The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-21
TRACKS THROUGH THE SAHARA.

EXPORTS TO CONNICI HALLWAY AShoSo ii'H
SAHARA pEsERT-REpoRTs or FRENCH ENGI-
NEERs-How CENTRAL AFRICA Is TO BE
OPENED TO THE COMMERCE OF THE WORLD.
During the past few days the HERALD has pub
lshed various stray dispatches from Paris showing
that not only the circles of commerce and science
but also in government departments there exists an
enthusiastic desire 'to develop the resources OF
Central Africa" While the phrase resources OF
Central Africa has become familiar to those VINO
have watched the progress of the civilized world
during the past two years. in this instance ~
least there appears to be substantial ground for
the laudable ambition agitating the
minds of public men in France They have
set before themselves the task of conquering new
and unexplored world, and all signs indicate that
they are about to enter upon undertaking fruitful
OF success The French colony OF Algeria Is sep
arated from Sudan, country of extraordinary Ter
tility, by the immense Desert OF sahara Instance
of about five hundred leagues in straight line
across Sudan has recently been explored and
studied by two eminent French engineers. NJ. Du
ponchel and Baron Baude. The information fur
nished by these gentlemen has led other prominent
men in France and also members Of the government
to consider the great political and commercial ad-
vantages that would result to France and to Algeria
If regular communication could be established with
the country.
A RAILWAY ACROSS DESERT.
In order to bring Algeria and Marseilles in close
connection with this fertile country railroad must
be constructed across the Desert Of Sahara Atten-
ten has been called to the fact by the gentlemen
named that the village called Areville station on
the road from Algers to Oran, might be made the
point OF departure for the trans-SaharA road. Lag
houat the last oasis in Algeria before reaching the
desert is 354 kilometres about 22o miles) from AZ
freville. The distance from A!gers to Timbuctoo
is calculated at ASA kilometres about 1000 miles,
The cost Of constructing the road is computed at
400 600 00Of Sudan contains magnificent rivers large
lakes and nnumerable shade trees. Rice. sugar cane
cotton and indigo be easily produced there, and
it would be merely question of time before Algeria
Marseilles would reap the benefit Of this cultiv-
ton Of the Sudan territory. According to surveys
made from Afreville TO Laghouat, where the Sahara
proper begins. there appears to be more diff
Guilty in the construction of the road than is
now met with the Algerian railways. The
French exploring parties have not been further
south than I'll Goleah. $50 kilometres. or
about 800 miles from Lashouat dry valley,
known as Oilua. here stretches to the oasis
FL oleah Baron Buude states that data have been
obtained IN resard to that part or the desert which
TOO kilometres (434 nles) further But below
Tourert the last OF these other data ut
hand except those furnished by Caille, who says
that it is hat country without any water where the
route of Is strewn with the skeletons OF ami
mails, which no doubt all died from thirst. Never
theess along that route are two villages. one OF
which, Aronah. has population OF 1000 souls.
THE SOIL OF SAHARA.
The Sahara Valley contains hard rocky soil and
the hills OF sand which at time believed to
occupy its whole length and breadth cover. it is
known, only the ninth part of its territory.
These sandy hills. called not considered
obstacles to the construction OF railway and
wherever these sand hills are occasionally swept
away by violent winds tunnels could be bnlt
to protect the road. The supply OF water for the
OF the engines especially. as at least
three trains per day will have to traverse the
desert, is what puzzles the minds Of those who
planning this railway; but they expect to
come this oy placing on the various trains tanks
sufc emily large to contain all the water required
during twenty-four hours Competent officers
of opinion tina. escort of 100 nen will suffice to
resist all attacks by Thouaregs and others during
the reconnaissance, which must necessarily rrecede
defnltive project. The population of the desert,
amounting about one million five hundred thou
sand scattered to such extent that only
here and there can they present menacing atti-
tude.
PROPOSED SURVEY OF THE ROAD.
Many expeditions will have to be started before the
projected work can be actually taken i'll hand. The
hrst movement Will he to make q trip IL Goleah,
but this will virtually amount to more than the
organization of The next expedition,
which must be pushed to the oasis of Touat, will
excite greater interest. Quite numerous popula-
ton will there met with. third expedition will
have to push forward to the Nger and the surround
ing populations might present bold front on the
ARRIVAL especially OF armed embassy, but at heart
these people more disposed to be pacific than
illgercllt but well Iortineo at be-
tween Burroum and Timbuctoo, the work OF the
Sahara company would not ut all be finished. The
railway, after going down the Niger and making its
western turn up to the littude OF Sakatu. would
have to be constructed toward the Lake Tchad, that
interior lake toward which English capital
lists have for time past been disposed to put
IA railway running out from Zanzibar. Alter that
the the Niger migh be followed by follow
ing this stream to the Gulf OF Benin and avoiding
the delta at its mouth, SO we'll known tor its
healthy surroundings.
WHAT AT ONCE.
This remarkable Sudan country containing about
fifty millions OF Inhabitants can therefore be
reached either via Zanzibar or by Senegal, where
the climate is far better than the desert via
Tripoli, which might be Joined to rmbuctoo by
these questions NJ Baude has proposed to promi-
nent Frenchmen-
FUst-To set on foot q commission which will
carefully study everything connected with the con-
Second-To organize An expeditionary column pre-
pared to explore the Sahara Desert up to the oasis OF
Touat, where accurate information can be obtained
in regard to the southern part OF the desert
THE IDEA ONE PECULIAR TO OUR AGE.
Such is BRET the project laid before the eminent
The idea OF lay ing the track OF we'll equipped
railway through the Desert OF Sahara does not, of
course. appear 10 astonishing to the present gen-
Grafton. The nineteenth century has known how to
Pacific roads; it has pierced Mount Cents By tun-
mel that shows mans ingenuity to be superior tho
good Will OF adjacent governments 1t has made the
Isthmus o. Suez disappear before the advance of
gineerng SKILL and doubtless before all the members
OF present generation have been laid to rest
shall the Darien Canal accomplished fact, and
tourists enabled TO pay flying visit to the
terror Of Central Africa ny rail.
HAVOC AT The HIGHLANDS.