310 
The  RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
February  24,  1923 
PUBLISHER’S  DESK 
Could  you  tell  me  if  the  Mutual  Bene¬ 
fit  League  of  North  America,  of  which 
James  B.  Dillingham,  Sylvanus  B.  Nye 
and  Frederick  A.  Ballou  are  the  trustees, 
is  a  safe  place  to  borrow  money  or  to 
invest  money?  R.  II.  Smith,  who  is  an 
agent  for  I.  R.  Ferguson,  district  mana¬ 
ger  of  the  League,  381  Ellicott  Square, 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  was  at  our  last  Grange 
meeting  trying  to  loan  money  to  the 
Grange  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  new 
hall,  and  I  did  not  think  his  proposition 
very  good.  I  am  sending  a  circular 
which  was  handed  out  at  the  meeting. 
New  York.  E.  c.  H. 
The  Mutual  Benefit  League  offers  to 
loan  you  money  to  build  a  home  or  for 
other  building  at  3  per  cent.  You  are 
required  to  pay  into  the  League  1  per 
cent  of  the  face  of  your  contract  each 
month,  or  12  per  cent  a  year,  until  the 
loan  is  made.  As  the  money  is  accumu¬ 
lated  those  having  contracts  await  their 
turn  to  secure  a  loan.  It  has  been  our 
experience  that  those  entering  into  con¬ 
tracts  with  concerns  operating  in  this 
way  are  not  able  to  get  the  loan  when 
they  want  it.  Agents  selling  such  con¬ 
tracts  lead  the  prospective  borrower  to 
believe  that  he  can  have  his  loan  at  a 
specified  time.  None  of  the  organiza¬ 
tions  of  this  sort  in  the  past  have  been 
long-lived.  A  building  and  loan  associa¬ 
tion  is  very  much  better,  and  serves  the 
public — and  with  perfect  safety. 
What  do  you  know  about  the  Farm 
Publishing  Company  of  Kansas  City,  Mo., 
also  if  their  Mr.  Harwood  is  the  same 
Mr.  Harwood  who  has  been  before  the 
public  in  bygone  years?  This  concern  is 
selling  what  they  call  units  to  some  of 
the  farmers  in  this  section  to  dispose  of  a 
loose  leaf  farm  accounting  system.  A 
number  of  farmers  have  bought  units  of 
one  or  more  at  $450  for  the  territory  in 
Pennsylvania,  New  York  and  Ohio. 
Pennsylvania.  G.  M. 
We  wrote  the  subscriber  at  the  time 
(August)  that  the  Farm  Publishing  Com¬ 
pany,  Kansas  City,  had  a  small  financial 
rating,  that  the  “Loose  Leaf  Farm  Ac¬ 
counting  Book”  appeared  to  be  a  prac¬ 
tical  accounting  system,  very  well  suited 
to  farm  needs,  but  we  cautioned  against 
farmers  investing  or  obligating  them¬ 
selves  for  so  large  an  amount  of  money 
as  was  requested  for  the  privilege  of  sell¬ 
ing  the  books  in  a  given  territory. 
Later  reports  are  in  effect  that  J.  T. 
Harwood,  exclusive  agent  of  the  publish¬ 
ing  company,  came  to  Northwestern 
Pennsylvania,  and  one  of  his  associates, 
by  canvassing  a  favorable  section,  secured 
orders  for  the  account  book  from  a  large 
percentage  of  the  farmers.  Figuring  on 
this  basis,  he  convinced  those  who  con 
sidered  taking  up  the  sale  of  the  books, 
that  the  same  percentage  of  the  farmers 
of  a  county  as  a  whole  could  be  sold  one 
of  the  books.  Mr.  Hiarwood  is  evidently 
a  good  salesman,  and  he  induced  some  15 
or  20  men  in  the  vicinity  to  sign  con¬ 
tracts. 
