The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-11-20

Edward r.. Aldrich of this city son of
Senator Nelson W. Aldrich. Thomas f.
Ryan OF New York. John ID. Rockefeller
Jr.. the Messrs. Guggenhein and Harry
Payne Whitney. son OF William c. Whit
ney. secretary OF the navy under C.eve-
land. have secured from King Leopold OF
Belgium concessions for $4,000 acres in
thc Congo Free State. rich in crude rubber
resources. with immense copper and other
nietal deposits for which they have for
sonc time been negotiating.
These same men are Interested In the
Continental Rubber company. a crude rub
lsr concern and it Is stated that tho
American Congo company will be inde-
pendent OF the Continental Rubber COM
lany and OF the United states Rubber
company. The latter corporation
also has crude rubber subsidiary COM
psny. as well as subsidiary branch In
England known as William Symington n
Co. Ltd
The land given 20 The American cap
italists under the concession includes a
"trip OF over - miles on the bank OF the
Congo to the Yumbi river strip south
OF kasai TO the confluence OF the Congo
and kasairac rivers. and l0-year op-
tion on 1 2500O0 acres In another section OF
The grants. with the exception OF the
last-named area. are conceded 20 the
American Congo company FOR rubber
and other exploitation for = term OF So
years The land Is the same property
which I'm the past has been operated so
profitably as too make King Leopold one
of the wealthiest men in the world and
to make Independent fortunes for many
q his associates
The decree gives the concessionaires not
only The exploitation of the vast india rib
bcr resources OF the Congo Free state.
which Is not as commonly believed. tho
possession Of Belgium. but a fief OF King
leopold but also includes franchise 10
construct a railroad over q territory enor-
mously rich IN copper deposits and an area
half as large as Alaska.
Politically the concession means. ac-
rcrding to belief In diplomatic circles. the
end OF that exploitation OF the Congo Free
State by King Leopold
The continental press especially In the
Belgian capital, regards the concession as
marking a clever move on the part Of the
Congo government 60 involve the United
States In any future international compll-
cations which may arise owing 20 the con-
ducting OF affairs in the so-called indie
pendent Congo Free state
The consideration to King Leopold per-
sonally and TO the Belgian government
1tSeH, AZ Wei as Tue method or udN-
ment by the concesslonaries. Is withheld
for the present as are other details Ali
the terms of the agreement between the
American capitalists and the king and
government are regarded as practically
settled. however as tho king and the par
1iamentary leaders are known 10 have
consented 10 practically everything con-
talned I'm the agreement
Parliament has not Vet formally voted
Its approval OF the arrangement and nm
III that Is done there will he no detailed
announcement. " * expected that tho
formal approval of parliament will be Sc
cured this week
With the exception Of Messrs Aldrfch
and Rockefeller. the persons interested I'm
The American Congo company as named
have in hand the formation OF a mining
company OF considerable capitalization
10 work the mining concessions contained
III the land granted by King Leopold 3
decree The projectors OF this company
are confident that the mining concessions
will not be less profitable than that for
the extraction of crude rubber and are
even hopeful that this feature Of the con-
Ccssion may prove even more valuable.
John Hays Hammond. general manager
Of the GugGenheim ENplora tion company.
who is said TO be more familiar with the
mineral wealth Of the Dark Continent
than any other American engineer. in
Spired the mining enterprise,
In September u was rumorcd that the
United States Rubber company intended
10 take up the exploitation OF the crude
rubber industry In the Congo. Concern
Ing the possibility that the United States
Rubber company would gain control OF
the large and valuable crude rubber prop