 
Diggers, Sorters 
r~Hew o/hlland —] 
Stone Crusher 
The finest machine made for crushing all 
kinds of rock for road making or concrete 
work. Easiest running and most durable. 
Equipped with Pulverizer to grind rock fine for 
building and land purposes. A money maker 
for contractors or farmers having 4 to 12 
h. p. A chance to increase value of your 
own farm and establish a big money making 
business. Write today 
for catalog, facts as to 
value of raw lime¬ 
stone on land, and 
free trial offer. 
NEW HOLLAND 
MACHINE CO. 
Box 41, New Holland. Pa. 
Kilns 
flame Fastener 
Kling Hame Fasteners save money, time, 
trouble and soreslioulders. Satisfaction guar¬ 
anteed or money back. Send your dealer’s 
name and50c and we will send a pairpostpaid. 
The National Safety Snap Co. 
Dept. 33 . Wilmington, O. 
m/BEKL 
* Farmers’ 
Tractor 
Will Make You 
■zng? INDEPENDENT 
The perfect tractor for the 
medium sized farm. Enables one 
man to do the work of several men 
with teams, in less time and at low¬ 
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allfarm machinery and is unequalled 
for road work and general hauling. 
Gasoline or Kerosene for fuel. Three 
sizes, suitable for every require¬ 
ment. Our prices and terms make 
it easier for you to own a HUBER than to 
be without it. Write today for FREE Catalog. 
THE HUBER MFG. CO. 
646 Center St. Marion, Ohio 
More Power 
T o r— 
Less Money 
6e*98- 
D-6 
Great Volume, Perfected 
Design and Simplicity are 
what make this price 
possible. Here’s my Mas¬ 
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parts. Long life and 
satisfaction to engine 
users built into every 
Galloway Masterpiece 
Big 6 H. P. Engine. 
Compare it point for point 
with any engine, then decide. 
Do not buy an engine of any make until you have seen 
my big free engine book and received all particulars 
about this New Galloway Masterpiece Big Six. 
Wm. Galloway, Pres., Wm. Galloway Company 
275 Galloway Station _Waterloo, Iowa 
6 H. P. *967§ 
m h-p. 
2 H-P. 
H-P. 
H-P. 
H-P. 
H-P. 
H-P. 
12V1‘ H-P. 
$ 24.75 
28.75 
53.90 
63.90 
87.50 
135.50 
179.90 
214.90 
Many other sizes—all sold 
direct and fully guaran¬ 
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OTTAWA MFG. CO., 232 King St., Ottawa, Kans, 
RAW FURS 
G. I. FOX. 279 
Seventh Ave. 
N-Y. A square 
deal, liberal as¬ 
sortment, top 
prices. Write 
for price list. 
HANDY BINDER 
Just the tiling 
for preserv¬ 
ing files of 
The Rural New Yorker. Durable and 
cheap. Sent postpaid for 25 cents. 
The Rural New-Yorker, 333 West 30th St., N. Y. 
