Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-25
SP|TzBERCEN'S STATUS
IS WORRYING POWERS
Enterprise of Americans in
Working Coal Deposits Shows
Need of Government.

CHRISTIANIA. Norway, August 10, 1912.
The enterprise Of American capitalists
from Boston who two years ago started
coal mining in the arctic islands of Spitz-
bergen has brought about results i'm
portant to the destinies of that little
known territory. Hitherto Spitzbergen
has held the legal status of mo Man.
Land" While it was supposed to have
mineral resources, no one had been SUI
ficiently bold to venture capital and hu-
man lives in an attempt to wrest them
from the ice-bound rocks. Whaling ships
touched at the island occasionally, and
it has been the base for arctic explorers,
but otherwise it had no use to civiliza-
ton. Hence it remained a geographical
maverick, without nationality, laws or
inhabitants
No sooner had the operations Of the
American Arctic Company proven a sue
cess-for, although an output OF 5OOVU
tons a year does not seem large to Amer
lean and European mining magnates. 1t
discloses pOssibilities-then promoters
from other countries began to descend
upon the islands. Claims have been
located already by Russians. Belgians,
English and Scandnavians.
Strong Need for Government.
This international occupation. with its
chances for disputes, and the experiences
Of the American company have brought
about a strong need for some sort of gov
eminent. Norway has made representa-
tions to the United States and the prin-
cipal European nations in the matter.
and an International conference will be
held at Christiania before the end of the
year, with the purpose of giving Spitz-
bergen a definite status. Norway has
the closest relations, geographical and
commercial. with the islands, but any
proposal to assert sovereignty might meet
with objections from her Scandinavian
neighbors and from Russia. The out
put of the American mine is shipped to
Norway, and within the past year the
Norwegian government esta blished a
wireless station on SpitZbergen to bring
the country into communication through
the Norwegian station at Hammerfest.
The experiences of the American mining
managers have been exciting and dan
gerous. About 80 men. Swedes, Norwe-
gians. Firms and Russians. have been
employed in the mines. The darkness and
hardships of the last arctic winter
brought them to state of rebellion. AS
saults were made on the foremen. and
during most of last winter they lived in
daily peril. When the company appealed
to the Norwegian government for pun
ishment of miners who attacked a fore
man with picks they found that Norway
had no jurisdiction.
Mutineers Seize Steamer.
Late in July the troubles at the mine
eliminated in general mutiny. The Him
ers 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 Norwegians among the number
were willing to continue work, but the
others coerced them under threats of
death to join in the strike Better barracks
made by the miners, who were paid 6
kroners per day, but asked for l. While
the wage paid was high one for the
north, the men represent that the pecu-
liar hardships of life in SpitZbergen en-
title them TO exceptional pay.
Reports have reached here from st.
Petersburg that Russia intends to estab-
lish military stations along the Norwe-
gian frontier such as those which occupy
the German. Austrian and Roumanian
frontiers. The report states that troops
are to be sent from Archangel to the dis
tricts adjoining Norway. whose frontier
is los miles long
At the Congress of Scandinavian Den
lists IN session here Dr. Hansen, a youth
full Norwegian dentist, announced that he
had succeeded in discovering the bacillus
of pyOrrhea alveolars and the means of
combating the disease, which causes the
loss of teeth. His colleagues assert that
Hansen's discovery is epochal In the sci
ence of dentistry, and represents a dis
tinct step in advance.