That those of my readers who are not versed in stock affairs may appreciate the unusual character of these announcements, it is proper for me to explain their divergence from the form of the average financial advertisement. It is the invariable custom in all stock subscriptions for the corporation which is being offered for sale, or the bank or bankers assuming responsibility for the proposition, to set forth at length the facts essential to a proper understanding of the enterprise: if a new corporation, its reason for existence and the security offered; if old, its history and the immediate purposes for which additional funds are asked. It is the same in finance as in ordinary business. If you are offering for sale goods which cannot speak for themselves, it is necessary that some one talk for them so those who purchase may know what they are receiving for their money. Under normal circumstances the initial advertisement of the Amalgamated Company would have stated the amount of its capital, its organization, and that the proceeds of the $75,000,000 of stock offered for sale were to go into its treasury to purchase designated properties. It will be seen from the Amalgamated's advertisement reproduced herewith, that all the information vouchsafed intending investors is mention of its $75,000,000 capital, that it has no bonds or mortgage debt, and that it has already purchased large interests in the Anaconda and other copper properties. Not a word about indebtedness, equally vital, nor in definition of the extent of the interests owned. It is quite the briefest, most meagre notice of subscription ever placed before the public. Indeed, it is informative and specific only in regard to the officers, who are given extraordinary prominence. Such announcements are usually signed by the president and the secretary and treasurer, or else the names of all the officers and directors are stated, so it is obvious here that the prominent insertion of the vice-president's name is for a purpose. And all Wall Street as well as the general public gathered that "Standard Oil" was so sure of this enterprise that its principal men were anxious to be known as being behind it.