The Tomahawk., 1919-11-20

as the goose with the golden egg. LET
Spitzbergen develop" In Spitzbergen
we find the finest coal in the world,
equal to the best Welsh steam coal,
in most accessible places. This is
very definitely known by many others
than myself and those thoroughly IA
miliar with Spitzbergen. It was Cap
tain Poole in 1904 who discovered coal.
and it was myself who brought it home
in 1893, and I had It certified as a
very high class steam coal In the
laboratory of a Scottish colliery; but it
was the Americans who first developed
its mining on an extensive scale, in
about 1905, under William Munro. It
is now being more extensively worked
by British, Norwegians, and Swedes.
Extensive iron ore deposits are re-
ported by the Northern Exploration
company Of London. OH deposits are
known and claimed by the Scottish
Spitzbergen syndicate, as we'll 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 investiga'
ton and handling by expert mining
geologists 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 massacred 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-
bets 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 large revenue
If properly handled and properly pro-
tected by an organized and unselfsh
government.
Then there are the beauties and
wonders of this arctic land of prom
ise, besides these wonderful mineral
and animal resources 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, even 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 altt-
tudes. Many brilliantly-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 cen
turies.
Spitzbergen, besides mineral, animal
and plant resources, has a large series
of beautiful harbors and anchOrages
so what with these and the Cult
stream there Is every possible facility
to get there comfortably and safely
Let our shell-shock patients and other
wounded heroes thoroughly recover 10
Spitzbergen in proper sanatoria In the
healthiest climate In the world, where
|.,, oon,< ro< q cold Or a fever because
there are no germs-a sterile, wonder
full. and translucent atmosphere sui.
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.