The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-12-23
South Africa,

Inc discovery OF diamonds In 1850, the
adoption Of ostrich farming on an Increased
scale at about the same period, and the
subsequent spread Of ~Angora goat farming
have been special providences, to South
Africa and have given great impetus to
trade and settlement. Since about 1870
the recorded export Of diamonds has been
at the rate Of upward Of $12,5O0,OO a
year, while 1t Is estimated that twenty-five
per cent, Of that amount finds It's way
through the colonies and out of the coun-
try In private hands. There IL still no de.
crease III the amount of stones discovered
and several new fields have been lately
opened up, among them being a valuable
field Of Which tic Free State rejoices in
the possession.
Ostrich farming has developed into
large industry since it was first adopted,
about fifteen years ago. Ten years ago
the annual export of feathers amounted to
only about $500, 900, while this years OK
port will amount to about IS, 600, 600.
Angora goat farming Is no doubt destined
" eclipse even these; as the finest and
rarest breeds from Asia Minor have been
found to thrive as well OH the Karoo lands
OF. the Cape as iii their own native plains
and hills. The hair produced Is Of the
most excellent quality and the Cape An
CORA is rapidly establishing a high rcputa-
tlon IN the London markets. The wine
farms OF the Cape, once 80 celebrated for
the dclicacy Of their produce, are again re-
ceiving attention and efforts arc now made
to obtain from the English Government
such Il revision of The wine duties as will
enable the colony to enter the home mar
kct IN competition with France and Spain.
The principal exports of the Free State are
wool and skins. The Transvaal exports
but little rs yet except ivory and the skins
of wild ANIMALS. The tiourlshing colony
of Natal now sends out increased quanti-
ties OF sugar, which il produces in excel.
lent quality.
With tho increase of productive wealth
public works and railroads have kept good
pace. The first experiment in South Afri-
can railways having been started about
1850, much progress has OF late years been
made in this direction. There are now
three systcms of railroads in the Cane
Colony, leading from the three principal
seaports towards tho interior, intended to
concentrate at the diamond fields, taking
in branches through the Free State. Natal
has line of sGvcnCy miles, from tho chief
seaport of Durham to Maritzburg, the capi-
tai al extension to bc made either into the
Transvaal or to the diamond fields. There
are now in the Capo Colony 200 miles of
railroad III operation, and the cxtcntions of
the various lines, which should be COM
plctcd IN the next five or ten wears, will
add another 1000.
In this branch Of trade there is a good
opening for American enterprise III the ex-
portation of passcngcr cars. The only cars
In use on these lines arc the English, but
the American cars arc much better suited
to the country and would soon become pop
"aai' TIM niles are long. Cnp sraJlOhs
! considerable distance apart, and what,
with warm weather and limited accommo-
dations at tho stations, tho American cars
would supply such convcnicnces as would
be highly appreciated and which arc not 10
be had on English cars.
The climate Of South Africa proves to
be one of the hcalthiest in the world, espc-
cially for pulmonary diseases, and English
and European consumptives and other In
yalids are now resoltlng thithcr in increas-
Ing numbers, owing to its having been 80
highly recommended by some prominent
medical men sent out to report upon its
climatic conditions, Traders and travellers
have gradually extended their sphere of
operations in late years, until now there is
hardly tribe or clan from North of the
Zambczi to the Cape who have not had
some acquaintance with the white man. A
trading expedition through Dawaraland is
now no novelty, and hunt to the Zlm-
bczi Is boys adventure from Kimberley
or Pretoria.