Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-01

but one iron link, like that which is proposed
on the Congo. as an outlet for her commerce.
Well few years from now you will see the
Congo itself develop an enormous trade, equal
at least to that of the Mississippi in the early
part of this century-and with the added ad
vantage OF steam.
CONFIDENCE OF CAPITALISTS.
That the project inspires in wise heads the
utmost confidence from the start is shown b.
the avidity with winch the shares have beer
subscribed in Europe. There are now bu
$500 900 worth of stock left to be subscribed
II 1t is not taken at once by capitalists in the
United States they will not have the oppor
tunity much longer. Some other country will
take 1t. What the head of the Congo Free
State, who Is also the King of the Belglans
would most like would be that the shares OF
the company should be distributed among sew.
eral of the great Powers, SO that the railroad
would have a thoroughly international char
acter, and to prevent any possibility OF absorp-
tion by capitalists of any one country.
The work will unQuestionably be begun as
soon as possible after the capital has been sub
scribed. Two months ago the engineers had
not yet made their report Now l have the
substance of IL just at hand.
20 Commercial and Industrial Com
issued two pamphlets embodying
he study Of the conditions of the
projec-. .e by its officers, and particularly
by its engineers. They are exceedingly inter
esting.
The proposed railroad is to have a gauge of
pounds each, and steel ties placed about "a
feet apart and weighing about so pounds eacn,
the entire track proper thus weighing 10 tons
to the mile. The total length of the road will
be 2.2 miles. Only the first 16 IL miles present
any important difficulties of construction. The
rest Of the way may be established under ex-
ceptionably easy conditions. Not only is the
ground much more accentuated for the first l6
or IL miles, but much of the grading will have
to be done in the rock, while beyond that por-
tion of the line the cuts may be made for the
- hl1a AfN
even in very light sand. Consequently, while
the cost of grading in the first portion
will amount to something like So, 400
Il %fe' %iIi cos. 1 toe oSly e%Snlng a6oIa RSr'iOa
mile. In like manner, while in the first portion
the masonry work will cost about 81 9l4 mile,
Il viii cost elsewhere only g 75 mile; In the
first score of miles particular precautions will
be taken to facilitate the flow of water where
it might cause disaster TO the track. Here the
expenses of the establishment of artificial
water ways ETC., will amount to 81, AIS mile.
and that for bridges to some S. 416 a mile. In
the region beyond the Palaballa these expenses
will be respectively only S4S6 and 81, 464 mile.
On the other hand, the general expense Of
maintaining the operations of building will
increase as they advance, as the distance of
TRANSPORTATION. in fact increases. This item,
as regards the first section, is estimated at only
$500 mile. while for the last section of 37111
miles near Stanley Pool 1t will be S6.966 mile.
THE ROUTE OF THE ROAD.
The point of departure of the railroad on the
Lower Congo will be Matadi, point which
may be easily reached by ocean steamships and
where the construction of inexpensive works
will permit these vessels to transfer their car
goes directly to the cars. The point of arrival
at Stanley Pool will be NdolO a short distance
above Kinchassa and all the rapids which OBJ
struct navigation in the vicinity of the cataracts
From tins point vessels of light draft may go
broken distance of 7,IsS miles. Ndolo is ad.
mirably situated for the establishment of
spacious wharves. Matadi and Ndolo will be
the principal stations, but secondary station
will be established in the district of Kimpese,
where travellers will be obliged to halt, as it
Win require two days to go from Matadi to
Stanley Pool, trains not running during the
on the line-one at Lufu, another at Inkissi
and the last at Ntampa, thus dividing the total
distance between the Lower Congo and Stanley
Pool into f1ve sections, each one of an average
length of $50 miles. Each section will be itself
divided into four subsections each one of
which will be provided with water tanks and
switches.
1t is calculated that the expense of operating
the road on the basis of two trains per week in
either direction, will be about $780, co., To this
are to be added about s2500O0 as interest at
per cent upon the capital employed in construc-
tion. 1t is therefore estimated that a revenue
S49O, 900 per year will pay all expenses and a
profit besides. A great saving will be effected
for those who are already engaged in commerce
in the Congo region by the use of the railroad.
The present system OF transportation affords no
guarantee either of celebrity OF surety. Much
merchandise reaches its destination in a dam
aged condition. and it sometimes requires sew
eTal months for packages to arrive at Stanley
Pool. The system of transportation upon the
backs of men compels the expensive packing of
goods in order to Withstand the vicissitudes of
the long and labOrious journey. Merchants
OF agents frequently spend an entire month in
travelling from the mouth OF the river to Stan
ley Pool. 1t requires bat very little thought to
realize the immense revolution which will take
place in that region. but recently partly awak-
ened from its long night of ignorance, oppres-
sion and isolation, when the first locomotive
screeches forth its warning along the shores Of
of the Congo, from Matadi to Leopoldville,
above the falls. Some idea of the quick growth
which is likely TO result to the trade OF the
Congo valley may be gained when 1t il stated
that at the present time the number of human
carriers is never known to be equal to the actual
demand for them and that the amount of goods