, 1879-07-28

AnAA3 AAA1&4NpkHk44lss AAA AfHAk4AA3AV*
"RA1IRoADMa' IN AFRICA.
Tho Engineer in Chief Of "ponts et
chaussccs " in franco has proposed n schomo |
for uniting Algeria with the soudan by
railroad, and his plan not only cxcites insor-
sat, hut Is regarded ns quito practicable.
Our own SUCCESS in building railroadB across |
tho continent, through unsettled country, |
aud in spite Of obstacles heretofore regarded |
as insurmountablo, layo led French engi-
ncers to bel!ovo That The difficulties to build
ing n railroad presented by tho Sahara can
bo moro easily overcome than those oven
encountered in building tho Union Pacific.
It iB proposed 10 rim tho road from tho City
Of Mgiera TO Timbuotoo, distance of about
1,500 miles. From Mgiera to Laghouat,
which is ono Of tho most important French
military stations in Southern Mgeria, tho
road would pass through wall-wnterod
country, with ample timbor iu tic vicinity
for its construction. This distance is about
$50 miles, and although it would bo neoes- !
sa1y to CROSS tho Atlas Mountains botwoen the
two places, yot It has boen ascertained this
oan easily bo done. Beyond Lnghouat, tho
road would enter the Sahara, and few, if
any. tl;tllcultics aro offered by the ground
hotween Laa1aorat and Timbuotoo, Tho
crcatost obstacles to DO encountered in build
Ing tho road through the desert arc tho great
heat, tho absence Of water, aud the. shifting
Or moving sands. 1t is probable TINT The
avorooo 1ent Of tho Sahara Is o11cator thau
IN INV other mart of tho earth. but It Is not
dobilitating, and 1t is rarely tho caso that Tho
u;phts aro not cool. Tho question Of water
is far moro embarrassing, bat actual OK.
per;mout In number Of p1acos has shown
TINT vater can be obtained by sinking wells,
and that it is not necessary to bore very
,Ioen,v Ia pttain it. lis nroposod to meet
t].o difficulty of tho moving spnd by sheds,
either of masopry or Of timber, constructed
sornewRat similarly to tl,oso usod on Tho
Union Pacific, Claim Is mado that these
aond .storms nro confined to certain localities,
nni1 lint there Ia no moro difficulty in locat-
;nu tho shot1s to ,,rotcot tho road from their
effects than there wes in knowing wLcro to
u]aco tho suow.shetls On tho Union Pacific
sondon ia tho great central belt of Africa
1v;ro betveon ganeon1 md Guinen M thu
west md ts,o nnnar md latblv-acnnired Min
nrov;noas of Euynt On tho enst, In eyery
direction than BY tho Sahura on tho north,
! It may be said to 10 absolutely fnapproach-
| ablo. Its population IL about fifty millions,
Tho larger part Of its soil is a]lu71al, and
probably rs fertile as any in The world. It's
productions orc wheat, n,iilet, maizo, rico,
cotton, tobacco, md indigo. Iron orc oxists
in quantity, md tue gold found In its
streams indicates that its mountains arc rich
with this precious mctal. Tho people OWE
largo herds of cattlo, horses, ahocp, and
ronta. Ita exnorta co,npriso ld-dnst. o,,u
nrabio, indigo, ivory, ostrich feathers, nui
skins. which are transported across th,
Snhara bv caravans. and about 81. .50O. .Oo{
worth of those articleg Annually reacl
4lcaria. ,Much greater amounts Ar.
scnt Ia rrino),. Iunis. and No
rocco. Tnw nav countries hayo oya
otroro1 mora lr;,1;ant ,,rosr,octa for trnl,
than tho soula,,. and it Is to rive Frapol
commerce. tbo benoft Of This that M.,Du
pouo7.r, Tho mpiueer raferrel to. .pronosa
1,;u trona. .sohar;an ro;,road. tt ,onv bo aai,
,hat at ,}},;a tino ,te,c Ia m conntrv MT IN
h,tltoi1 l,v n civilized pooplo which, Tor nur
+,o.oa of ,,of}o nm f,r a moment 'ho com
norcd with It.
,rh. anfrit Mt .com,noro1Al rivalry },atvea7
Europesn nations is so great that man
others besides tho Fronch aro now ssok,n
moana for gaming trado with 'control Afr;ca
Germany Inns m o.ploriue party on The catt
vat, routo bstveeu TripolI aud Lake rohetl
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