The mirror., 1920-12-02

government should be asked by the world
powers at the peace conference to exercise
its rights not only as heir to the British
rights and titles as defined and declared
by Fotherby and Bafin in 1914, but also
for the protection of subjects of other ma
tions who have some, but not exclusive,
rights there.
Spitzbergen will soon be recognized 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 accessi-'
BILE places. This is very definitely known
by many others than myself and those
thoroughly familiar with Spitzbergen. 1t
was Captain Poole in 1904 who discovered
coal. and it was myself who brought it
home in 1898, and had it certified as
very high class steam coal in the labora-
tory of a Scottish colliery; but it was the
Americans who first developed its mining
on an>extensive scale, in about 1905, under
William Munro. 1t is now being more
extensively worked by British, Nor
wegians, and Swedes.
Extensive iron ore deposits are reported
by the Northern Exploration company of
London. Oil deposits are known and
claimed by the Scottish Spitzbergen syndi-
cate, as well as very extensive deposits of
some of the finest gypsum in the world,
while there are indications of other valu-
able minerals, which will require skilled
investigation and handling by expert min
ing geologists and engineers.
Besides minerals there are fur-bearing
animals which would provide sport and
fur if properly protected by the British
government, and not allowed to be mas
sacred and even extensively poisoned by
northern hunters. Let these animals be
bred and only legally killed with discre-
ton, and there will be a large permanent
revenue from them. Valuable foxes and
reindeer still exist in considerable numbers
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 protected by an organized and
unselfsh government.
Then there are the beauties and won
ders of this arctic land of promise, besides
these wonderful mineral and animal re-
sources mentioned. Think of the birds,
many in their millions, and many of
economic value, notably the elder duck,
and some very edible birds and eggs
geese, ducks, and others. One may scans
acres, even miles, of purple saxifrage, like
purple heather. One may wade through
luxuriant beds of sulphur buttercups, and
find brilliant patches of arctic poppies and
other plants, thriving even at great and
exposed attitudes. Many brilliantly
colored lichens etch out almost every rock,
swampy bits luxuriate with the richest
MOSES, liverworts, and Interesting algae,
and pools TEEN with crustacean and other
animal and vegetable life; even the rem
nants of snow are colored with red, yell
low, green, and other colored algae
known over centuries.
Spitzbergen, besides mineral, animal
and plant resources, has large series Of
beautiful harbors and anchorages, so what
with these and the Gulf stream there is
every possible facility to get there COM
fortably 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 cold
or fever because there are no germs-a
sterile, wonderful, and translucent at mos
phere suffuses this land where the sun
never sets all the summer and consequent
ly the plants never cease to grow, and