The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1912-09-06
COAL FROM NO MANS LAND
TO COMPEL ICE-BOUND ROCKS
TO DISGORGE TREASURE.
American Capitalists Descend Upon
Spirzbergen and Establish Claims.
Lure Other Nations.

CHRISTIANA.-The enterprise of
American capitalists from Boston
who two years ago started coal min
ing in the Arctic islands of Spitzber-
gen has brought about results i'm
pOrtant to the destinies of that little
known territory. Hitherto Spitzber-
gen has held the legal status of mo
Mans Land" While it was suppos-
ed to have mineral resources no one
had been sufficiently bold to venture
capital and human lives in an at
tempt to wrest them from the ice
bound rocks. Whaling ships touch
ed at the island occasionally, and it
has been the base for Arctic explOr-
ers, but otherwise it had no use to
civilization. Hence, is remained geo.
graphical maverick, without nation
atty, laws or inhabitants.
No sooner had the operations of
the American Arctic Company proven
success--for, although an output
of $4,000 tons a year does not seem
large to American and European
mining magnates, it discloses posi-
bilities-then promoters from other
countries began to descend upon the
islands
Claims have been located already
by Russians, Belgians, English and
Scandinavians.
This International occupation, with
it's chances for disputes, and the ex-
periences of the American company,
have brought about strong need
for some sort of government. Nor
way has made representations to the
United States and the principal Eu-
ropean nations in the matter, and an
international conference will be held
at Christiana before the end of the
year with the purpose of giving
Spitzbergen a definite status.
Norway has the closest relations,
geographical and commercial, with
the islands, but any proposal to as
sert sovereignty might meet with OBJ
iections from her Scandinavian
reighbors and from Russia.
The output of the American mine
is shipped to Norway, and within the
past year the Norwegian government
established a wireless station on
Spitzbergen to bring the country into
communication through the Norwe-
gian station at Hammerfest.
The experiences of the American
mining managers have been exciting
and dangerous. About ESQ men
Swedes, Norwegiars, Films and Rus
sians-have been employed in the
mines The darkness and hardshlps
of the last Arctic winter brought
them to a state of rebellion. Assaults
were made on the foremen, and dur
ing most of last winter they lived in
daily peril. When the company ap-
pealed to the Norwegian government
for a punishment of miners who at
tackled a foreman with picks they
found that Norway had no jurisdic-
ton.
Late in July the troubles of the
mine eliminated in general mutiny.
L lie mluGIS SSlASu inc oCCaLiSA ~A'AA'''
chartered by the company, which
was at Advent bay, and compelled
the captain to take them to Tromsoe,
where they were landed. Forty Nor
wegians among the number were
willing to continue work, but the
others coerced them, under threats
of death, to join in the strike.
Better barracks and higher wages
were the demands made by the min
ers, who were paid kroners per
day, but asked for Z. While the
wage paid was a high one for the
north the men represent that the
peculiar hardships of life in Spitz-
bergen entitle them to exceptional
nav