The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-31
REVOLUTION
WORRIES RYAN
Venezuelan Trouble Affects For
mer Salt Laker.
RICH CONCESSION AT STAKE
-~-~-
MINERAL GRANT ON oRINoco
NAY BE LOST.
RICH CONCESSION AT STAKE

Nenezuela's troubles. as recited by
the dispatches. may have some effect
upon the prospects Of a weH-known
man who has been interested in mixing
affairs in Utah for some time.
Henry NJ. Ryan, late of this city, but
now living in Oak Park, Ills. is inter-
ested 10 q certain extent with Donald
Grant Of Fairbault, Mimi, in what is
known as The OrinocO Concession. %
Ryan Grant and a few others succeed
ID, after much persuasion and some
fine diplomacy. in securing from the
Venezuelan government a concession
10 work certain iron and other mineral
deposits on the OrinOco river in Ven
ezuelan territory.
IL was thought at one time that there
would be no difficulty in getting imme-
dlately to work on the immense dep1s-
us or iron which lie along the river,
ana the members Of the syndicate hold
ing the concession went so far as to
tender the position of superintendent
of the werk to Aquila Nebeker, for
merly president of the Utah state ser
ate. NebeKer declined the place and
another man was selected.
Covetous Eyes Make Trouble.
For some reason or another he did
act So and the syndicate began casting
around for a man to take the place.
and while thus engaged there came
Information from South America TO
the effect that the concession granted
was not regarded as fEYGUably as II
might be. Nenszusiaus VINO had had
their eyes on ths deposits OF mineral
protested against the Americans get
ting control. AID began hampering
matters. The government promised
Eld TO the extent Of its power and
would have doubtless projected the
syndicate. but for the fact OF the revo-
luton breaking out. which engrossed
ali the time the officials had to spare.
Other complications shave arisen in
which Venezuela IS bothered to the
extent bat it needs all the men and
brains it can command. so it is prob
able there win be nothing done for
some time.
Nay Organize Small Army.
There is a probability that Grant.
who is a man o. great force aad energy.
may conclude 80 do as the parties who
have tie asphalt concession are doing:
o5saniza a lighting force of his own and
stand off any who might oppose him.
The Insurgents are the ones he has TO
combat, for the granting Of these con-
cessiOas was one of the acts of Cas-
tro's government which caused his op-
por suts TO rebel. The rebels claimed
that The government should work the
properties themselves.
Parties who have visited the ground
covered by the concession declare the
iron deposit is one Of the greatest in
the world, IT is stated that it exists
-ignt along the banks of the river
which is navigable for the largest yes
sels, and that it can be mined and
loaded at slight expense by the cheap
labor to be obtained there and shipped
TO the United States by water at a
rate g 5Ich would be cheaper than the
rail transportation from the iron range
in northern Michigan.
Copper and Gold Also.
In addition TO tie iron there are said
TO be good placers on the ground COW
cred by the concession, and further up
the river there are some very good
copper deposits.
II IS presumed that Grant. Ryan and
their associates win wait with consid-
erable anxiety the outcome of the rev
OlutiOn, as its cessation will mean the
commencement of active operations.
The concession covered a term of
twenty years. but nearly two years
have elapsed since it was given, the
first having been consumed in making
preparations while the last has been
one of waiting for local troubles to
cease.