The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1904-08-24
BERMUDEz ASPHALT co
Statement In Reply to Presi-
dent Castro's Charges.
Company Placed In Hands Of a Re.
celver Through Aid Of Venezuelan
Gunboats and SoIdiers-AIleged Of
fer Of Government to Settle the
Suit For 5o,ooo,ooo Bolivars.

Ter OF government 10 oettIe tnS
Suit For 100000 Bolivars.
Washington, Aug. 20. - The New
York and Bermudez Asphalt com
pany has given out a communication
which practically is a reply to Presi-
dent Castro's charges. 1t speaks of
the "innumerable hindrances, eXtor-
tions, conspiracies and wanton wrongs
experienced in spite of its (the com
pany's) efforts to pursue its legitimate
business" resulting in placing the COM
pany's property in the hands of re-
ceiver through the aid of Venezuelan
gunboats and soldiers.
TIE company's employees were ar.
rested, its property despoiled and ne
gro laborers from Trinidad, British
subjects, compelled to work at the
point Of the bayonet.
The original Hamilton concession
expires in 1908. In 1888 the company
says 1t secured a mining title for SO
years to Bermudez lake, large de-
post of asphalt in the state Of Ber.
mudez, and title in fee simple to
over 12 square miles Of land under and
surrounding tho lake.
The company declares that it has
fully complied with the terms of the
concession and has spent large sums
of money in exploration, construction
of a railroad, wharves and plant, the
improvement of rivers and the devel-
opment of its business.
Nevertheless, after many futile at.
tempts to confiscate the company's
property and to bestow it upon others,
q suit was instituted by the Venezue-
Ian government on July 20, 1901, to
cancel the Hamilton concession on the
ground of the alleged non-fulfilment
OF certain of its optional clauses and
to appoint a receiver for all of the
company's property"
1t declares that the company's titles
were ignored and that no notice of the
suit was given, but that by an ex parte
order a former employe of the COM
pany, A. Howard Garner, was named
receiver.
The part played by the Warner-Quin-
Ian company of Syracuse in asphalt
transactions in Venezuela is gone iD-
TO with much detail, the charge being
made that in May, 1900, that company
bought the "Felicidad" claim for si0,-
600. although the vendors declared In
the deed of sale that they made 1t
"at the risk of the purchasers and
without any responsibility"
Other Americans became interested
in ia Venezuela" South Side" and
other locations superimposed, as was
ia Felicidad." on Bermudez Lake.
But, it is stated, in response to urgent
representations. President Castro on
July 90 1000, issued three decrces es-
tablishing firmly the right Of the COM
pany to exercise all the rights granted
under the Hamilton concession.
1t is stated that on December 10,
1900, President Castro issued decree
confirming to the Warner-Quinlan Co.
that part of BermudeZ lake covered
by the La Felicidad" claims and
other persons that part covered by the
claim called LA Venezuela" although
a commission which had Investigated
the matter had reported in favor Of
the New York and Bermudez COM
pany.
Then followed long period of cost
ly litigation and vexatious expert
ences. The company was charged
with aiding the Matos revolution but
declared that it preserved strict neu-
trality The statement alleged, how
ever, that Venezuela threatened to
bring suit as a result Of this charge
and its alleged failure to perform its
obligations under the Hamilton con.
cession, "but that the government
would adjust the matter if 1t would
pay 5O.O00.00o bolivars. or else pay TO-
100000 bolivars and surrender its
property"
The company refused to consider
Venezuela's proposition Attention is
called to the fact that the high federal
court and the court of cessation were
consolidated into one court and that
one of the judges was the counsel for
the Warner Quinlan company, while
another was closely allied with Mr.
Warner.