The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-28
Holland Warns Against Buying
Alaskan Copper Mine Stock.
Only Men of Great Wealth
Able to Make Business Pay.
MANY GOLD MINES" IN EAST
Long Have Men Tried to Find
Gold in Adirondacks.
History of Some of the Most
Notable Attempts.

I
graph published a. day or two ago
somewhat inconspicuously reports that
a dividend, the aggregate amount OF
which is a million dollars, was recently
paid by one Of the copper companies
now operating in the copper district or
Alaska Presumably this is the COM
pany with which Mr.. Morgan IS iden-
titled The report is somewhat vague,
yet it is the understanding here that II
is accurate in the sense that a large
dividend has been paid upon the stock
of one of the copper companies
The publication of this fact may
lative or investment purchases OF STOCK
re presenting copper mines in the
Alaska district But he would be
foolhardy person, or else one inspired
by the true spirit of a gambler, VINO
was persuaded to invest any of his
money in copper properties in Alaska
unless he had made thorough personal
investigation or had caused to be done
what Mr.. Morgan and the Rothscnilos
and others did-procure competent ex-
perts who are men of absolute per-
sonal integrity to report upon Alaska
copper properties.
Yet the news from Alaska respect
ing the copper developments there ana
the undoubted payment of large dlVl-
dend on the stocks of the company VIII
serve TO renew interest anu dllC4l4O4A
in what is now believed to be one of
the richest mining districts of the
world. The question of investment IN
the property and the development or
it is one which can not be answered
fully until the government has devised
means by which public interest may
be perfectly protected None but men
of large capital and no other author
ity than that of the federal govern
ment will be sufficient to bring about
the perfect development of the great
copper company of Alaska, and along
expedient and perfectly fair lines
n all probability a dividend on cop
per properties in Alaska. large or small
would not have been possible had it
not been for the heroic construction #
the railroad which gives communica-
ton from the copper fields or a pOr-
ton of them with tidewater. The time
will come when the construction of this
railroad both from the financial and
the engineering point of view, will be
told in narrative not surpassed in
interest or description of
perils overcome or in the tragedies
upon it which were met by
some of the men who were engaged n
constructing it by any other narrative
of railway construction of its size in
the world. The Trans Siberian railroad
is longer and the Pacific railroads
which Canada has constructed have
surmounted ranges of mountains which
at one time were deemed impossible.
But this little railroad in Alaska. pen
nearer to the pole than any
railroad vet constructed, excepting pos
sibly a part of the Siberian, is. in it's
engineering triumph, in its utilization
Of fields of ice for a portion of its road
bed and in its conquest Of glaciers. a
$ DRY of the daring of engineers, the
courage of contractors and the faith IF
capltaI. The exposure which was met
with in the construction of the railroad
caused the death of a builder whose
name will always be additionally asso-
ciated with it,
It's Copper Mine Railroad.
No other employment. at least for
the present. is possible for the railroad
than that of transporting copper from
the mines to the sea and in taking
back to the mines needed supplies and
equipment. Therefore, the construction
of this road illustrates TIE faith and
of private capital Now 1t Is
known that the whole copper region or
Alaska only awaits honorable invest
ment and development to make it one
of the great factors or competitors in
tho copper mining industry of the
world Whether it is a greater copper |
region than the Michigan
district or the district upon the slope !
Of the Rocky mountains or some of the
Mexican districts is yet to be determin- |
ed. But capital and science are now |
inclined to think that when our gov
eminent has established an adequate |
policy for Alaska. when INVESTORS can |
know exactly upon what to depend and |
when the rights of the people are thor |
oughly protected by governmental or
territorial authority, then there will be
1 demonstration of the amazing wealth |
IF the copper regions of Alaska, pos !
sibly a wealth which ill be found, by |
ard by. greater than any contained in !
he goIdfield Of Alaska.
The New ElDOradO.
Again quack science is undertaking |
10 demonstrate that by the aid of ade- |
1uate apparatus the gold which is to |
be found in the Adirondack mountain |
region may be proftably captured from |
tie soil or sand. Yet it is a story of |
gold Whic-4 is retold every |