New-York tribune., 1901-08-03
TO DIG RUSSIAN GOLD.
A VAST GOVERNMENT CONCESSION TO
AMERICANS.
THE TRACT IN THE SOUTH URAL NOUN
TAINS, NEAR IRKUTSK, COVERS ELEVEN
HUNDRED SQUARE MILES.

HUNDRED SQUARE MILES
Arrangements were completed at the Waldorf
Astoria this week for the development on a vast
scale by American and French capital and en-
gineers of eleven hundred square miles of golu'
silver copper and platinum bearing mineral
lands in the South Ural Mountains, Russia The
tract is on the railroad leading from ST Peters
burg to Irkutsk near the latter place, ana mas
been reserved as mineral lands by the
Cars government. The parties appearing IN
the transa ction at the Waldorf-Astoria were
Professor George A. Treadwel, a metallurGlst
living at the Waldorf Astoria, and friends OF
Paul Annasaff. of the builders and at pres
ent an associate manager of the Trans Siberian
Railway. The Car himself has taken keen in
terest in the negotiations, the development or
this imperial mineral tract is expected TO nave
an important bearing mining enterprises
throughout the Russian empire.
When Mr., Treadwell was seen yesterday at
the office of his counsel, Walter s. Logan, of No
p William-st.. he said:
Parties interested in developing this crown
tract have been working for three years to get
the concession. The legal formalties will be
closed up this week l am in hopes that con-
troll of the enterprise will remain in the hands Of
Americans. but it is too early tell about that
as a number of Frenchmen are going to furnish
part of the capital. Under the terms of the con-
tract we are to pay SS00O00 in cash for the
concession and q tax of per cent on all the
gold produced. Tie tract is supposed to be the
richest in minerals of any in Russia. have
made arrangements to go to Russia in OCTOBER
to decide what is needed in the way of maChin-
cry. 1 have been on the concession, and kno"
something about II. We shall mine with hydrau-
lie machinery as well build smelters. The
copper is rather high grade. / expect to De
gone till after the first of next year. Mr. An
nasoff was one OF the builders of the Siberian
Railroad. His father is in charge of the arrnory
in the heart Of the Ural Mountains, where all
the Russian sabres are made. The ar1nory Is
put there to make 1T difficult for an invader 10
reach this particular source of supplies. The
Russians are very much impressed by the sue
cess of American miners in Alaska We are
pretty close to Russia up there. They say II We
can get the gold out OF Alaska dirt and quartz
we can do even better in the Urals. where the
climate is agreeable. The stamp mills for the
mines will be bought in this country and VIII
be OF the type used in South Africa. They are
STYLED 30 pound stamps. and handle four tons
of quartz every twenty four hours
The government has allowed mining IN a
small way to go on on this big tract in order 10
determine the value Of the ores. Gradually they
have closed out the conCessionaires, until now
they are ready TO have the mines worked with
the latest improved machinery and on large
talized at perhaps S25.OooOoO to carry out the
plans of the syndicate. Engineers who nave
gone over the territory have been impressed by
It's reSOuFcess''
is not senator Clark OF Montana, trying n
secure a concession in the Ural Mountains? MI
Treadwell was asked.
"Only a sub-concession.' replied Mr. Tread
we'll He is trying to obtain renewal OF n
sub-concession which terminated twelve years
ago"
Professor Treadwell is a native Of Maine. He
has spent the greater part OF his life on the
Pacific Coast He at one time owned an interest
in Senator Clark's United Verde Copper Mine IN
Arizona Latterly he has worked copper ana
silver mines in Arizona and Mexico He recon-
mended Mr. Craig the American engineer IN
charge Of the Russian mines west OF NIadl-
vostok 10 the Russian Government when II
was decided to develop the mines there. since
then Mr. Treadwell has been on cordial terms
with the mining authorities In Russia.