The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-07-10
Reuter-, Bareatti-Fhe Shah Of Persia
sells out for seventy Years.


Sells Out for Seventy Years.
rl.. ufr>f European newspapers contain
d.. "details Of the extraordinary agreement
r.oI.. between the Shah Of Persia and
K4,un Julius Reuter-.
r.r,l III, been handed over for seventy
'..,r. II, the absolute control Of Baron Reu-
The. Baron is rs characteristic q pro-
r..rr Western civilization as the Shah and
s.. country are Of what is called progress in
,v, E:>;. Born in Il petty German princi-
.-.r. hr began life Is 4 bank clerk in Goet-
:.n.., and first became known in 1S49, to q
,.n limited public. as the publisher OF
,gn-Mphr newspaper correspondence in
rt--. Hrwa> an obscure adventurer when
p. transferred his business TO London in
t>ll. NJ IN less than seven years he
a.a t.r geographic news service Of
,r,. METROPOLITAN press under his undiS-
,'.rl control. and could compel the oldest
aut most exclusive Of English dailies to ac-
.,ti. 10 whatever terms be chose to dictate.
Lm.irr Alh foresight enough to anticipate
III. unlimited expansion OF the telegraph
,,.l.n. AMI promptneSS enough to secure
,l.u>ilc privileges from every new line that
W4, u;unyl in Europe. He supplemented
p. n,.Ilrr> or carrier. pigeons, and still later
g., >',alu-VAckrt service. At this moment
-a.rr ! not a city in the world which does
u.' ru'aiu Reuters news agent, doing his
wur. with various degrees of badness, but
... forming puTt Of a great system, which is
~, ol The most securely founded OF COM
a,i.al monopolie>. The man whose name
,.r London Times WAS tirSt compelled to put
nihr head OF its kilograms in 1859 occupies
r.w ou. al the finest houses in London, and
-.}.> dinners whose gorgeous accompani-
m,n>. II hast, the richest Of English dukes
..nni not surlasS.
f. tHr> ma.nate the Shah of Persia has
'1ndrl over the exclusive right to construct
%, roads. 10 max" canals. TO work mines, and
:, establish other productive enterprises
Nthin h> iomnionS. He can take Govern
men, lands free OF expense, can use all mate
GrtI> found in Government quarries, gravel
Ut, &C.. without payment. Neither the
u, nor the materials that this great con-
tractor urly employ are 10 be subject to tax
rl"u. ANY mineral deposit not Of gold,
-1'Y"l. or precious stones. which Baron Reu-
,,r'> agent, may lind on the Royal lands Of
Persia can be taken and worked by them
without charge. Such private property in
lands and mines a. he may require must be
Transferred 10 him at the ordinary prices ofthe
country. His first task is to constructa railway
from kt>cht, on the south shore ofthe Caspian,
II i>uhan. the old capital Of Persia. The
rn-ln If the road will be about four hun
jr'd mics, and after it has been completed
TIE Persian Government will give its sover-
ia guarantee TO pay seven per cent.--tye
pr cent. for interest and two per cent. for
,l0hn% fund-on 4 loan of S30,O00,000,
which Baron Reuter- is authorized to obtain
Il nj auybody who will lend it to him. The
Proceeds oi the Persian cuStom-hou>es have
A1brrlo averaged little over Sl.000,UO0 Il
year. Baron Reuter- is to purchase the en-
'Tr control Tor twenty-five Years OF the
Customs duties Of Persia by paying Sl0O. 900
L y'dr more than the Government now
u.lhr> auG OF them. Considering the thiey-
lu- Instincts OF eastern taX-collectors, the
Baron will probably find that few honest
European officials can make very handsome
profit Tor him out of the speculation.
Tn" Baron and his SUCCESSORS are to re.
main for seventy years absolute commercial
dic4,loI> of Persia. They are to pay the
nINrlulncnt, meanwhile, Is to 90 per cent
ri their net earnings in return for the mag
H.iiccn concessions accorded to them, and
Wb,m their lease has terminated it may be
renewed on such terms as both contracting
PARTIES can agree on. If the Government
a>>Glnr> control at the end Of that time Of
the works of the Reuter- Company it must
lny a 4 liberal valuation for the buildings,
machinery, &C.. which may then have been
erected by the company. Who is to enforce
Ihc provisions Of the contract does not ap-
!,ar: hut as Baron Reuter- is naturaliZed
British subject there seems to be an opening
here for a repetition Of the history Of the
Last India Company. The Shah has been
telling the people of England that in coming
among them he feels that he is coming
omong friends. Some of the Shah's sue
"',>"rs may not unlikely become jealous OF
TIE I,cu fruits OF the Reuter- concessions, and
'h"n II may be assumed that the country
winch wrtnched Herat from the hands OF
lar soldiers Of the Shah would once more
Lave 10 show Itself the reverse of friendly