New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-15
PROGRESS OF THE CONGO STATE.
CONNECTED WITH EUROPE BY FOUR
STEAMSHIP LINES.
BISHOP TAYLoR's MISSION SAID TO BE CON
PLETE FA1LURE-THE STANLEY EXPEDITION.

'2'hAD
PLETE FAILURE-THE STANLEY EXPEDITION.
Washington Aug. 14.-Leutenant Emory II.
Taunt United States Commercial Agent at Bona.
Congo Free State, yesterday filed with the Depart
ment Of State a report on the lower Congo basin, on
the southwest coast of Africa. lie says: Since my
report In February, 1887 the organization Of tho
Congo Free State has been perfected and find
a wellequipped government. with full corps of
officials courts Of laws, posoHces. customs stations.
a standing army Of from 200 10 1000 men, and
currency of gold, silver and copper" The
European seat Of government Is at Brussels.
Vessels drawing twentyone feet of water go up
the river far Maadi Station, 17j miles from
the sea. -Four lines of steamers connect Banona,
the port of entry. and Bona, the capital with Liver,
pool, Hamburg Lisbon and Havre. Gable communi-
cation be had at the mouth of the Gaboon River,
forty-eght hours sail north Of Banona, and at st.
Paul de Loando. fifteen hours SOUTH
The Dutch African Trading Company is the Oldest
and most fourishing Of the trading companies the
Congo The Belgian Joint Stock Company of the
Congo is new corporation just organized in Brussels
with American, French and English money, which
Lieutenant Taunt thinks will absorb the greater part
Of the trade of the valley OF the Congo One of its
projects is the building of railway from Maadi.
the head Of navigation the lower river, to Stanley
Falls, the beginning Of navigation on the Upper
Congo oi0 miles. Tho capital stock $1,000 900, has
can capitalist On the Upper Congo there is a great
demand for cotton goods. canned food, cutlery lum-
Der and ready-made houses. England and France
are gradually securing all this trade, much of which
originally came flom the United States An immense
trade with Arabs in Central Africa will be opened
up with the opening of the Upper Congo.
on the subject Of missions Lieutenant Taunt says:
The American missions Oh the Congo are the Baptist
Methodist bishop TaylorsD and faith cure (Dr smp-
~ alIp The iaOtSt mission is doing
excellent work. and is in a noriShing condition. The
other two are in anything but a hourishng state.
Bishop Taylor's mission has slight advantage over
the Simpson faith cure. l forced TO state thar
his mission on the Congo is at present failure, due
10 the fact that it started, and ne IS trying to
continue it, under wrong idea of the possibilities
Of the Congo country and climate. This IS not only
my own opinion, but that Of almost every white man
on the Congo In 1857 the Bishop informed INC
that his mission would be supported for year :
after that they must shift for themselves This
plan has failed and now his people barely live ]
was informed that Stanley Pool they shoot hip
potami TO trade for their food Some of them have
employed by the Baptists TO work in their sta
tons. The parts of their steamer have been scat
tered along the river for nearly two years, waiting
for means 10 pay for tranSpo alton TO the POOL
Much of it is ruined In juno last there were about
eight men and women Of this mission on the Congo
lie simpson mission Is in dcplorable condition
There about six men and women Of this sect on
the Congo.7
OF stanley and his expedition Lieutenant Taunt
reports on June official dispatches We're received
Bona from the Upper Congo. TO the effect that
TippoO Tb had left Stanley Falls with large force
TO oin stanley and was expected tn act as mediator
between him and the hostile Arabs OF Eastern Africa
sanford. now Of Stanley's expedition From Woods
account the suierngs of Stanley and his people have
not been exaggerated starvation sickness; hostile
stacle encOuntered but pluck and push carried
the explorers through