One  agent  secured  sales  rights  to  Erie 
Co.,  Pa.,  and  Ashtabula  Co.,  O.,  obligat¬ 
ing  himself  to  sell  200  dozen  copies,  and 
for  which  he  paid  $1,800 — not  for  the 
books,  but  the  right  to  sell  them  in  these 
two  counties ;  $2  is  to  be  sent  to  Farm 
Publishing  Company  for  each  book  when 
ordering,  and  the  price  at  which  the  books 
are  to  be  sold  is  $7.75  each.  The  con¬ 
tracts  are  with  the  agent,  J.  T.  Harwood, 
and  not  with  the  company.  When  those 
signing  the  contracts  attempted  to  sell 
the  books,  they  found  the  possibilities  had 
been  very  much  exaggerated  by  Har¬ 
wood  ;  many  farmers  had  no  use  for  such 
an  accounting  system.  One  man  is  said 
to  have  paid  for  selling  rights  in  a  moun¬ 
tainous  territory  where  very  few  farms 
exist.  'While  selling  the  territory,  Har¬ 
wood  and  his  lieutenants  represented  that 
they  would  make  this  territory  their  per¬ 
manent  home — as  soon  as  the  contracts 
were  signed  all  disappeared  without  pre¬ 
vious  announcement.  We  understand  sev¬ 
eral  of  those  signing  contracts  gave  notes 
in  settlement  for  county  rights.  When 
they  discovered  how  they  had  been  de¬ 
ceived  they  have  refused  to  pay  the  notes. 
Mr.  Harwood  says  he  will  endeavor  to 
collect  the  notes  by  legal  process.  If  the 
courts  decide  in  favor  of  the  signers  of 
the  notes,  then  those  who  paid  cash  in¬ 
stead  of  notes  may  bring  action  for  re¬ 
fund.  Our  only  object  in  publishing  this 
history  of  Jthe  Pennsylvania  transactions 
is  to  put  farmers  on  their  guard  with  re¬ 
gard  to  the  proposition.  The  plan  of  sell¬ 
ing  county  rights  on  books  or  other  ar¬ 
ticles  should  always  be  regarded  with  sus¬ 
picion,  and  no  one  should  be  so  unwise  as 
to  sign  contracts  for  county  rights  on 
anything  until  he  is  satisfied  that  there  is 
a  demand  in  the  territory  for  the  article. 
Later  advice  states  that  Mr.  Harwood 
lias  settled  with  those,  giving  notes  on  a 
50  per  cent  basis. 
Can  you  collect  $25  from  J.  W.  Con¬ 
nors,  Williamstown,  N.  .T.?  He  sent  me 
a  circular  on  October  27.  and  on  October 
30  I  sent  a  registered  letter  and  money 
order  to  the  amount  of  $25  for  12  White 
Wyandotte  pullets,  five  to  six  months  old. 
I  never  can  get  him  to  answer  my  letters. 
I  have  a  postal  from  the  Williamstown, 
N.  .T.,  postmaster  saying  the  money  order 
was  paid  to  him  on  November  4.  I  wrote 
him  several  letters,  always  registered  and 
a  return  receipt  called  for.  Inclosed  find 
circular  that  he  sent  me  October  27.  also 
two  post  office  receipts.  I  do  not  know 
for  sure  if  his  advertisement  appeared 
in  your- paper  or  not,  but  it  was  in  some 
poultry  paper.  j.  f.  o. 
Connecticut. 
We  are  very  sure  that  J.  W.  Connors’ 
advertisement  did  not  appear  in  The  R. 
N.-\r.  We  have  another  complaint  of 
the  same  character  against  Mr.-  Connors. 
He  promises  to  refund  the  money  to  the 
subscribers  in  the  near  future,  but 
whether  he  makes  good  this  promise  or 
not,  Mr.  Connors  is  not  worthy  of  the 
confidence  of  the  poultry  public.  He  is 
a  poultry  “gyp.” 
I  am  sending  you. under  separate  cover 
one  of  Bradley  Bros.,  Maknnda,  Ill., 
catalogues,  also  one  of  the  Alexander 
County  Nurseries,  MeClune,  Ill.,  which 
is  a  reprint  of  Bradley  Bros.,  and  I  won¬ 
dered  if  it  was  the  Bradley  Bros,  under 
a  new  name  to  catch  the  same  suckers, 
of  which  I  am  one  to  the  tune  of  about 
$28.  I  have  one  plum,  a  sprout  from 
the  root,  and  one  spindling  blackberry  of 
some  kind,  and  $5  worth  of  briars  still 
due,  and  I  guess  they  always  will  be  due 
me.  Do  you  know  anything  about  this 
new  firm  ?  e.  e.  M. 
Massachusetts. 
The  catalogs  of  Bradley  Bros,  and 
Alexander  County  Nurseries  are  identi¬ 
cal,  except  the  outside  of  the  covers. 
