486 
The RURAL NEW-YORKER 
March 19, 1921 
PUBLISHER’S DESK 
All letters to Publisher's Desk depart¬ 
ment must be signed with writer’s full 
name and address given. Many inquiries 
are answered by mail instead of printing 
inquiry and answer, hence unsigned let¬ 
ters receive no consideration. 
1 appreciate your efforts to keep the 
price of paper down to one dollar, but I 
should have your magazine if it cost twice 
that, for you are straight to the point, 
and every issue contains some informa¬ 
tion that I cannot afford to miss. The 
farmers are having a hard struggle 
through this financial crisis, but you help 
t<i keep up my courage, wm. STEL7.ER. 
Ohio. 
This is one of the best things that has 
been said of the paper. Few things can 
be done for a man in a crisis better than 
to help him keep up courage. A paper 
that did that generally would be worth 
while for that one accomplishment alone. 
Is this advertisement of the new Bur- 
bank tomato true, or is it a fake? They 
are the people who advertised last year 
so extensively the wonderful sword bean, 
bush Lima, as large as a half dollar and 
bush beans that tasted like boiled chest¬ 
nuts, etc. D* H. A. 
New York. 
The advertisement is signed by the 
Kreiter - Murphy Company, Stamford, 
Conn. The firm is notorious for making 
extravagant claims for novelties such as 
the subscriber mentions. This “new 
Burbank creation” is supposed to be pro¬ 
duced from seed planted in the open 
ground, and to ripen fruit earlier than 
from plants grown in hothouse and set. 
out in usual way. The best tomato au¬ 
thorities never heard of this wonderful 
tomato, but express wonder that some of 
the standard seed house's didn't get ahead 
of it. if the tomato has all the merit 
claimed for it by this obscure concern. 
We will only remind the public of an¬ 
other “Burbank creation”—the “Won- 
derberry.” for which even stronger claims 
were made a few years ago. Who ever 
hears of the Wonderberry now? 
I have 600 shares of' the capital stock 
of the Mutual Oil and Refining Company 
of Lexington. Ky., which represents $600 
worth of stock. This company is incor¬ 
porated under the laws of Delaware, with 
a capital stock of $5,000,000. fully paid 
and non-a-ssessabte. I have had this 
stock about one year, and have never 
received any dividend. Has this com¬ 
pany any financial rating, and do you 
think I shall ever realize anything from 
this investment? Their agents, who were 
“pedd((fcg” this stock, made all* the farm¬ 
ers around here believe the company 
would pay a dividend within a year, and 
they have never paid any, and are trying 
t<> get the stockholders to buy more stock. 
Most of the farmers of this neighborhood 
were “victims” of the first agents, but 
none is buying any more just now. I 
have been sf subscriber to several differ¬ 
ent farm papers during life, and I want 
to sav The R. N.-Y. stands at the top 
with me. The “Publisher's Desk" alone 
is worth the subscription. W. K. S. 
Kentucky. 
This is a typical oil promotion. The 
Mutual Oil & Refining Company was or¬ 
ganized in the State of Delaware in 1919 
—a State that gives corporations more 
advantages than any other State, which 
accounts for so many concerns organizing 
under the laws of that State. Our latest 
reports show a “refinery in course of con¬ 
struction” at Winchester. Ky. The com¬ 
pany has failed to make good the dividend 
promise of the stock salesmen, and who 
know« whether dividends can be earned 
even when the refinery is completed? The 
history of oil enterprises is not reassur¬ 
ing that dividends will ever be earned by 
the company. It is rarely that stock sold 
in this way does pay dividends. This is 
because stock that has good assets behind 
it or good prospects before it can be mar¬ 
keted by more economical methods. There 
are exceptions to all rules, but putting 
money into stocks sold by agents in coun¬ 
try districts is throwing it away in about 
nine hundred and ninety-nine cases out 
of a thousand. 
The attached letter of Universal Tire 
Company, Philadelphia, was mailed to me 
in New Hampshire and probably the 
country districts are being flooded with 
them. I sent for the “bait" and forward 
if to you. It is attractive literature, but 
I cannot find the concern rated or men¬ 
tioned in Bradstreet or Dun and send the 
stuff to you. You may be able to stop 
some subscribers from falling for this. 
New York. c. W. M. 
The enclosure is a very impressive set 
of literature indeed. The recipient is ex¬ 
pected to feel very much flattered over the 
distinction of having the privilege of ac¬ 
quiring an “ownership” in the above 
named company. The prospectus shows 
views of the International India Rubber 
Company's plant at South Bend, Ind„ 
which is owned by the Universal Tire 
Company. The inducement of 40 per cent 
off list price of tires is offered to inves¬ 
tors, and the big increase in the value of 
the stocks of several of the prominent 
manufacturers is put before the eyes of 
the prospective investor, and suggests the 
possibilities of even greater profits from 
this enterprise. Not a word is said of 
depressed condition of the automobile tire 
trade at .the present time, that a large 
number of the well-established manufac¬ 
turers are running only to a fraction of 
the normal capacity, or that the capacity 
of the manufacturing plants is greatly in | 
excess of the consumption of automobile 
tires. In view of these facts we can see 
little prospect for the investors of com¬ 
paratively neW and unproven projects. 
I received check from you from L. I. 
