Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-08-25
Americans OPEN
ARI|C ISLANDS
mo MANS LAND" RICHLY M
'BIDDED WITH COAL HELD BY
FATE FOR ADVENTURES.
FORTUNES IN SPITzBERCEN
DesLlnics Of Little-known Territory
Remain In Doubt-Perhaps Ma
tions Must 60 Ia War.

ClIRIsTIANIIA, Norway, Aug "a,
The enterprise OF American capital
lists from Boston who two years ago
started coal-mining I'm the Arctic Is
lands OF Spitsbergen has brought
about results important to the desti-
nies Of that little-known territory.
Hitherto Spitzbergen has held the le-
gal status OF mo Mans Land" While
II was supposed TO have mineral re-
sources. no one had been sufficiently
bold 10 venture capital and human
lives In an attempt 10 wrest them
from the bound rocks. Whaling
ships touched at the island occasion
ally, and It has been the base for Arc
tic explorers, but otherwise II had no
use to civilization. Hence II remained
geographical maverick, without ma
tionality, laws or inhabitants.
No sooner had the operations Of the
American Arctic company proven a
success-for, although an output Of
fifty thousand tons a year does not
seem large TO American and European
mining magnates, II discloses posi-
bilities-than promoters from other
countries began to descend upon the
lslands Claims have been located al
ready by Russians, Belgians, English
and Scandinavians. This internatlon-
al occupation, with It's chances for
disputes, and the experiences Of the
American company have brought
about a strong need for some sort Of
government. Norway has made rep
reservations to the United States and
the principal European nations in the
matter and an international confer
ence will be held at Christiania before
the end OF the year, with the purpose
of giving Spitzbergen "A definite status.
Norway has the closest relations, geo
graphical and commercial with the
islands, but any proposal to assert
sovereignty might meet with objec-
tons from her Scandinavian neigh
bors and from Russia. The output OF
the American mine is shipped to Nor
way, and within the past year the
Norwegian government established a
wireless station on Spitzbergen 10
bring the country into communication
through the Norwegian station al
Hammerfest.
The experiences OF the American
mining managers have been exciting
and dangerous. About two hundred
and fifty men. Swedes, Norwegians,
Firms and Russians, have been en-
ployed in the mines. The darkness
and hardships Of the last Arctic win
ter brought them II state Of rebel
lion Assaults were made on the
foremen, and during most Of last win
ter they lived in daily peril. When
the company appealed to the Nor
wegian government for punishment
Of miners who attacked a foreman
with picks they found that Norway
had no jurisdiction
Late in July the troubles Mt the
The miners seized the steamer Alma,
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 WILL
ing to continue work, but the others
coerced them, under threats of death,
to join in the strike. eBtter barracks
and higher wages were the demands
made by the miners, who were paid
six kroners per day, but asked for sew
en-. While the wage paid was a high
one for the North, the men represent
that the peculiar hardships of life in
Spitzbergen entitle them to exception
al pay.