Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-05-30
FLOODING THE SAHARA.
Importance Of the Results to be Oh.
tanned.
Harper's Weekly.

Harpers Weekly.
Two plans have been set before the
public with regard to the great project
OF Hooding the immense basin of Sa-
hara, known rs FL Juf, which is now
generally conceded to be the bed of a
former inland sea. One of these plans
is so far in actual operation that pre-
iiminary surveys are now in progress
under the direction Of M. Ferdinand de
Lesseps, to test the feasibility of cut
ting canal from Cabes, on the coast of
Tunis, to let the waters of the Mediter-
ranean into the great central depression.
Reports from these parties are very
favorable. They find the soil free from
serious obstacles TO engineering work,
generally sand to great depth, resting
on II cacareous foundation. They en-
terrain no doubt that the work can
be more easily accomplished than
the excavation Of the Suez Canal,
The other plan is that Of reopening
the ancient outlet OF the inland sea to
the Atlantic, at a place called Boca
Grande, or Great Mouth, and thus fill
ing with water the vast depression of
FL Juf, which lies far below the level of
the ocean. This basin, irregular in
shape, extends from within twelve miles
of the sea-coast, to rs far south US the
region Of Azawad and Walata, to the
north of Timbuctoo. The greatest
length of this depression is given at
about 800 miles, and the greatest
breadth vt about 100 miles, altogether
covering IN area Of about 10000 square
miles. The breadth Of El Juf is much
greater in the south, but toward the
northwest it seems gradually to get mar
rover, terminating in the great channel
which in former years connected il
with the Atlantic Ocean. There cannot
be airy doubt but that Ell Juf Mt one
time formed part of the Atlantic Ocean,
and that the connection existed within
historic times seems clear enough. Up
on the cause which led to the drying up
of the FL Juf Sea the classic writers are
not very clear. 1t is recorded by Do
dorus Siculus that, according to ancient
tradition, u lake called Hesperides, in
the portion of the Sahara now occupied
by FL Juf, WINS suddenly dried up. Arab
traditions point out that several depres-
sions in the Sahara were covered with
water in A. ID. GSl, but since the year
1900 the water gradually disappeared.
The importance of the advantages to
be gained by the accomplishment of
this vast enterprise can hardly be over
estimated. Soudan has II population
of about SO, 100000 of the most intelli-
gent and energetic of all the African
races, They have successfully been
brought under the influence Of Cartha-
genian, Roman, Egyptian, and Moham-
medan civilization. They have formed
themselves into independent states, and
possess numerous walled towns Of COM
mercial importance. They have estab-
lished laws and education, and stamped
out many Of the worst forms of Pagan
superstition. They cultivate the soil,
and carry on several branches of man
Glacture with remarkable success. The
people Of SoudHn receive their supply
OF European merchandise across the
Sahara from the ports of Morocco, At
giela, Tunis and Tripoli IA system of
communication with the outer world
which has existed for years. Caravans
proceeding by any of these routes can
only make one journey n year, travers-
ing about 1000 miles of mountains and
difficult country before the nearest
market of Soudan is reached. These
paths, formerly used Ivy the merchants
of antiquity, now serve the Arab cara
vans. Notwithstanding all these diff
culties, the annual value Of the trade
between the northern ports and Sou
dan amounts to about $4,000,000, An
easier mode Of transit would evidently
lead to largo development Of this
trade.
Tho distance from Cape Judy to Tim
buctoo, ON the Upper Niger, is about
500 miles of almost level country, thus
being 200 miles shorter than the pre-
sent routes. On the line proposed by
MIR. Mackenzie there are no less than
lorty-two stations, with plenty of water.
He thinks that caravans could make |
three journeys year hy ii with greater
ease than one by the present roads
Therefore, without any outlay whatever
for roads, an annual trade of S12,0000 900
would soon he established To attain |
this object all TINT is necessary is to |
form y commercial station Mt Port st.
Bartholomew, Cape Judy, whore the
climate is equal to that of Madeira and
Canary, obtain the protection of the
Berber chiefs Of western Sahara (under
whose protection the present trade is
carried on), and place agents i'll the
principal towns ON the road to Tim
huctc The road to Central Africa
would then DO practically opened to
commerce through II healthy country,
and from n point within nine days sail
of European shores.
With the Sahara flooded direct nav- |
cation with Europe would be establish
ed. And thus will also he opened u
more extensive market for American
goods. We have heard Of the desert
being madc to blossom rs il rose. it is
certainlya fascinating idea that Il vast
and arid waste is to be covered 10y n por-
ton of the waters OF the mighty Allan
tic. And if this opening mp of the in
terror of Africa to civilization and COM
morce is TO abolish the African slave
trade, with all its attendant horrots, then
do we most earnestly wish il hearty