The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-25
AMERICANS OPEN UP NEW MINE FIELDS Boston Capitalists Develop
 Arctic Islands OTHER CLAIMS MADE Larger Part of Output of New Mines Is Sold to Norwegian Govern ment-Discovers How to Stop
 Decay of Teeth

Christiana. Norway, August 2i.-The en- terprise of American capitalists from Bos- ton who two years ago started coal-min- ing in the Arctic islands of Spitzbergen has brought about results important to the destinies of that little known terri tory. Hitherto Spitzbergen has held the legal status of ''No Mans Land" While it was supposed to have mineral re- sources no one had been sufficiently bold to venture capital and human 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 other wise 1t had no use to civilization. Hence it remained a geographical maverick, without nationality, laws or inhabitants.
 No sooner had the operations of the American Arctic company proven suc- cess-for, although an output of 5000 tons a year does not seem large to Amer ican and European mining magnates, 1t discloses possibllities-than promoters from other countries began to descend upon the islands. Claims have been locat- ca already by Russians, Belgians, Eng fish and Scandnavians. This interna- tional occupation, with it's chances for disputes, and the experiences of the American company have brought about a strong need for some sort of govern ment. Norway has made representations to the United States and the principal Eu- ropean nations in the matter and an in ternatonal conference 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, geographical and commercial, with the islands, but any proposal to as sert sovereignty might meet with objec- tions from her Scandinavian neighbors and from Russia. The output of the American mine Is shipped to Norway, and within the past year the Norwegian gov ernment established a wireless station on Spitzbergen to bring the country into communication through the norwegian station at Hammerfest.
 The experiences of the American min ing managers have been exciting and dangerous About 250 men, Swedes, Nor wegians Films and Russians, have been employed in the mines. The darkness and hardships of the last Arctic winter brought them to a state of rebellion. As saults were made on the foremen, and during the most of last winter they lived in daily peril. When the company ap- pealed to the Norwegian government for punishment of miners who attacked a foreman with picks they found that Norway had no Jurisdiction.
 Late in July the troubles at the mine eliminated in general mutlny. The miners seized the steamer Alma char tered by the company, which was at Ad- vent bay. and compelled the captain tc take them to Tromsoe, where they were landed. Forty Norweglans among tho 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 miners, who were paid kroners per day, but asked for '. While the wage paid was a high one for the north. the men represent that the peculiar hardships of life in Spitzber- gen enttle 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 occu- py the German, Austrian and Rouman- ian frontiers. The report states that troops are to be sent from Archangel to the districts adjoining Norway, whose frontier is 1os miles long.
 At the congress of Scandinavian den- lists In session here, Dr. Hansen. youth full Norwegian dentist, announced that he had succeeded in discovering the bacil- Jus of pyorrhea alveolaris and the meant of combating the disease, which causes the loss of teeth. His colleagues assert that Hansen's discovery is epochal fin the science of dentistry and represents a dis tnct step in advance.