The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-23

gold per month. II is equipped with
nm American plant, and has one OF
the most modern and efficient mining
installations Of all South America.
In addition to his work for this mipe,
Mr.. Knowles has organized a company
for the general development of tho
mineral resources of this part OF the
Andes. He thinks that Bolivia Is the
great unopened treasure vault of the
world. and rightly says II has never
been prospected. The company. of
which he is the president. is known
as the Bolivian Development and EN-
ploitation Company. and its capital
stock is held both here In Bolivia and
in the United States. The list Of stock
holders includes President lsmael
Monies, cN-Presidcnt Villazon, the
president of the Bolivian Senate. most
of the members of the Cabinet, az we'll
several other leading statesmen and
commercial mcn of this country. He
tells me that great deal of the stock
is held in the United States. it's in
vostors Being scattered from Boston 10
Los Angeles. The plan of this com
pany Is to send out engineers and
prospectors over this vast mineral ter
ritory, and TO investigate what they
find through a corps of competent en-
Einecrs, headed by Professor Francis
Church Lincoln. of Boston. we'll
known geologist and metallurgist. II
the mines stand the test Of this exam
ination. they are then To be submitted
to the American stock olders, who will
purchase or sell them at such prices
that the parent company will get back
about four times what it put In. and at
the same time retain 81 per cent of
the stock of the operating company.
This method OF development and
speculation is we'll known in the
and is popular I understand that the
company has already on its lists Of
either examined or to he examined
properties number of gold, silver, tin,
tungsten and copper prospects and
mines II is also investiGat ting certain
quarries of marble and alabastcr that
Mr.. Knowles says arc so fine that the
stone should find p market at high
prices all over the world.
The plan. as far as can see. is an
excellent one. and especially SO. con-
sidcring its connection with Bolivian
statesmen and capitalists The great
danger, however. Is as TO the securing
Of mining titles that cannot be dis
putcd. This has been a very serious
matter In the past as IL all valuable
Bolivian properties. although Pres-
dent Monies is now attempting to have
enacted new mining laws and rcgula-
lions that will remedy these dangers
and materially aid in the opening up
of the country in n mineral way.
| have been much interested in hear
ing MI Knowles express his great
faith in the mineral possibilities of
was the original source of the gold of
the incas.. and that IL is bound TO be-
curious theories regarding gold discov-
cries and gold booms. concerning the
reliability of which ] am not well
enough posted on the history OF such
gold discoveries OF the world come iir\
cycles, and that the same number of
years elapsed between the great finds
in California: Australia. Colorado. South
stance. in lS49 the time for one of
these periods care, and we had the
gold of California. There was rush
from all over the world TO San Fran
poured into the markets after that "a
nXed number of years passed and we
had the gold discoveries of Australia,
with a rush to that island continent
just so many. revolutions and gold was
found in Colorado. Another twist OF
the wrist or Dame Fortune and up
came the gold of the TransVaal, and
Now the requisite number of years has
again gone by. and this time Mr..
Knowles says the gold is to come out
of Bolivia. little investigation as
will demonstrate whether this theory
is based upon fact: and If so the Judg
ment of the would-be miner or invcs-
tor must decide for him whether the
same rule will hold good In the future.
At any rate. the theory is an interest
Copyright 1914. by Frank G. Car
penter)