The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-11-04
BIG PROBLEM
or OWNERSHIP
Russians invade Coal Property OF
Americans in Spitzbsrgen

that the Arctic Coal company operat
| mg in Spitzbergeu. had purchased q
line Of frcighteFs to- carry coal from
the company S mines ia No Man land
( TO continental ports. J. " LongyeaI
said he was afraid he could not. as the
company has taken no such steps SAYS
the Mining Journal The company
owns two steamers, one the Kwasind
OF 3 500 tons burden that regularly
carries coal In the shipping season, the
'-nonths of July August and Septem.
Der and the William - Monroe a
whaler that is used IN transporting
supplies. but it depends for most of the
tonua e. il needs on season charters
and has al this time no plan FOR taking
on q line OF freighters"
Tho Arctic Coal company this year
shipped 10 southern ports some S3So00
tons, more than had been forwarded in
any previous season. but more also.
than viii likely he forwarded next year.
Cor Mr.. Longyear explained that the
! shipment was incidental 10 the deyeI-
opment o. the companys property The
Stage Of actual mining on CONNER
cial basis has not vet been reached,
and just when # viii be attained can
not nov be stated
The work carried on 10 date has been
aimed 10 secure FUN data on the com
pany's holdings and the conditions that
Surround production, SO as 10 permit
tho outlining Of q definite plan for the
future operation of the properly. This
preliminary worH has been well ad-
vancei and Mt. Longyoar expects that
the company's operations viii soon be
definitely determined, as the general
manager OF the property. Scott Turner
q Michigan Cole. e. OF Mines man. viii
soon place before It's officials extern
sive data bearing on this subject
Vein OF Good Depth
The geological conditions place no
har on successful mining in the Spitz-
herSen coal fields Tho veins on tho
Arctic company property are uniform
To "a surprising degree. running about
three fcot siX inches I'm depth. and the
mining problem is simple one. Th'
veins arc uudorvut. and the coal
droppcs from the sandstone Gaping
which oycrlaps IT, The sandstone
makes a stable roof and has TO he sup
ported with comparatively little tim
boring. Other conditions, however. in
torvonc 10 raise some questions as To-
what part of the total available coal
resources can he taken out.
\ deposit 81 over 10000, 900 IONS has
been indicated by the companys opera
tons 20 date. Tho mincs arc wrought
hy from ga 60 900 men and although
Tho shipping season lasts but three
months, mining Is carried on through
oar the year, Tho plant now IN use
is regarded as temporary and the dock
for handling the coal would bc made
Wato except for the small shipments
made to date. Much equipment will
have to Doe installed before the proper
,v is IN readiness for production Of
large rounagcs of coal
Eight Years Work
II is ten years since Mr.. Longycar's
attention vas first directed TO the coal
resources of Spitzbcrgop, and the pres
Ont stage OF the Arctic Coal company
enterprise represents eight years con-
tnuous development. conducted on q
constantly increasing scale. Great sums
ui money have been poured into the
jcld by Mr. Longycar aud his assocl-
1los, ana the only returns SO far have
boon tho tcW earIocs sent 10 ciyilzp-
tiou IN The improyiscd collcrs char
tered hy the company during the past
few Seasons. But the region posses Sos |
tremendous wealth in coal and IL AN |
goes wei the men Interested i'm the |
Arctic Coal company win he richly re-
warded uoth for their daring and tho
pcrsisten"" e their efforts TO have tho |
international status OF Splt2hcrlon |
81 tisfactorily determined
This latter paase VI the matter IS on. [
that continues To give concern 10 the !
men Interested in the company, for !
Spitzbcrgcn remains No Mans land. !
aud althoueh the Arctic Iron company !
holds tide to its 10 square miles or !
iand bN purchase from a Norwegian |
company by exploration and by pos
session. it is REGARDED as an lnterlopor, ,
~ NV "N''i AtA'A IT lill''ilN sill' us NlEfllr
may not be established without fight
that may possibly have It's physical as
pcCts.
Russians on Company's Lands.
In fact, the company's land has al
ready been entered upon by a force OF
Russians who have undertaken ex-'
ploration and who have carried It for
ward sufficiently so that they have
shipped q cargo of coal. What To do
about these invaders is only ono of
the many problems that give concern
to The officials of the Arctic Coal com
panN Thcrc Is strong suspicion
that they have pursued their course
with tho mowlcdao, and perhaps APP
prevail, Of the Russian government.
Norway has made several attempts :
To- hrins together representatives If
light leading nations in - conference in
which steps will bc taken to determine
the status II Spitzbergcn. but SO far
the conference has failed 10 cyentuatc.
IL seems impossible to agree on
time WHOM All tho powers are willing
To settle down To the task Of dctcrmin-
ing how Spitzncrgcn shall he governed
'r what rights viii be respected there