Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-05-09
AFRICA.
lis Commercial Development.
no>tcn journal

hNSANh tNAEAWit
One Of the most Sisnie >ant signs of y
promise Of future developments i'll re-
ation to the great continent Of Africa,
is that France aS wella England is now
more than ever turning It's attention ~.
ward developing its commerce for lis
own benefit. Important commissions
i'll France are seriously considering
how they mag secure for their country
the Soudan With It's S0,0O0,0O0 inhah-
iMnts as special market for their
manufactures. One project coptcm-
plates n railroad from Algiers To Tim.
huctoo. Another, NJ the head of which
is Nj. Leseeps, OF Sut1 Canal fame, pro.
poses to turn the desert of Sahara into
an African Mediterranean. Turning to
England we tind.that, " siies the pres
ent excitement connected with the
Cane district, the result OF which can.
not fail 10 bring the southern portions
OF Africa into Il copfederated colony OF
the British Empire that viii offer bet
ter field than ever before for the SUR
plus population of the mother-country,
considerable attention is being given 10
the matter OF increasing her commerce
with other portions of the continent,
both upon the east and west coasts.
Upon the east coast, il has been shown
by recent developments that it is posi-.
BILE, with the exception of seventy
miles parallel with the Murchison Cat.
aracts, to sail from the London docks
TO the north end Of Lake Nyass, pass
ing through the XlmhcSt and Shire
Rivers.
On the west coast attention has for
some time been given 70 developing
steam navigation upon the Niger and
other rivers. But the chief interest in
this direction ut present centers upon
the northwest coast ut Cape Judy, n
point some 400 miles south of the Mo.
rocco coast, only 900 mites from En-
gland, and 500 miles from Timbuctoo
and tine Upper Niger. AS described 10y
Mackenzie, y recent traveller III this part
of Africa, this post is admirably situat-
ed for trade with the Soudan and the
interior Of Africa. Its climate is claim
ed TO be equal to that OF Madeira and
the Canary Islands. Spring water, sand
and limestone for building purposes,
are found upon the spot. The inhabi-
tants are intelligent and fond of trade
and agriculture. and Mr.. Mackenzie
confidently believes that they would
keep faithfully any engagement into
which they might enter. The present
trade of the Suudan with Europe, it is
estimated, amounts to upwards of $20,-
000OO0 per year, Notwithstanding the
difficulties connected with its transport
tation across the dessert, over the Atlas
Mountains and across the dominions Of
the Emperor of Morocco, who levies Il
duty of nine guns out OF every ten, and
III like proportion upon other goods
passing through his territory. 1t ~
thought that, if II route via Cape Judy
can be opened, n market of great ex-
tent can he secured, which will absorb
large quantities Of English manufac-
lures.
On this portion of the northwest
coast of Africa there is, says the same
writer, an important fishery, extending
for thousand miles from Cape Bianco
on the south to Morocco upon the north,
which at present Is worked only by fish
ermen from the Canary Islands, though
there appears to be room here for the
fishermen Of the world. Mackenzie
says that the waters of this portion OF
he ocean swarms with fishes familiar
to our own fishermen, as well as with
many new and valuable varieties.