Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-11-27

Just What M cIsrgus Proposes to do
IN the oyieut laade Pubic.

Our readers have become familiar With
the much talked Of schemes Mr.. Frank
Ciergue vas supposed to be working in Per-
sia- Those Who attended the legislative
sessions last winter will remember the dis
cussion on railway and banking matters per-
tanning to them. The newspapers have had
Mr.. Clergue hobnobbing with the much MAJ
NED and luxurious potentates of the Orient
and the burglar proof and ironclsd Gar of
the 9ussiss. But just What he and the
prominent men Of wealth he has enlisted
propose to do, has until nov rested under =
haze, and no wonder that the reflections have
occasionally taken the exaggerated and mar
velious forms Of mirage.
Railroad men and large contractors, may
remember that some three or four years ago,
there appeared in print, in this AMI in the old
country, the details Of big railroad build
ing operation in Persia by an English syndi-
cate who had received valuable grants from
the Shah. BY the reading it appeared that il
was the largest contract of the kind ever en-
tered into In the old world, and those who
we're supposed TO be in on the ground floor
were thought to be in way to wonderful
fortunes. Immediately after the publication
of the contract, followed other news of vast
amounts Of material and large bodies Of men
being hurried forward to the proposed scene
of action. II 10 said some hundreds Of thou
sans Of pounds Of material was put into Per
STA, when, very suddenly all work ceased,
nor hiss it yet been resumed, nor can the
Englishmen recover their property. which is
securely held by the Persians.
1t appears that after the contract
was made, Russians became jealous.
and some of the diplomats, working
secretly, engendered in the land Of
the Shah feelings Of suspicion and hostility
To the foreigners, and this so grew and
spread among the natives that fears of an
uprising were held. and the work just begun
was temporarily abandoned. As the hostil-
ity has not modified, and as the WY Per-
SLAMS hold the material on an alleged breach
of contract, the English syndicate has been in
. bad box for some time.
After many consultations, however, il
was made PLAIN that Russians would al
ways oppose the English work in Persia
that Persians wanted it carried on, and that
all parties would agree that Americans
m ght do il, if the Russians were to have
a slice of the profits. The English people
wanted to get back something of their
investment, and to this end had asked the
Persian minister of three years ago to
interest some one on this side of the water
IL he could. This latter official had this
upon his mind when he visited Bar Harbor
two years ago, and there met Mr.. Clergue.
Finding that he and bis associates had built
operated An electric plant, and had in con-
temptation an electric road. etc. the Persian
9TH told him of the condition of affairs
across the water, ald suggested that perhaps
would take some hold in forming much
desired compsnv.
Mr. Ci-ygne took hold of the matter with
will interested prominent capitalists and
now III company are 10 fair way TO secure
concessions from the Persisns. which will
enable the combined Erglish aud American
capitalist. to carry out the original plans. the
understanding being that only Americans
snail appear TO have control.
Some of the Maine men will 90 across this
winter, quite likely in January, when will be
held Pan American, Russian, English, Per-
sian Congress, to see if there be sure pros
poets Of the combine banning out the hoped
for profits