The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-20
GREAT CONGO CONCESSIONS.
NOT ONLY RUBBER BUT COPPER
AND RAILROADS.


Them 20 Expect Much From Copper
Nining "Details withheld Until the
Belgian Parliament Votes Approval.
The concessions secured by American
capitalists In the Congo Free State are
much more comprehensive than has been
indicated In the cables from Brussels and
the statements made In this country since
Thomas r Ryan returned from abroad. They
include not onlyexploitation OF tho india rub
her resources OF the State but q franchise
10 construct q railroad and mining leases
over a territory rich in copper and half a.
large as Alaska. They mean, IL 10 believed;
the end OF that exploitation OF the Congo
Free State by King Leopold which, while
il has made the King and many Of his SUBJ
jects vastly wealthy, has led to protests
from England and France and has aroused
public indignation In most Of the countries
which took part in the Berlin conference OF
1854. Those business interests Of King
Leopold in other words which, IL Is charged.
have operated to the achievement Of
hundreds Of thousands Of natives ndto
the torture or death Of thousands besides
pass out Of his hands.
The consideration to King Leopold per-
sonally and to the Belgian Government.
as we'll as the method Of payment by the
concessionaires. Is withheld for the pres
pnt. as ara other details OF the agreement.
All the terms OF the agreement are regarded
as practically settled, for to all Of them
King Leopold and the Parliamentary leaders
have agreed. But the Parliament has not
formally voted approval. and until that
is done there will be no detailed announce
ment from the New York capitalists who
secure the concessions. It is expected
that the formal approval OF Parliament
will be secured this week.
The rubber concession will go; as pre-
viously announced, to he American Congo
Company. which was Incorporated after
Mr.. Ryan's return to this country. IT
concession gives the company the rubber
resources over 8, 400, 900 acres OF land. which
in the past have been operated so probably
as to make King Leopold one Of the wealth.
est men in the world and to make inde-
pendent fortunes for many Of his associates.
Interested in the company are Thomas
Y. RYAN, the Messrs. G~uggenheim, Harry
Payne Whitney, Edward B. Aldrich, son
VI Senator Nelson W. Aldrich Of Rhode
Island, and John d. Rockefeller, Jr.
The same men are interested in the Con-
~tinental Rubber Company. a crude rubber
G. ncern, bus it was stated officially yester-
dav that the American Congo Company
will he entirely independent Of the Con-
tiaental Rubber Company and of the United
states Rubber Company. which 10 the lar
Rest manufacturer Of rubber goods In the
United States and also has q crude rubber
sub idiary.
The persons interested in the American
CApso Company with the exception OF
Messrs. Aldrich and Rockefeller have in
rand the formation OF a mining company
TO work the mining concession. The pro-
iectors Of this company are confident that
the mining concession will not be at all less
rro6table than thai for the extraction OF
rubber.
John Hays Hammond, general manager
or ths~ Guggenheim Exploration Company,
who il probably more familiar with the
mineral wealth OF South Africa than any
ether American engineer, inspired the min
me enterprise. Mr.. Hammond got his first
information concerning the wealth OF the
Congo While in South Africa. and his in
formation has been very largely supple
meuteI by researches made in the past
wear under his direction and that OF A.
chester Realty, also OF the Guggenheim
Exploration Company.
In this period expert mining engineers
in the employ OF the Guggenheims have
p~rospected extensively In the Congo. They
lave. of course, been unable to m
all Of the mining land Of which they have
heard. but they ave found enough to con-
vince their principals that there are &C
cessjble many rich mics Of high grade
copper ore. There Is silver also and some
gold. as well as other valuable mine ais,
hut the principal reliance Of the prospectors
is on copper. 1t 10 accordingly to copper
mining that thu company will FIRST devote
its energies.
According to 1Stevens's Copper Hand
book the recognized authority on copper
properties, the Congo Free State has cop
Ter measures OF unusual promise that
eventually should make important mines
The book adds:
Existence Of copper ore deposits. some
Of which are apparently Of workable size
and richness, have been known for years.
but no mining worthy OF the name has been
done. The naNves OF the upper Congo
dig a little iron and copper ore. and smell
them with charcoal IN pits for the making
OF weapons and utensils. At Katangs there
are several workable deposits. ore occurring
as lenses In schistose sandstonee. Az
Moako-Sayo a few small mines have been
opened in limestone. Ore has also been
found in Yambingo, at Manyangs and near
the western shore Of Lake Albert Nyanza.'
There is thus no prior claim to the con-
Cession of the American capitalists.
Whether or not the railroad concession Is
10 20 to the same persons who get the
others none Of those interested would
say yesterday. It was learned, however
that a separate company will be organized
10 exploit this concession and tnat' no mat
ter who finances the company, the course
OF railroad development will be In accord
Ance with the desires Of the rubber and
mining companies.
Alfred Belt, the associate Of Cecil Rhodes,
who made millions out OF diamond mines
left 8 5000 900 by will to be used IN the de-
velopment Of the railroad system OF Africa
along the line Of the Cape-to-Cairo road
The new Congo Free State road will IN
49, -a~