1870 
December 20, 1919 
PUBLISHER'S DESK 
If readers will advise us when they 
receive payment or adjustment of any 
claim or account sent to us for collection 
we will appreciate it. We continue to 
follow up accounts until they are settled, 
or we are convinced they cannot be, and 
it is somewhat embarrassing to find we 
have been dunning for an account that 
has been paid. This is true of express 
and railroad claims. We do not want to 
continue correspondence when a claim has 
been settled. When payment is received 
please advise us at once. 
On Dee. 10, 1919, new express packing 
rules went into effect. It is claimed these 
rules will not affect the heavy move¬ 
ment of perishable farm products by ex¬ 
press, as such traffic usually travels in 
crates and barrels, but the new packing 
requirements will be of much interest and 
importance to farmers who have other 
commodities to send to market by ex¬ 
press, or goods to return to city mer¬ 
chants. The rules will not permit the 
use of paper wrapping for packages over 
25 pounds, nor of ordinary paper boxes, 
wrapped or unwrapped, when the weight 
of the contents is over that limit. For 
shipments ever 25 pounds, wooden con¬ 
tainers, or fibreboard, pulpboard or cor¬ 
rugated strawboard containers of speci¬ 
fied test strengths, are required. This 
is Supplement No. 5 to Express Classifi¬ 
cation No. 26. Get a copy from your 
agent. 
Several farmers in our locality have 
been induced to take stock in the Stand¬ 
ard Carbide Company (10 shares, $50), 
located at either Freeburg, N. Y., or 
Prattsburg, N. Y., or both places (office 
and factory). One man has sent in an 
order for carbide; his check acknowledged 
but no carbide received. D. B. 
New York. 
We have repeatedly advised our read¬ 
ers against putting their savings in the 
stock of this company. We understand 
the company is making some carbide in 
the Prattsburg plant. This gives the sales¬ 
men traveling about the country selling 
the stock a good talking point at any rate, 
and gives color to contentions of the pro¬ 
moters that their efforts are more than a 
stock-selling scheme. In advising our peo¬ 
ple as we have, The R. N.-Y. has no pur¬ 
pose but to save our subscribers from the 
loss which our experience of 30 years tells 
us will result from putting their money 
into this proposition. We arc the more 
confirmed in our estimate of this proposi¬ 
tion by a letter from the president of the 
company, Gee. A. Stromblad, advising us 
he desired to advertise in The R. N.-Y. 
and asking the price for six full pages. 
Evidently Mr. Stromblad figured that the 
influence of The R. N.-Y’. could be pur¬ 
chased and its opposition silenced by prof¬ 
fering a few thousand dollars of the 
money received from his stock-selling 
scheme. Most promoters reason that way. 
Mr. Stromblad knows little of the char¬ 
acter of The Rural New-Yorker, or he 
would not expect it to enter into partner¬ 
ship with him in his 6tock-selliug game in 
consideration of a share of the spoils. 
I am enclosing some literature about 
dope for hens from a man by the name of 
Reefer. He has been sending me this 
junk for about a year. lie sends his “per¬ 
sonal check” for $5, which is only good 
when accompanied by $5 more, for which 
the buyer gets $15 worth of “More Eggs 
Tonic.” It seems that if the dope was 
any good Mr. Reefer would not have to be 
so generous and philanthropic to sell it. 
What do you think about the prepara¬ 
tion and the genuineness of the testimo¬ 
nials? ~ j. G. v. 
New Jersey. 
Wc think the testimonials printed in 
the circulars of E. J. Reefer, Kansas City, 
Mo., enclosed with this letter, are genu¬ 
ine. We never knew a patent medicine 
fraud, even though the remedy consisted 
of only sweetened water, but the quack 
doctor promoting it could produce the 
most wonderful testimonials, and genuine 
ones, too. A large percentage of those 
suffering from ills, real or imaginary, re¬ 
cover from them regardless of whether the 
individual takes some patent medicine 
dope or not. Those who have been tak¬ 
ing some remedy for the ailment natural¬ 
ly give the medicine credit for the recov¬ 
ery. Just so, a flock of hens will nat¬ 
<Ibt RURAL, NEW-YORKER 
urally start laying at a certain time in 
the season, depending on the condition of 
the birds. Many who may purchase this 
“More Eggs” dope just at the time the 
hens would begin laying anyhow, believe 
the product is responsible for the egg pro¬ 
duction. The “personal check” bait is 
only a little bait to cover the hook, and is 
not new. The purpose, of course, is to 
lead the prospect to believe that he is get¬ 
ting something for nothing. There are 
many of these so-called egg tonics that are 
now widely advertised in farm papers. 
The R. N.-Y. has refused several of these 
advertisers space in its columns. If these 
products have merit the business will live 
regardless of The R. N. Y.’s opposition. 
If this line of business is only an easy- 
money scheme it will go the way of the 
“seedless apple” fake, the “Wonderberry” 
fraud and numerous others of the same 
ilk. The exposure of The R. N.-Y. only 
hastened the death of these public frauds. 
Such frauds cannot live, no matter how 
much money is spent in advertising them. 
Among the many readers of Publisher’s 
Desk there are some who own bonds of 
the Interborough Rapid Transit first and 
refunding mortgage coupons, gold bonds. 
They are anxious over the welfare of their 
money. Can you give us any words of 
either advice or encouragement? 
New York. w * G - B - 
The Interborough Rapid Transit Com¬ 
pany has leases under contract with the 
city for the operation of the subway, and 
also leases of the elevated roads from their 
owners in this city. They are under 
contract with the city to carry passengers 
at. five cents a ride, long or short. The 
bonds were authorized January 1. 1913, 
to mature in 1966. The authorized issue 
was $300,000,000. The gross earnings of 
the company have increased every year. 
