The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1901-01-27

GENERAL FRANCIS V. GREENR
outbreak. and Uncle Sam will have 10
whip some more of the more or less
noble descendants of the Iberian PENN
sula
There is a good deal of trouble over
the asphalt concessions. and matters
are rather complicated. The facts of
the dispute seem to be about as fol-
lows: About II years ago a great Amer
lean asphalt company, now known as
the New York and Bermudez company
and as the asphalt trust" obtained
from the Venezuelan government the
exclusive right for % years of working
the asphalt deposits. These are stu
ated in the state of BermudeZ. in the
northeastern part of Venezuela, and
are the largest and most valuable de-
posits of this paving material in the
world. being several times as great as
the famous lake on the island of Trim
dad. For - years this company has
taken out the asphalt. and it recently
erected there the largest asphalt REIN
ing works in the world. This company
has had the monopoly Of the business
and contends that its title 10 the as
phalt lakes is perfectly good.
There is in existence. however. an old
concession whose date seems to be IN
certain 10 some native capitalists and
promoters which gives to them the
right TO work the most valuable part of
the asphalt mine of the company. This
would, of course. if enforced. work
great injury TO the trust" and destroy
its monopoly. The natives sold this
concession to a new American syn
dictate. and the dispute between the two
Yankee companies is the cause of the
trouble. The old company has the ad-
vantage of possession. with about Loo
armed employees TO help it stay The
new company has the enormous advan-
tage of having President Castro. which
means the Venezuelan government. on
its side. The case is now pending be-
fore the Venezuelan supreme court.
which it is expected will run counter to
the president and confirm the New
York and Bermudez company in its
claim. On the other hand. it is report
ed on the best authority that Castro IS
about to annul its concession. SO.
speaking simply. the whole question
is. Which concession is the valid one?
The Venezuelan government has just
had on it's hands another Of the period
ic South American revolutions
which has further complicated the
asphalt situation. The revolution"
however. has about petered out. as
they generally do. and President Cas-
trO is free TO take whatever action be
pleases in the matter. There is a well
defined fear that he contemplates using
the forces OF the republic 70 Gust the
New York and BermudeZ company.
As they are American citizens this
would be a breach of international
peace and might lead to the gravest
results. 1t is scarcely thought. how
ever. that President Castro will go to
Greene of New York is president Of
the New York and Bermudez company.
This asphalt that y causing all the
trouble is the queer stuff that has
come into such general use as paw
ing material during the past few years.
In Trinidad and Bermudez it is found
In great lakes" which look as though
they were nothing but masses of black
mud. The surface is fairly firm, and a
curious thing about the lakes is that
the quantity always remains the same
no matter how many thousands Of tons
are taken out AS the stuff is dug out
more of it oozes up. and in very short
time the hole fills up and the surface OF
the lake becomes level again. AS it is
first taken out it looks like coal. and
when II is refined it becomes like coal
tar. For use in paving it is mixed
with sand. carbonate of lime and other
substances. JOSEPH L. MORTON.