The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-06
SPITZBERGEN STEEL
PLANT PROJECTED
British Pioneers in Northern
Europe Are Tapping Rich
Mineral Beds.
WHOLE MOUNTAIN OF ORE
Returned American Says ISL
ands Will Prove Of Much
Strategic Value.

lhtlo IOT inc erection OF n ltTk0 DLcel
plant on the Island of Spitzbergen are
being made by British capitalists. with
indications OF success when conditions
become better for the raising Of money
for such an extensive project Arthur
Wellington, formerly OF Charleston, w.
Va, who worked for the old American
company which produced coal and other
minerals IN spitxbersen prior to and
during thu early part Of the war. has
arrived In New York from England.
having declined to return TO the coun-
try with the 1913 expedition Of the
Northern Exploration Company, Linn
tied. OF London. He Gays the British
have holdings Of more than 1000 square
miles, with large deposits OF valuable
minerals scattered all over them.
Minerals lie virtually at the mouths
of the magnificent harbors with which
Spltzbergen abounds. Iron can be taken
from the ground ut 15 cents q ton, coal
can be mined at s1.ab Atom, and un-
limited quantities of limestone abound.
according to Mr.. Wellington. thus pro-
viding all the fundamentals for the
making OF steel The sea trip TO the
island is only about 1000 miles from
England's coast and tho possibilities
have been realized by some British steel
makers, who will give their AID to the
plan for the steel plant, which would
give them a source Of supply for biliets
and blooms to be taken to the homo
country for turning into finished
products.
The British company operating in
Spltzbergen added considerably TO Its
holdings by seixing last year the Ger.
man properties, which adjoined those of
the Ensiishmen, dismantling the wire
less station, pulling down the German
nag and raising the Union Jack on the
Flagstaff. Since then the exploration
company made contracts with the Mar.
conf company for the erection Of wire
less stations at Kings Bay, Recherche
Bay and Lowe Sound
German influence In Norway
German influence In Norway is said
by the Britlshers TO be responsible for
friction emanating from Christiania in
regard to titles to the property. After
the discovery of an iron ore mountain
In 1914 by British representatives at
tempts were made by Berlin to get pos
session OF the rich find. bribery OF Brit
ish agents among other things being laid
to the Germans by the holders. Since
then. II Is said. obstacles OF all kinds
have been put In the way OF the British
pioneers by Germans working through
Norway. although without success. The
the matter OF utles and sovereignty OF
the Spitzenbersen Islands. which form a
group almost directly north Of Norway.
Lieut-Col. A. d. Borton has been ap-
pointed local director and administrator
Of the exploration companys properties
and has gone from Archaneel to Spitz-
bergen to take up his duties The
Colonel. who was recommended by the
British War ONCE for the position. was
released from duty with Cen. Ironside,
head, Of the British forces In the Arch
angel district, TO take up his new work.
Mr.. Wellington deduces from this fact
that the British Government realizes the
possibilities of the rich deposits In Spitz-
bergen and will do all = ron 10 add them
to the resources of : > empire.
In addition - coal, iron and lime
stone, the R-'...sh and American experts
in the employ Of the exploration COM
pany report that Spitxbergen has an
enormous deposit OF beautiful marble Of
q highly ornamental and varied char
acter which will take centuries to work
out There are also. generally in large
quantities, asbestos, molybdenum, zinc,
galena and other minerals.
Indications OF OIL Seen. i
II Is said that Indications of oil have
been discovered In the streams flowing
down the valleys Mr.. Wellington added
that in some districts the earth win not
freeze during the heaviest frosts because
Of the admixture OF oil
Huts have been erected on the COM
pany's property for housing 500 men,
most OF them recruited from tina British
Isles In addition North European labor
will be utilized. including miners, car
penters blacksmiths, cooks and others
Last year equipment for only 100 men
was taken. although with the small force
the shipments of COAL iron and marble
were satisfactory. considering the war
conditions.
Virtually continuous Daylight 10 a
feature from the middle OF March until
the end OF September. said Mr.. Wellins.
ton In describing the climatic conditions
Of Spitzbergen. Then q quick change
comes. and by tho end OF October there
is no sun. only an arc OF light in the
south. No daylight exists from November
to January, but the mountains and fjords
throw on reflection. giving a silvery
sheen, which would not be called dark
ness From April to September there Is
the midnight sun, and In tho winter the
midday moon. Blisxards prevail In the
winter.
Navigation opened this year on May 8,
when the frst vessel arrived from
Tromsoe. 435 miles distant. Kola, in
north Russia, is only about 500 miles
from Spitxbergen.
The British look upon Spitxbergen as
OF strategioal importance outside OF its
commercial value. Thts point was made
the subject of a report early In the war
by Rear Admiral Sir John r. Parry,