The Washington herald., 1908-08-20

Satanic majesty Certain IL is that as
phalt, which is akin 10 pitch. has been
great dfsturber from the day il began 10
be used as a paving material Asphalt
paving scandals and quarrels are almost
as numerous II the United states as are
cities with asphalt pavements- But the
greatest asphalt controversy on record is
that between the New York and Ber-
nudez Asphalt Company and the govern
uaent Of Venezuela
a multitude Of contradictions in plain
statements Of facts. as we'll as a labyrinth
Of legaIisns. makes il difficult TO procure
a brief and succinct statement Of the
merits OF the controversy The facts that
are established beyond cavil are that the
New York and Bermudez Company once
possessed a great deposit Of asphaItuul.
a lake Of pitch. and that this lake is now
IN the possession OF Casro's government
Immediately preceding the ousting Of the
New York and Bermudez Company from
its possession. and indirectly connected
with that custer. the asphalt company
gave S145,000 toward financing a revolution
against Castr0's government headed by
Gen. Matos.
The company whose claims against
NenezueIa were so urgently presented for
arbitration by the Washington govern
nent is. perhaps. the largest asphalt con-
cern IN the world doing business through
connections with several corporations Its
rights 10 the property seized by Castro
have their foundation in a concession
granted twenty-five years ago 10 Horatio
+. Hamilton. an American. by Guzmaa
BlanCO. then President. and practically
dictator. Of Venezuela The Hamilton
concession has a history replete with in
cident and adventure. and It's closing
chapter IS yet to be written
Enemies OF the New YORK and Bermu-
de- Company. who are not confined 20
the limits OF Venezuela. but who are
many and powerful in the United States.
declare that The asphalt trust is the
vickedest Of al soulless corporations.
CHEZ among its sins, according TO these
enemies. had been the exploitation Of
Venezuela under the Hamilton co1ces-
sion To quote one Of these enemies
Persons IN all stations OF life have been
caught IN its entangling meshes. repUta-
lions have been blasted. millions Of dol
lars have been lost, thousands Of lives
have been sacrificed. and great nations
have quarreIed because Of it Il is
hardly necessary 70 say that prominent
among the enemies OF the asphalt
trust" who dec-airn Of the vzIckedness Of
that corporation and the virtues OF Presi-
dent Castro, are those who are inter
ested in selling the asphalt shipped from
TIE famous lake by The receiver appoint
ed BY the High Federal Court OF vene-
zueIa
tn W vo-r- 49, ry..----,=-- ~,----,-,--,--
presents itself as an American Industrial
organization owning vast interests II
Venezuela which have been illegally and
forcibly coodscated by the unspeskable
Castro The other side, right here in the
United States declares that the asphalt
trust is attempting 10 use. and is using.
The government Of the United States as
. cats paw % PUI the chesJHuts out OF
The IRE Charges rejecting upon the IN
1egriIy Of officials Of high degree have
been made. and every weapon known 20
1-slcuatiol and iunueado has been used
by one side or the other
The New York and Bermudez Company
was Incorporated n New York in 1855
FOR the purpose Of carrying on industrial
work n the state Of Bermudez. in Vene-
zuela- It Immediately acquired the Ham
Llton concession. which was in the form
of contract entered into in 1sS5 by the
Venezuelan government The transfer Of
the contract from Hamilton 10 the com
paly was approved by the Venezuelan
government late in 1SS5- Although har-
assed by countless revolutions and hav-
ing part in many adventures. The New
York and Beruudez Company remained
n possession Cf the property acquired by
tie Hamilton contract until the seizure
BY the venezuelan government II 1sl4
The property involved consists Of a
deposit Of asphalt known as Bernudez
Lake. IN Eastern Venezuela The Ham
1IJon contract cf Iss3 was a concession
for the exploitation Of the asphalt for
a period Of twenty-five years The con
tract Of 1SSS vested IN the company for
uinery-ni1e years the exclusive property
IN the asphalt deposit and the fee simple
ownership OF the land surrounding and
including the lake. about twelve square
miles.
n June. 1s1f, the Venezuelan govern
Dent demanded OF the New York and
Bzrmudez Company tie immediate paw
mezt Of S0cacll. or else the payment
Of S200,550 and the surrender OF its
property The alternative was present
pany for the alnUllrent OF the HamiI-
ton concession. fo- damages for failure
10 perform its Obligations. and for aid
ing the Natos revolution The company
refused 70 acceje 10 the demand Castro
gave additional tine for adjustment but
the caDpalv said there was nothing 10
adjust ThereUpOn suit against the
company for anEUlmelr Of the Conces-
sion was brought in the Venezuelan fed
eral courts and a receiver was appointed.
The receiver was an American. formerly
connected with the New York and Ber-
snuGez Company He took possession Of
The Beruudez Lake property on July Is
Is4 Since that time he has been oper-
EJlg the mines and shipping asphalt 70
the United States. where Il is sold in
competition with the asphalt Of the So
called trust. Of which the New York
part
It IS claimed that the conspiracy TO de-
sp0n the New York and Bermudez Com
pany began seven years before the actual
seizure According 10 the company's
friends. the scheme was laid in 1897. when
four Venezuelaus discovered an as
phaIt deposit on the very lands already
owned by the company This discovery
led 10 The formation Of a company under
the name OF La Felioidad.' That was in
the day Of President Crespo He annuIled
the famous Hamilton concession by de-
cree. but permitted the company 20 retain
mining rights This controversy ragged for
z time CrespO was succeeded by An
drade, under whose rule the Crespo de-
cree was declared null and void as being