The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-02-26
The Black continet.

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still observed. The irruptions of
this generation, however, have, a
somewhat different aspect from those
of the olden time, when conquest and
empire were the objects rather than
the extension of legitimate trade
Now the effort is to establish COM
mercial relations, to find markets for
the work which the skilled mechanics
of Europe turn out and to make
profit by dealing with the people of
Africa The estimated population of
that unknown continent is two hun
bred millions-four times as great
as thepopulation of the United States.
To awaken these people to new life,
to introduce to them European civil
hzation and teach them the uses of
European manufactures is now the
purpose of the nations. In this work
each commercial country wishes to
share, hoping thereby to obtain a
peculiar advantage in creating de-
mand for it's wares, increasing its
commerce and charging its influence.
The Soudan, extending from the
Great Desert southwark beyond the
equator, and running from ocean to
ocean, is described as being very pop
ulous, having many cities with from
$4,000 to 100000 inhabitants, while
smaller towns of 10000 people are
so numerous that frequently they al
most touch one another. In the east
it is watered by the Nile and its lakes,
on the west it is penetrated by the
Senegal, while the Niger, with its far
reaching branches drains an illimita
bic scope of country. Further to the
southwark the Congo rising in the
heart of Southern Africa passes along
the lower borders of the Soudan and
debouches into the South Atlantic on
the coast of lower Guina. It is for
the trade of this region that the civ
ilized world is now striking. The
soil is very rich and the principles OF
agriculture are said to be well under
stood. Insome parts it is represent
ed that the cultivation rivals the best
methods practised in England. A
statement so at variance with our
preconceived notions is not readily
accepted, and yet to support such a
dense population and such large
cities, agriculture must needs be far
advanced. ALI the known grains,
cotton, coffee, sugar and tropical
fruits are grown there. An intelli-
gent traveller says that when he went
up the Niger, in 1870, the produce
annually brought down was valued
at $50, 900; now it's value is estimat-
ed at ten millions. It took him
twenty-six days to ascend that river;
now it is accomplished in two days
There were then two factories on the
river; now there are ffty-seven.-
There were then two trading steam
ers; now there are twenty odd. He
noted los towns on its banks, each
with more than 10000 people, and
the country through which the river
courses teemed with life.
The French are making efforts to
establish themselves in the north
western part of that region. They
have gone up the Senegal and are
building a railroad to connect that
river with the head waters of the
Niger.
Lower down the Portuguese are
building railroad into the interior,
and it is computed that $75,0O0,00O
have already been spent in construct
ing railroads in Southern Africa.
The Congo basin has recently risen
to vast commercial Importance. The
trade upon the river is estimated at
ten millions of dollars and is just in
its infancy.
Forty-nine European factories have
been established on its banks, and