Evening star., 1914-08-23

and efficient mining installations or all
South America.
In addition 10 his work for this mine.
Mr.. Knowles has organized company
for the general development OF the min
eral resources OF this part OF the Andes.
He thinks that Bolivia is the great un-
opened treasure yault OF the world. and
rightly says II has never been prospect
ed. The company. OF which he is the
president. is known as the Bolivian De
velopment and Exploitation Company
and Its capital stock is held both here ia
Bolivia and in the United States. The
list OF stockholders includes President
1smael Monies. eX-President Nillazon. the
president OF the Bolivian senate. most of
the members Of the cabinet. as Well as
several other leading statesmn and COM
mercial men of this country. He tells me
that a great deal OF the stock Is held IN
the nited States its investors being
scattered from Boston 10 Los Angeles
The plan OF this company Is to send out
engineers and prosrectors over this vast
mineral territory. and to investigate what
they find through 4 corps OF competent
engineers, headed by Prof. Francis
Church Lincoln OF Boston. well known
geologist and metallurgtst. IL the mines
stand the test OF this examination they
are then 10 be submitted 70 the American
stockholders. who will purchase or sei
them at such prices that the parent com
pany will get back about four times what
Il puts in, and at the same time retain
- per cent of the stock of the operating
company.
This method OF development and spec
ulation is well known In the nitea
States hut il Is new in Bolivia and -
popular I understand that the company
has already on its lists OF either exam
ined or to be examined properties mum,
ber of gold. silver. tin. tungsten anu
copper prospects and mines. IL ~ ais"
investigating certain quarrles OF tHaFpi
and alabaster that Mr.. Knowles says
ma tl,a ct should
market at high prices all over the world.
The plan as far can see. is IN eN-
cellent one and especially so considering
its connection with Bolivian statesmen
and capitalists The great danger how
eyer is as to the securing of mining u
ties that cannot be disputed. THIS mas
been a very serious matter In the past rs
10 all valuable Bolivian properties. al
though President Monies Is now at
tempting to have enacted new HilhlnS
laws and regulations that VIII reneoy
these dangers and materially aid IN inc
opening up or the country in a mineral
way.
have been much interested in hearing
Mr. Knowles express his great faith IN
the mineral possibilities of Bolivia lie
saws that this country w..s the original
source OF the gold of the Incas and that
1t is bound to become a second Transvaai
He has curious theories regarding e"in
discoveries and gold booms, concerning
the reliability of which | am not wen
enough posted on the history OF SUCH
matters TO Judge He says the great
gold discoveries of the world come IN
cycles and that the same number OF
years elapsed between the great mas IN
California, Australia. Colorado, South
Africa. Alaska and Nevada. For IN
stance. in 1s49 the time for one OF These
nar,ods came. and we had the gold OF
California. There was rush from aii
over the world to San Francisco, and
nood of yellow metal was poured into
tho markets. After that a fixed number
Of wears passed and We had the gold DIS
cover;es of Australia. with rush to that
island continent. Then the wheels OF
time turned round just so many reFolu-
tions and gold was found In Coloraoo.
Another twist of the wrist OF Dame or
tune and up came the gold OF The
Transyaal, and so it was for Alaska ana
ca for Nevada Now the requisite mum
her of years has again gone by, ana ms
time Mr.. Knowles says the gold is 10
come ont of Bolivia A little investiga-
tion as to the actual dates Of these events
viii demonstrate whether this theory is
based upon fact; and If so the judgment
of the would be miner or investor must
decide for him whether the same rule
will hold good in the future. At any
rate, the theory is an interesting one.
FRANK C. CARPENTER.