The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-11-21

dS the SOOSe WITH the SOluen egg, Lei
S~pitzbergen develop" In Spitzbergen
we find the finest coal in the world,
equal to the best Welsh steam coat,
In most accessible places. This is
very definitely known by many others
than myself and those thoroughly IA.
miliar with Spitzbergen. 1t was Cap.
tain Poole in 1904 who discovered coal.
and it was myself who brought Ii home
in 1898, and l had 1t certified as q
very high class steam coal in the
laboratory of n Scottish colliery but II
was the Americans who first developed
its mining on an extensive scale, in
about 1905, under William Munro. II
is o being more extensively worked
by British, Norwegians, and Swedes.
Extensive iron ore deposits are re-
ported by the Northern Exploration
company Of London. Oil deposits are
known and claimed by the Scottish
SpitZbergen syndicate, as well as very
extensive deposits of some Of the finest
gypsum in the world, while there are
indications Of other valuable minerals,
which will require skilled inyestiga.
ton and handling by expert mining
biologists and engineers.
Furs and Fisheries.
Besides minerals there are fur-bear-
ing animals which would provide
sport and fur If properly protected by
the British government, and not al
lowed to be m~assacred and even extern
sively poisoned by northern hunters.
Let these animals be bred and only
legally killed with discretion, and there
will be a large permanent revenue
from them. Valuable foxes and rein
deer still exist in considerable num-
bers in spite Of the indiscriminate
slaughter that has taken place. There
are seals, whales, and porpoises. The
walrus can be re-established as well
as the polar bear. Fisheries, too,
might also be organized, and all these
animals could produce a large revenue
If properly handled and properly pro-
tected by an organized and unselfish
government.
Then there are the beauties and
wonders of this arctic land Of prom
Use, besides these wonderful mineral
and animal mentioned.
Think of the birds, many in their mil
lions, and many of economic value,
notably the elder duck, and some
very edible birds and eggs-geese,
ducks, and others. One may scan
acres, Eel miles, Of purple saxifrage,
like purple heather. One may wade
through luxuriant beds Of sulphur but.
tercups, and find brilliant patches Of
arctic poppies and other plants, thriv-
ing even at great and exposed alti-
tudes. Many brilllantly-colored Itch
ems etch out almost every rock,
swampy bits luxuriate with the richest
MOSES, liverworts, and interesting
algae, and pools TEEN with crusta-
cean and other animal and vegetable
life; even the remnants Of snow are
colored with red, yellow, green, and
other colored algae known over n
turtles.
Spitzbergen, besides mineral, animal
and plant resources, has a large series
of beautiful harbors and anchorages.
so what with these and the Gulf
stream there is every possible facility
to get there comfortably and safely.
Let our shell-shock patients and other
wounded heroes thoroughly recover In
Spitzbergen In proper sanatoria In the
healthiest climate In the world, where
YOU can't get a cold or a fever because
there are nc germs-a sterile, wonder
full, and translucent atmosphere suf-
fuses this land where the sun never
sets all the summer and consequently
the plants never cease to grow, and
where everything Is more wonderful
and beautiful than in any Inhabited
part Of the world from pole to pole.