R. R Co. in settlement of my claim for 
fire three yearn ago. Many thanks for 
the interest, you took in the case, as T had 
given up hopes of ever getting it. I know 
there is no use offering you anything for 
•doing it. About all the English reading 
farmers around here are subscribers, so 
do not help much more that way. I have 
sent vou a number in the past. They call 
the paper my Ribie at the postoffice be¬ 
cause I quote it so often G. w. G. 
Long Island. 
The prize for slow payment of trans¬ 
portation claims goes to the Long Island 
Railroad Company. In the Fall of 1917 
this subscriber had his hayfield burned 
over by fire from the spark of one of the 
railroad’s engines. The damage was ex¬ 
cessive. but it took voluminous correspond¬ 
ence to convince the L. I. R. R. Co. that 
we should have a voucher for the loss, and 
on February 26, 1921, we received the 
check. This was three years and* six 
months after the claim was entered. 
Mv visit to The R. N.-Y. the past week 
resulted in a great deal of personal pleas¬ 
ure. Although I hardly glanced to the 
right*or left upon entering your building, 
I was immediately conscious of “organi¬ 
zation” and a fine, business atmosphere 
which could not fail to command my re¬ 
spect. 1 wish all the farmers knew, first 
hand, about your sturdy equipment, cour¬ 
teous attendants, approachable editor and 
the kindly helpfulness of the manager. 
New Jersey. R- M. H. 
This good friend touched us all un¬ 
awares to himself on one of our vanity 
spots. Our publishing business is housed 
in a building that was before the inrush 
of business to the section the flourishing 
Chelsea Methodist Church. The congre¬ 
gation moved away to make room for 
business, and The R. N.-Y. was fortunate 
enough to come into possession of it. 
We are. therefore, under the necessity of 
maintaining high ideals to harmonize 
with our environment. 
We admit a great pride in the plant 
and in the housing of the business. This 
is not because of any grandeur in it. It. 
is plain and simple enough, but it is 
planned so that every unit of it harmon¬ 
izes with all the rest, and there is no 
lost time or motion. This work goes 
from one stage to another in regular order 
until the paper reaches the postoffice 
ready bagged for the local postoffice to 
which it is delivered in the country. 
Every person who comes to the business 
soon acquires a pride in the paper, and 
this personal interest makes possible the 
business rhythm that our New .Jersey 
friend observed. 
For many reasons we join our friend in 
the wish that all our farmers could make 
a personal call at the plant, not only that 
they could see it and know it, but also 
that we could see them and know them 
personally. We always have time for the 
man oj woman, boy or girl, from the 
farm, and we make this our invitation to 
them to come around when they are in 
the city. The latch-string is on the out¬ 
side of the door, and within you will be 
welcome. 
“Two pen n'ortii of bicarbonate of 
soda for indigestion at this time of the 
night!” cried the infuriated chemist, who 
had been aroused at 2 A. M., “when a 
glass of hot water would have done just 
as well!” “Week week” returned Sandy, 
hastily; “I thank you for the advice, and 
T'll no’ bother ye after all. Good night.” 
—Credit Lost. 
Your Assurance of Quality 
Many things you buy reveal readily by their 
looks unmistakable evidence of quality or 
lack of it. But surface appearance alone 
fails to disclose sound value or long life in a 
ready-roofing. That is why the man who 
wants dependability in ready-roofing looks 
for the name Ruberoid. That word alone is 
his absolute assurance of high quality. 
Ruberoid Roll Roofing is scarcely affected 
by the wear and tear of the elements. It has 
lasted on thousands of buildings, without 
repairs, for over a quarter century. 
The Ruberoid Distributor near you will 
prove to be the leading hardware or build¬ 
ing supply dealer in your community. 
Consult him about Ruberoid. 
iT A*0ON 
HU-BER-OlD 
^OOFl N G 
r 
'hL "' 
^LTANOARDPAl^ 
The Standard Paint Company 
95 Madison Ave., New York 
Chicago 
Boston 
SHINGLES 
PELTS 
6UILDINS PAPERS 
PLASTICS 
Farm Helpers 
United Milkers Double Dairy Dollars 
Unquestionably America’s Greatest Value in Milkers— 
l simplest—most sanitary—most efficient—safest made. 
Pump-pulsator type—gives complete vacuum release 
on teat. Smooth natural action of calf. 
THE “SEE-THRU" TEAT CUP-Clear as crystal. As easy to clean as a 
china dish-shows all teats milking. Saves time.and trouble. Tell at a 
glance what each cow is doing. Write for information—or ask your dealer. 
United Engines 
United Washers 
With the famous full-swing DOLLY. 
Washes quicker—safer for any clothes. 
Hand and Power (electric or engine) 
with handy swinging wringers. Single 
and double tub models. Get the facts. 
United Diabolo Separator 
160 to 900 lbs. capacity. Backed with 
a guarantee of separator perfection. 
Easiest turning — closest skimming — 
most sanitary. Ask your dealer for 
tnal or write to us. 
13-4 to 12 H. P. Enginesforevery 
farm purpose — 200,000 satisfied 
users. Highest quality — most 
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United Feed Mills 
Self-sharpening automatic-aligning, os¬ 
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easy—durable—great capacity. 6-8 and 
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See The United Dealer— If a dealer near you cannot show you the United line, write 
to us. The high standard of United quality and low prices make the United America’s 
Greatest Value. Get all the facts. 
UNITED ENGINE COMPANY Dept. 19, LANSING, MICHIGAN (28) i 
When you write advertisers mention The R. N.-Y. and you'll get a 
quick reply and a “square deal.” See guarantee editorial page. 