Bradley  Bros,  have  done  business  under 
various  names  in  the  past  25  years,  and 
this  “Alexander  County  Nurseries”  is 
just  another  attempt  to  avoid  the  odium 
of  the  firm’s  'bad  record.  Both  catalogs 
quote  low  prices  to  catch  the  gullible 
looking  for  bargains.  Those  patronizing 
such  houses  invariably  get  a  raw  deal. 
On  August  31  I  bought  10  shares  of 
Lake  Erie  Gas  and  Fuel  Company 
through  A.  L.  Fink,  their  salesman.  Mr. 
Fink,  together  with  three  other  salesmen, 
canvassed  the  town  of  Friendship.  When 
T  bought  the  stock  if  was  understood 
that.  I  was  to  receive  the  stock  certifi¬ 
cates  at  an  early  date.  I  waited  until 
November  20,  when  I  wrote  the  inclosed 
letter  to  the  company.  The  letter  was 
rgistered  and  was  received  by  the  com¬ 
pany,  but  up  to  this  date  I  have  not 
received  any  answer  to  my  letter.  I  did 
not  suspect  anything  wrong  before  I 
heard  that  others  had  purchased  stock 
and  had  not  received  any  stock  certifi¬ 
cates.  c.  D. 
New  York. 
The  attorneys  for  Lake  Erie  Gas  and 
Fuel  Company  advise  us  that  the  stock 
salesman,  A.  L.  Fink,  did  not  turn  in 
(he  money  received  for  the  stock.  The 
receipt  for  the  money  was  given  on  the 
Lake  Erie  Gas  and  Fuel  Company’s 
printed  stationery,  and  we  therefore  re¬ 
gard  the  company  as  responsible.  The 
stock  is  of  doubtful  value,  anyhow,  and 
litigation  about  it  is  not  advisable.  The 
case  illustrates  the  unwisdom  of  purchas¬ 
ing  stocks  peddled  around  in  this  way 
as  well  as  paying  money  to  strangers  un¬ 
der  any  pretext. 
Sixty-three  men,  44  of  them  residents 
of  New  York,  are  named  defendants  in 
an  indictment  returned  by  the  Federal 
Grand  Jury  at  Pittsburg.  The  men  are 
charged  with  conspiracy  in  using  the 
mails  to  defraud  in  connection  with  the 
Glass  Casket  Corporation  promotion. 
— Pittsburg  Daily  Paper. 
A  company  springs  up  every  few  years 
promising  to  make  the  public  rich 
through  investment  in  this  line  of  enter¬ 
prise.  The  result  in  every  case  has  been 
the  loss  of  money  to  the  investor — and 
an  easy  living  for  a  time  on  the  part  of 
the  promoter.  If  this  latest  gang  of 
pirates  spend  a  few  years  in  jail  the 
public  will  be  free  from  their  machina¬ 
tions  during  the  period  of  their  incar¬ 
ceration  at  least. 
When  Snow  Lies  Deep 
WHEN  Jack  Frost  has  made  summer  pastures  a  thing  of 
the  past;  in  bleak  mid- winter  when  grain  prices  soar, 
then  you  will  have  the  “bank  account  feeling”  that  a  full 
Unadilla  Silo  offers. 
You’ll  appreciate  its  perfect  air-tight,  water-tight  and  frost- 
repelling  construction  that  preserves  every  pound  of  green  corn 
put  into  it;  you’ll  know  as  thousands  of  others  know,  that  it 
retains  valuable  juices  and  contains  no  molding  or  rotten  silage 
to  throw  away. 
Easy  to  get  into  and  out  of;  easy  to  push  silage  out  at  door 
level,  because  Unadilla  Silos  are  built  for  permanence  and  con¬ 
venience  and  safety.  There’s  no  silo  with  a  front  like  the 
Unadilla;  its  face,  like  a  man’s,  speaks  of  its  good  character. 
Send  for  Unadilla  Catalogue 
and  early  order  discount  offer. 
UNADILLA  SILO  CO.  BoxC  Unadilla,  N.Y. 
