The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1909-09-02
INVASION Of
SULTANS LAND
AMERICAN CONCERNS FAVOR
ABLY CONSIDERED BECAUSE
NO SUSPICION OF TERRI
ToRIAL DESIGNS ATTACHES
TO ACTIVITY.

N<tolilANol OAN oCPt'
least four American concerns are
now engaged in efforts to secure con
tracts for public improvements in
Turkey and officials of the state de-
partment look forward to a material
expansion of American trade i'm that
part of the world. The Turkish gov
eminent has various plans for extern
sive public improvements and for
eign capitalists are keenly interested
in what the government will do to-
ward the construction of adequate
railroads and highways, lighting and
telephone plants and harbor and ir-
rigation works. In view of Ameri-
cas- recognized freedom from politi-
cal ambition or desire for territorial
aggrandizment in Turkey, Americans
stand on a very favorable footing IN
comparison with citizens of other
powers.
The state department has made
public a statement outlining the situ-
alton in Turkey. 1t says s
THE department is in receipt of
information to the effect that efforts
are being made by various American
enterprises to obtain concessions in
Turkey which If successful will in
volve the outlay of a very consider
able amount of our capital for in
vestment in the Ottoman empire. .
"Since the PRONUNCIATION of the
constitution in July 1908, foreign
capitalists have been interested keen
ly in endeavoring to secule a further
share in the anticipated industrial
facilities of communication and tran
sit, of lighting and telephone plants,
of harbor and irrigation works, CIV
ing reason to believe that the parlia-
mentary government would be ready
to remedy these deficiencies. The
new regime, however, has not been
so prompt in according the desired
concessions.
The wave of nationalism. which
lately has swept over the country has
caused many to believe that the Tur-
kish government should itself man
age all enterprises of a quasi-public
nature, such as railways and tele-
phones. Fortunately the new min
lister of finance, David Bey, a man of
no mean talent, whose financial cap
~acities are undisputed, is averse to
such government ownership.
The minister of public works, in
a programe recently published, was
anxious for a road to be built
through the central portion of Asia
Minor, from Angora, where the Ger
mani Anatolian railway now stops,
to Van, via Sivas and Harpoot, with
fra nc UnrSn hrannhnc -, thn NJadi
terranean, where a port is contem-
plated as well as to Diabakir and
Mosoul. The original project of the
Bagdad railway was partly through
this region.
AN American company is en-
deavoring to secure this concession.
In lieu of the kilometric guarantee,
which has been the cause of much
criticism in the case of previous con-
cessions to foreign companies. 1t is
demanding that four per cen on the
actual cost of construction and an
additional one per cent for amoriza-
ton, pledged on the tithes for the
six vilayets, through which the road
would pass, should be guaranteed
while the anticipated profit would
come from the exploitation of the
mines and oil fields, within a zone
of 20 kilometers on each side of the
line, the granting of which, by the
government, would be the incentive
for building the road.
AT present the government ap-
pears to be favorably disposed to this
project, which if successfully carried
out would require the expenditure OF
more than $1,000, 900.
Another American company is en-
deavoring to secure the concession
for building a railroad from Alexan-
dretta to Aleppo, and thence to the
headwaters of the E~uphrates. The
fact that no kilometric guarantee is
asked for and further readiness to
participate with the government in
the exploitation of mines and irriga-
ton schemes appeals favorably to the
ministry of public works,
Another American company Is en-
deavoring to obtain the telephone
concession at Constantinople, either
to work it itself, with provision for
its subsequent purchase by the gov
eminent or else to install the plant
for the government.
IAN electric company is also work
ing to secure the telephone conces-
sions of the entire Ottoman empire,