Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-02-02
AFTER VALUABLE LANDS.
Shelter Trust Is Working for Richest
 in the World.

AA sAAC WOE1us
 Washington, D. C., Feb 1.-Ameri- cans located in Alaska recently have disclosed here in Washington a scheme by which the so-called smell ter trust proposes to acquire the rich est mineral lands in the known world. The facts of the situation were developed through the efforts of the Alaskan residents to obtain from congress legislation conferring them the power of self-government These men declare, and they furnish data on which to base their state lnents, that, unless autonomy for Alaska is provided, the richest parts of the territory will pass into the hands of trusts.
 It is asserted that already experts representing the smelter trust and great railroad interests of this coun- try have examined the Alaskan field and, convinced its enormous possi- Diaties. are acquiring sas rapidly as possible such territory as they may need for their purposes.
 Some time ago scientists of the United States geological survey re- ported in detail the existence of im- .nense deposits of copper ore in Alaska. the richest of these being in what is known as the Copper valley, u great stretch of country approxi- :nately 300 miles long and 200 miles vide. Deposits almost as rich were discovered in other parts of Alaska. In addition to the copper. coal in great quantities was discovered. Some of this is anthracite of the finest quality.
 These government reports attract ed the attention of Simon Guggen- helm, the head of the smelter trust, who only recently was elected to the United States senate from Colorado. Through his experts he investigated the statements of the government off, ficers and found them to be not only true, but very conservative. In fact, his own experts assert that the cop per and coal deposits in Alaska are far and away the richest ever dis. covered.
 Quietly. Mir Guggenheim began to acquire options on the land contain ing the deposits. For the most part, this was easy, but some of the holders have declined to yield their claims ev- en at fancy prices. Already. how ever, the Guggenheims and their asso- ciates have obtained possession of the richest of the copper and coal dcpos- its and gradually are extending their operations.
 Realizing that neither the copper nor the coal was of much value to them unless they could obtain an out let for the products to market. the entered into negotia- tions with J. r. Morgan X Co, and other large railroad interests fin the United States for the construction of necessary railroads The arrange ments for the railway construction have been completed in a very few years the Copper valley will be tapped by q railroad line that will carry it's riches to the coast as fast as It can be taken out. It is likely. too. that the greatest smelters In the world will be erected in that region. as the roal there is admirably adapted for purposes.
 While the Alaskans in Washington express satisfaction that the prospect Tor the development In symtematic way for their country is 90 bright. hey urge that they be given an au- tonomous government in order that hey may be able the better to con- trol the operations of the trusts and prevent them from becoming enmesh- .d in the tenfacles of the octopus