UNADILLA  SILOS 
Horse 
Power 
Hercules 
Cheapest  Way 
to  Clear  Land 
My  new  reduced  prices  on  the  improved 
1923  Model  Hercules  makes  it  easy  and 
cheap  for  you  to  remove  every  stump — to 
clear  every  acre  on  your  farm  as  clean  as  a 
whistle.  No  stump  or  hedge  too  big  or 
stubborn  for  the  Hercules,  all-steel,  triple 
power  stump  puller.  It  yanks  ’em  out  in 
less  time  and  with  less  effort  than  any  other 
method.  Make  big  money  pulling  stumps  for 
your  neighbors.  Pull  stumps  for  fuel.  I  make 
both  horse  and  hand  power  machines.  Lat¬ 
est,  most  up-to-the-minute  improvements.  Send 
_  _  today  for  catalog  and 
S  ^  S^OO  special  folder. 
B.  A.  FULLER, 
Pres. 
Hercules  Mfg.  Co. 
P^w“r  430  29th  St., 
Hercules  Centerville,  Iowa 
.Cost  Less 
PER  YEAR 
"They  cost  no  more,  but 
they  do  last  longer",  is  what 
users  say.  Superior  materials 
and  more  careful  workman¬ 
ship  make  extra  years  of 
service.  Creosoted  staves  are 
heavy  and  carefully  matched. 
Hoops  of  best  steel,  with 
oversize  thread.  Doors  fit 
like  safe  or  refrigerator. 
Wooden  ladder  rung*.  Held  erect 
t-y  Green  Mountain  anchor  system. 
BOOKLET  FREE. 
Write  for  Special  Offer 
on  Early  Orders 
Creamery  Packaoe  Mfg.  Co. 
338  West  St..  Rutland.  Vt. 
Buy  yq ur  S>i  I  o u 
)■  D  jrect  from  Fcicto  ry 
And  Save  Money  ^ 
Dirigu  and  Standard  Silos  still 
lead  in  high  quality  lumber  and 
exclusive  features.  The  strongest 
and  tightest  construction. 
12x30  AS  LOW  AS  $264.35 
Liberal  discount  for  early  order.  Send 
for  description  and  prices  of  all  sizes. 
STEVENS  TANK  &  TOWER  CO. 
AUBURN.  ME. 
When  you  write  advertisers  mention 
The  Rural  New-Yorker  and  you’ll  get 
a  quick  reply  and  a  “square  deal.  ”  See 
guarantee  editorial  page. 
CRAINE 
SILOS 
give  three-fold  protection  to  your  silage. 
They  keep  warmth  and  juices  in,  and  keep 
cold  and  weather  out. 
Every  square  inch  of  a  Craine  Silo  is 
protected  against  stress  and  strain  in 
any  direction. 
You  can  tell  a  Craine  from  any  other 
wood  silo.  Smooth  and  handsome.  No 
hoops  to  tighten  or  loosen.  Once  up,  a 
Craine  stays  put.  Craine  Silos  are  cheap¬ 
est  to  own. 
Send  for  illustrated  catalog 
Any  old  stave,  iron -hooped  silo 
can  be  rebuilt  into  a  Craine  3-wall  . 
Silo  at  about  half  the  cost  of  a 
new  one.  Catalog  shows  how. 
Craine  Silo  Co.,  Box  110  Norwich,  N.  Y. 
fe 
ECONOMY  SILOS 
A  PERMANENT  SILO 
Every  Economy  Silo  is  equipped  with  the 
Storm  Proof  anchoring  system  that  makes  it 
absolutely  permanent.  Ensilage  is  always 
fresh  and  sweet— it  can't  spoil  in  an  Econ¬ 
omy  Silo.  Perfect  fitting  doors  make  the  Silo 
perfectly  air-tight.  Hoops  form  easy  ladder. 
Built  of  long  leaf  Yellow  Pine  or  Oregon 
Fir.  Headquarters  for  all  sizes  of  water 
tanks.  Our  motto  is  quality  through  and 
through.  Factories  at  Frederick,  Md.t 
and  Roanoke.  Va.  Write  for  catalog, 
ECOHOMT  SILO  £  MFG.  CO  , Dept.  F.  Frederick.  Md. 
I  DIRECT  FROM  FACTORY 
SEU\  ALL  FREIGHT  PAID 
trki  lcORRUCATED -PLAIN -V  CRIMP 
SHINGLES -SPOUTING -GUTTER 
lN(J  J  PITTSBURGH  ROOF  &  FENCE  CO. 
Box  1231  —  PITTSBURGH,  PA. 
WORLD  S  BEST  IRON  AND  STEEL  MARKET 
