The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-29
The Telegraph in Africa.

English manufactures, have led TO the cOnSld-
GRAFTON OF various plans for the construction
OF railways and telcgraphs in the recently
explored regions OF that country. Though
the building Of the railways will be left to
the future, the occurrence OF the Zulu war
has unexpectedly assured the establish
mcnt OF tclegraphic communication between
the northern and southern portions OF the
continent before the close of 1879.
While n project for running wires over
land through Central Africa was still under
discussion. the emergency OF the war
waged against CETYwAYo forced the British
Government, as n matter OF military neces-
sty, to at once contract for a telegraph
which, at the earliest possible moment
should bring 1t into instantaneous commu-
nication with its South African colony.
1t has therefore accepted the terms
OF tine Eastern Telegraph Company TO
lay cable from Natal to Mozambique, and
thence to Alden, connecting there with the
duplicate cables from Alden TO Bombay on
the one hand and TO England on the other.
Fourteen hundred miles OF this cable, orig
nally intended for the duplicate line from
Madras to Australia have already been
shipped TO Natal. and the work Of manu-
featuring the remainder has been begun.
The terms are that the whole work shall be
completed by next October. The laying OF
this cable does not, however, stop the dis
cussion OF the overland scheme or render it
any less interesting.
The subject Of the feasibility OF limo OF
telegraph through Africa was considered by
the Royal Geographical Society OF London as
long ago rs July, 1877, and in January of this
year a report was agreed To favorable to the
project. or the three overland routes sug-
gcsted, that called the East Central line Is
preferred. This follows the course Of the
Nile up TO Lake Victoria, fourth Of the
whole distance; and the Egyptian Govern
mcnt undertakes to erect It, and will be
able to protect it, up to MTEsAs territory.
1t thence proceeds to Pretoria, into which
the line from Cape Town is expected to be
extended, South Africa offering, in the view
OF the report, the directest, shortest, and
least expensive way to that point II also
opens up the chain Of lakes from the Nile to
the Zambesi, on all three of which Europe
ans have already established one or more
settlements, which will by this means be
brought into communication with Great
Britain. It's route too, is one which, for the
greater part, has been traversed by travel
lers, and is expected TO be that by which
commerce and civilization will first pene-
trate the continent.
The total length OF the several sections OF
the line, including deviations, is about
1000 miles. 1t WILL therefore, be seen that
the overland project is one OF so great mag
nitude that for many years no pecuniary
returns from 1t could be expected large
enough to render 1t a directly profitable en-
terprise But the eagerness with which
the idea Of establishing new markets for
English products in place Of those lost dur
ing the last ten years is seized by the manu-
facturers Of Manchester, Birmingham, and
Sheffield, gains for the overland plan favor
able consideration. The route, too. is rather
less In length than the submarine cable
from Alden and Port Natal, and its cost is ex-
pccted to be less, while it would begct trade
along its route, whereas a cable simply fos-
tiers commerce at its ends
Capt. CAMERON writes that so far as the
country itself Is concerned he secs no difl-
Guilty whatever in the line, and Mr.. STANLEY
believes that with a little tact in the man
agcmcnt OF the native chiefs It's cOnstruc-
ton would he entirely possible; but Sir
SAMUEL BAKER fOresees grave difficulties and
advocates a coast line. The only part OF the
route hitherto unexplored is that between
Zanzibar and the head OF Lake Nyassa, n
distance Of only 300 miles, which Mr.. KEITH
JOHNSTON has left England to survey.
| Mr.. MAYEs, who has just returned from
the country around Zanzibar, affirmed
however, at meeting of the London Society
| Of Telegraph Engineers last month, that
| the region is a fever den where cattle,
horses, aud white men will not live. He
secuted the idea Of a telegraph line through
Central Africa as the Offspring Of a maniac"
1t is contended, on the contrary, in the
report, that II no insurmountable difficulty
was found in running a line from north to
south across Australia, n distance Of 1000
miles, In two years, through country the
| grcater part Of which was UNEMPLOYED and
beset with obstacles, the African overland
telegraph through far more favorable
region may be laid without extraordinary
difficulty and at a comparatively cheap cost,
estimated as. low as $1,000 a mile, on the
average.
Some interesting facts are brought out in
this discussion touching the security OF
telegraph lines In savage or semi-civilized
| countries where 1t might be supposed they
would be subject TO wanton or superstitious
| interference from the natives Sir FRED
ERICK GoLDsMID reports that ten years ex'
perence with the land lines in Persia, over
800 miles in length, shows that with
the good will of the local Governors tele'
graph posts and wires may be kept Ii
Persia as secure from wlful injury as In
civilized Europe" Sir II. BARKLY says that
in the late Kallir war the natives never at
tempted TO interfere with the telegraph
and the Australian lines are free from
assaults. All the testimony, indeed goes u
show the immunity Of telegraph lines from
the attacks of the natives, either during
construction or afterward and this is a very
remarkable and instructive fact.
1t will probably be long before this over
land African telegraph will be built, espe
cially since the present emergency has pre-
cipitated the laying of the cable from Alden
to Natal; but that in the future the wires
will be extended over some such route may
be taken for granted, Then not only will
the dark places Of Africa be opened to Thu
4 t,,t,