New Britain herald., 1926-05-22
LATEST MOVE TO ENFORCE DRY LAW BY USING LOCAL
 POLICE RUNS UPON SNAGS
U. s. CONCERNS BUY
 EUROPEAN PLANTS
AnacOnda Copper Co. and Harri- man Secure Polish Holdings
YON GIESCHE HEIRS SELL

Production, Coal Mines, Lead and
 Silver Works and Other Valuable Enterprises.
 Breslau, Germany, May 22 P}- The Anaconda Copper Mining com pany and W. A. Hartman and com pany, bankers, both American con- cerns. have acquired control of the Polish holdings of George Won Giesche's heirs. The negotiations which have been going On since last November were satisfactorily con- cluded today.
 Valuable Enterprises
 The Von Giesche concern controls ten per cent of the worlds zinc pro- duction, owns some of the finest coal mines in Germany, besides lead and silver smelting works, brick factor ies and porcelain works, three ba- salt quarries, artificial silk and sul- phuric acid factories and holds title to some 10000 acres of agricultural land and 1000 acres of forest. IL also owns a bank.
 The firm was founded by George Von Giesche, who in 1704 obtained an exclusive concession from Leo pold 1 of Austria for mining zinc in Silesia. The shares in the concern have been handed down from gen. eration to generation, and emper- ors, kings and statesmen have tried in vain to acquire the control which now goes to the Americans.
 Family Barred Outsiders
 George Non Giesche's sons left no heirs, ant his huge fortune fell into the hands of three daughters. Until 1929 none but their direct descend ants owned shares, After that more distant relatives were occasionally permitted to acquire minor interests. but outsiders were barred for long time. Not until quite recently was the former German crown prince permitted to become shareholder.
 The exclusive zinc mining con- cession in Slesia failed of renewal in 1902, but the concern by branch ing into other industries was able to keep mp it's fabulous profits. No exact estimate of the company's value was made until 1913, when for taxation purposes the Eon Giesches valued their possessions al 300,0O0,- 000 marks. IL was the highest valU- ation Of any undertaking in Ger many, not excepting the Krupps.
 Aided During War
 When the World War broke out the concern bought German war bonds for 100000 000 gold marks, or more than any other German concern or individual. When Ger many lost the war Upper Silesia was topped off. Four-tifths of the Won Giesche possessions are now under the Polish flag. This created diff 3ulties for 8 company owl cd by ar lent German nationalists.
 In the imitation period which fol- owed, the 1O0,O00,0o0 marks in in war loans became almost worthless, the cash reserves melting lway, and the Yon Giesches had 10 90 borrowing.
 Negotiations were obtained with he Anaconda and Hartman inter- ,sts, which led to a proposal for the 'ormat tiOn of an American COrDoru- ion to acquire all the Won Giesche in Poland. The proposal vas heartily welcomed by the Polish government.
 Intricate Deal
 The shareholders last November .pproved the proposition. but it took ix additional months before the in- ricate legal financial, political and administrative problems could be i out and the American ! ption converted into q permanent | 
 At the request of inc Prussian tate government, the Hartman .naconda representatives agree that cquisition of the Polish part of the oncern would not mean interfer- nee with the ore exploitation opcr- tions of the Von Giesche properties I Germany