The Washington herald., 1909-08-18
Foreign Capital Interested.

/
'since the PRONUNCIATION Of the consti-
tuition in July, 1908, foreign capitalists
| have been keenly interested IN endeavor-
! ing TO procure a further share in the
/ anticipated Industrial awakening CT Tur-
/ key. The lack Of adequate facilities Of
communication and transit. OF lighting
and telephone plants. Of har5or and irri-
gaticn works gave reason 70 believe that
| tho parliamentary government would be
| ready TO remedy these deficiencies. The
/ new regime, however. has not been so
prompt in according the desired conces-
sions
The wa. OF uationalism which has
| lately swept over the country has c0used
/ many 20 believe that the Turkish govern
mont should itself manage ali enterprises
! OF n qussi-pU0lic nature. such as rail
/ roads and telephones. Fortunately, the
/ new minister OF finance. david Bey. IS
/ averse 10 such government ownership
/ "An American company is now en-
/ de1vOricg 20 procure concession Of the
/ Central asia Minor Railroad In lieu
! oc the hlOmctric guarantee which has
/ been the cause of much criticism In the
4 case OF previous concessions 10 foreign
( companies. f. is demanding that per
/ cent on the actual cost Cf construction
! AID an additional ! per cent for amCrti-
zation pledged on the tithes for tire six
v.l7yets through which tie road would
/ pass should be guaranteed while the
/ anticipated profit would come from the
I oNpl1itatOn OF the miHes and OIL fields
within a zone Of twenty hilometers on
/ each side or the line, the granting OF
/ which by the government would be the
/ incentive for building the road.
FaVorably Disposed.
At present the government appears
! 20 be favorably disposed 10 this projec,
/ which. if successfully carried out wogId
/ require the expenditure Of over $1'.00ao onl.
/ Another American company is endeav-
/ oring TO procure the concession fo~ build
/ ing a railroad from Alexandretta 10
/ Aleppo. and thence 10 the headwaters OF
| the Euphrates. The fact that no kilo-
/ metric guarantee is asked for. and the
| further readiness 20 participate with the
/ government in the exploitation OF mines
/ and irrigation schemes. appeals favOrably
/ % tie ministry Of public works.
! An American company IS likewise en-
/ dCavOring 10 obtain the telephone con-
! Cession al ConstanunOple. either 20 work
/ It themselves, with provision FOR its sub
! sequent purchase by the government. or
/ else 20 install the plant for the govern
/ mcnt.
| AN electric company IS also working
| 70 procure telephone concessions Of the
| entire Ottoman empire. as well as OF Con-
/ stantinopls. Offering 10 install telephones
! in all cities OF over 10000 inhabitants
! and whenever more than q certain num-
| Der OF subscribers could be found. and is
| ready 10 effect a considerable outlay for
/ this purpose. Il has not vet been decided
| es % whether the telephones should be
given 10 private enterprises or exploited
/ by the departments OF posts and tele-
/ graphs.
! Recently the minister OF public works
/ q the Ottoman empire publicly announced
/ that important negotiations were pro-
| ceedlng with an American company, which
/ Ee felt would be satisfactory.
| 1T is understood that these negotia-
| tions are proceeding rapidly and salts
| factory. and II consUmmated win mean
/ Unquestionably a great victory for ouI
/ enterprise and prestige in the near East. -