The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-11
BOLIVIAN COPPER | GETS RECOGNITION FROM CAPITALISTS Alaska and Arizona Mines Seem Destined to Set
 Some New Records AMERICANS GET BOLIVIAN OPTION Knowles Succeeds in Interesting Men of Large Means in the Enor-
 ous Copper Deposits of
 Southern Republic
By HOLLAND

New York, March 10-(Special )-Wber the attention was called this morning of one who is interested as an investor i1 cooper propeties in Alaska, and also in Arizona, to the figures which show that Alaska in the year 1915 produced about 100000 pounds of copper, which is ap- proximately 40,0OO,000 more than came from the Alaska mines in the preceding year, he said that he was sure he could safely predict that these mines would show an even greater increase in 1916 than was the increase of 40,O00O00 pounds made in 1915 over the output of the year 1914.
 This view is confirmed by others who have some knowledge of the copper indus try Of the United States. And yet, not withstanding the stupendous output which is expected in 1916, reports from Paris tell of an option secured for an American syndicate of which John D. Ryan, pre- eminent in the American copper industry, and Charles Sabn, president of the largest trust institution in the world, are members This option, if exercised, will copper industries in Bolivia in the pos SSSSlOn or tnlS syndicate.
 Apparently, Horace G. Knowles, who was minister from the United States to Bolivia in the Taft administratio has succeeded in calling the favorable atten- tion of men of capital engaged in the copper industry to these Bolivian proper ties. MT. Knowles has no personal or financial interest in the matter but as a representative of Bolivia in charge of the construction of the Bolivian buildings at the San Francisco exposition he did at the suggestion or request of Bolivian au- thorities, try to call the attention of American capitalists, to these properties. At first, they would pay no heed to him, since industrial and business activity in the United States at the time were not propftious for the investment of Amer ican capital in other countries. The war changed the conditions materially, and, as the leaders in the copper industry in Alaska are now increasing their activi- ties so that this year Alaska may be ranged perhaps third among the copper producers of the United States, so, also, some of these engaged in the copper in dustries are looking to other properties than those within the boundaries of the United States to Alaska.
 DEMAND FOR COPPER
 If this American syndicate obtains con- trol of the largest of. the Bolivian copper properties at this time such action, it is believed, will confirm the opinion of those who are now convinced that after the Eurpean war is ended there will come to the United States an enormous demand for copper from some of the countries across the sea.
 If capital has been persuaded to oper- ate the tin mines of Bolivia or at least, D<lix I, of smelting it in a large plant recently es- tablished on the shores of New York harbor, it is thought reasonable to infer that capital will also be persuaded to ex- ploit the Bolivian copper mines. Mir. Knowles said when few weeks ago, he was in New York that in order perfectly to exploit these mines some transporta- tion facilities would be needed. The Gug- genheims, when they secured large copper concessions in Chile and began investment in these properties which may reach $100,- 00o,O0O, were also confronted with the ne- cessity of constructing railroad so that the ore could be transported from the mines to the seaports.
 This, however is no more than follow ing the example set in the mid-eighties of the past century by Phelps, Dodge & Co. after this firm began operating large copper properties in Utah. 1t built a railroad from Bisbee to convenient point and so operated it that instead of paying $7 a ton for transportation of the ore by mule teams, the cost was reduced to g. The Alaska railroads, which are reaching out toward the copper properties, furnish another example of the manner in which railway transportation facilities speedily follow the development of copper proper ties.
 Net the least remarkable of the many changes which affect the United States, and wEicf have been caused by the war in Europe would be the establishment of large commerce with Bolivia and large investments of capital in mining proper ties in that interior republic of South