Omaha daily bee., 1901-03-10

that he would do this thing, and he did
1t. In October, 1899, Castro entered the
capital at the head of a victorious army of
revolutionists. and having ousted Andrade
from the yellow House, assumed complete
control OF the government.
All things are unstable In this land.
guaranty may hold good as long as the ex-
listing administration is in power. But how
long will that administration remain in Of
flee? The most uncertain of all Is the man
who sits in the presidents chair. Accord
ing to the unwritten law regarding the
length OF the presidential term,
President Castro had little time to lose In
gathering in his reward for the time, funds
and trouble which he had expended on his
revolution. The asphalt lake at Guanoco
had been carefully developed, and the
Venezuelans were beginning TO recognize
its value. The tax on the exported asphalt
was 2 bolivars (4O cents) on the ton. In
the long run this tax would amount to
substantial revenue. But how long could
the administration count on being in
power? During the fifteen months of his
dictatorship President Castro has devoted
considerable time and attention to the New
York and Bermudes company.
story of the First Concession.
The story Of the first concession OF this
| lake and its subsequent history may be
| taken as a fair example of the usual
method Of procedure here in such cases
About twenty years ago man named HAM
| ilton came TO this country. He was pre-
sentable in appearance, OF quick intelli-
| gence and glib of speech, and he gained
| the favor OF President Guzman Blanco. He
was given by executive decree the exclu-
| siye rights to all mineral and other nat
ural products in the state OF Bermudes Tor
| twenty-five years. This decree was later
| ratiAed by an act of congress. When Ham
| iton discovered the existence OF the as
phalt lake near Guanoco he sold his con-
cesslon to the New York and Bermudes
company.
Operations on this lake were carried on
by the company unmolested until 1897 when
the first signs of the trouble appeared by
certain venezuelans filing claims for parts
OF the property Thereupon the company
bought in fee simple all the land surround
ing the lake. on January of the next
year the government annulled the Hamilton
concession, but recognized the rights OF the
company as proprietors of the lake, When
the AFFAIR was brought to the high court
the case was decided against the govern
ment, and the Hamilton concession de-
clared valid. Thus the company had legal
rights to the lake both by the concession
and by their propretorshi9.
After Castro had made himself dictator
his minister of progress conceded to Guerra
Marcano a Venezuelan, n definite title
to a large slice of the lake known as the
Venezuelan mine. These two mines COM
prise about hve-sixths of the entire lake.
Mr.. Sullivan OF the Warner, Quinlan
sullivan company purchased the Felicidad
mine for $4,000 without a guaranty title
from Marcano.
Thus on the surface the present Difficult
ties appear to be nothing more than a dis
pute over the tide to part of the lake
carried on between American companies.
But the man who sold the mine to sullivan
had received his title from the government.
Tho concession was given to Marcano in
total disregard OF both the New York and
Bermudes company's rights as proprietors
and the decision of the high court in '9S,
And the Venezuelan mine is also for sale.
The government will guarantee the title,
What were the reasons which prompted
the minister of progress TO give these con-
cessious? Just this, President Castro N
dictator IN the land.
Dictator CastrO's Humorous ways.
"And II any affair Is brought to the
court" said an old gentleman, speaking in
low voice and in broken English. Il will
tell YOU a story Of the court. In a trial not
long ago a judge on the supreme bench be-