Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-02-17
RAILROADS IN DISTANT LANDS.
Advent of the Locomotive Into Re-
mote Parts OF Asia and Africa.

By the completion last November OF
the railroad from Cape Town to the
South African diamond mines at KIM
berley, steam cars have supplanted the
tiresOme stages and the great OK wagons
of the Dutch and British traders for
about 100 miles along the direct route
toward the Zambesl. The advent of the
locomotive into the very region where
Maffatt and Livingstone lived among
benighted SavageS is not only an evil
dence of the substantial progress of
South Africa, but also illustrates the
impulse that is now moving civilized
nations to penetrate new fields of COM
merce with railroads.
These enterprises seem to be justified
by similar ventures already completed.
South Africa's 1862 miles of lines, all
owned by Cape Colony, paid all work
ing expenses and maintenance during
the first SIX months this year, and 81
per cent. to apply ON the interest ac-
count. The British Burmah railroads
returned 8 per cent. dividends last year,
and have paid good interest since the
day they were opened. Gen. Strachey,
the greatest authority on Indian rail-
roads, estimates that the benefits accru-
ing from her railways to India amount
to over 30,000,0O0 pounds sterling per
annum.
England'S iron route from the Arabian
sea to Afghanistan has reached the
Quetta plateau through the BOlan pass.
The work on Russia s transcaspian road
is advancing day and night 1t is now
approaching Merv, and Russia expects
to carry it on TO Bokhara and Tash-
kend. For the purpose of giving facili-
ties to her troops, England loaned the
money to Cape Colony with which the
railroad to Kimberley has just been
completed.
From all corners of the world we are
hearing of railroads projected, surveyed,
or in course of building. In Venezuela,
for instance, eight or nine different
lines of greater or less extent are under
contract, surveys are in progress, grad
ing and track laying are considerably
advanced on two lines, and are soon to
commence on others. Portugal has
granted a concession for the railroad
from DelagOa bay in east Africa 10 the
TranSvaal border to connect with the
TranSvaal railroad which it is reported
will be built by German crpital. The
more progressive among the Beers say
they must have railroad connection with
the sea. To its railroads is largely due
the fact that South Africa now stands
tenth OH the list of the chief foreign
nations dealing with England.
1t is in the Oriental world, however,
that new railroad schemes are most
rapidly advancing. The king of Siam
is eager to connect his capital with the
Chinese frontier by rail. and has prom
ised To build this road if the Indian gov
ernment will build a road through Bur-
nah to meet the Siamese system at the
frontier. The leading chambers of
commerce in Great Britain sent agents
to report upon the feasibility of this
project, and MessrS. IIallett and Colqu-
hoIm have returned home with enthuS-
iaStic endorsements of the scheme. In
China the powerful viceroy, Ii Hong
Chang, has for some time been urging
the need of railroads and telegraphs.
His influence. aided by the support of
other able statesmen, has already given
to China over 5000 miles of telegraphs,
manned by Chinese operators, and the
little nine-mile railroad near Tientsin,
and is paving the way for railroad
schemes that. it is believed, will in the
course of time reach a large develop
ment in China. The railroad that is to
connect the chief towns Of Siberia is
slowly advancing eastward, and surveys
for projected lines are in progress in
Asia Minor, the EuphrateS valley, and
Persia.