In 1914 the operating expenses were $13,- 
000.000, and in 1919 $20,000,000. The 
net income for 1914 was $8,000,000, and 
for 1918 about $5,000,000. In 1919 there 
was a deficit of nearly $4,000,000, and 
the deficit seems to be increasing month 
by month. At the present rate of progress 
it is estimated that in 1924 there would 
be a deficit of $35,000,000. For the year 
ended June 30, 1919, increased wages 
amounted to $6,000,000 and increased coal 
supplies $3,000,000. 
One cause of heavy deficits is the high 
rental paid for old franchises that had 
little or no value, but held by favorites, 
and in this way the public is taxed to 
pay profits on fictitious capitalization. 
The City of New York has about $100,- 
000,000 invested, for which it gets no 
income. The management of the com¬ 
pany asserts that it will not be able to 
pay the operating expenses and interest 
on its borrowed capital unless they are 
permitted to cancel the existing contract 
with the city and enter into a new con¬ 
tract that would allow them to charge a 
higher fare. To do this they must have 
the consent of the city and also an en¬ 
abling bill through the State Legislature. 
So. far the State has declined to pass the 
necessary legislation, and the city has 
steadfastly refused to consent to a change 
of the contract. 
Recently the bonds sold as low as 43. 
Then buyers came into the market and 
they went up as high as 57. It is said 
that this buying was for the account of 
a syndicate associated with a prospective 
committee which probably has an eye to 
the future of the business. In event of 
the default in January (which is gener¬ 
ally accepted as likely), the property 
would go to the bondholders, and it is 
estimated that in a reorganization the 
bonds would realize at least, their present 
market value. Market sentiment is at the 
present time reported in their favor at 
present prices. 
The City of New York must have this 
system of rapid transit, and ultimately 
the people will have to pay the cost of 
operating the roads. There is an element 
in the city that is in faVor of municipal 
operation of these lines, and this interest 
is probably willing that the company 
should default on its bonds, in the hope 
that the property would fall into munici¬ 
pal ownership and operation. There is 
another element, of course, that is in 
favor of private operation, and will use 
its powerful influence against the other 
element to keep the profit in the hands 
of private owners, but in any event the 
prospects now are that the bondholders 
will not be able to realize their original 
investment. 
i 
You must release the soil’s fertility by 
thoroughly pulverizing it. The better 
you prepare the seedbed the greater 
the harvest. Use 
CMrK SSow, 
They dig deep, mix and mellow the soil. 
“CUTAWAY” disks are forged and, cutout 
or solid, stay sharp. They are held to their 
work by the splendid and efficient CLARK 
“CUTAWAY” construction. The gangs 
are reversible. 
This harrow is perfectly balanced. Light draft like all 
CLARK "CUTAWAY" Tillage Implements. The line in¬ 
cludes Double Action Tractor Harlows, Double Action 
Horse Harrows, Extension Head Harrows, Orchard Plows, 
Right Lap Plows, etc. Your dealer or some nearby dealer 
has them. 
Write for book, “The Soil and Its Tillage", and complete 
catalog. t 
_ -wfr , THE CUTAWAY HARROW COMPANY 
877 Main St. Hiooanum. Connecticut 
R Maker of the original Clark Disk 
• B Harrows and Plows 
® . .iL.u 
WITTE Lever Control 
" Ar ™ DRAG SAW! 
Swing” 
You PUSH on the Lever to start Saw, PULL on 
the Lever to stop it. Engine goes right along—no delay, no 
shutting down power, no handling Imoving saw* no leaving It In motion 
when moving rig. On the WITTE you have absolute control of the saw when 
cutting and after cut is made. No running daw through into dirt or rocks. 
. Most Practical ONE-MAN Outfit On The Market. 
mi 
(Pat. App. for) 
ARM-SWING 
BEST 
BY 
TEST 
Gives same free-cutting motion as in hand 
sawing. Faster, cleaner and easier. Saw __ 
stays sharp longer. Rig goes anywhere. When moving rig, saw rides on level 
with skids instead of up in the air. Also other valuable improvements. De¬ 
scription and price by return mail. You can always get delivery from WITTE. 
WITTE ENGINE WORKSSS S^EbSSSS: 
Stewart No. 1 
Cow Clipping Machine 
Keep Milk Free From Dirt and Filth 
Long, thick hair on your cows forms a lodging place for 
dirt and filth. However careful the milker, this dirt cannot 
be prevented from dropping into the milk. 
- Cows should be clipped on udders, flanks 
and underline every month during the win¬ 
ter and early spring. These parts may then 
be easily and thoroughly cleaned before 
milking, preventing milk contamination 
from dropping filth. 
Clipping is strongly urged by dairy farmers, certified 
milk producers and federal bureaus. Here is a strong 
endorsement: 
WALKER-GORDON LABORATORY CO. 
Plainsboro, N. J„ Nov. 12,1919. 
We clip our cows at least once each month. By clip¬ 
ping the flanks, udders and rear portion of the cow, it is 
possible to groom and wash the dirt from the cow, which 
would be very difficult to do if the hair is allowed to grow. 
WALKER-GORDON LABORATORY CO. 
By H. W. Jeffers. 
The Stewart No. 1 Clipping Machine will clip a cow 
in 5 minutes. Hand operated—runs easily—well built 
—lasts a lifetime. Buy from your dealer at $12.75 
or send us $2.00, paying the balance on arrival. 
Electric clipping machine, direct current, $60; 
alternating current, $80. 
CHICAGO FLEXIBLE SHAFT COMPANY 
Roosevelt Road and Central Ave., Dept.B141 Chicago 
