The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-23
AN EXuAUsTIyE REVIEW.
what HAS ncen Done ana what II Doing
Ia Connection WIN the Project.


A prominent diplomatic well acquainted
with the Congo affairs sends the Hrdli
tho following:
"By its declaration Of April %, 1885,
the United States was tho first power TO
recognize the Congo international Associ-
alton and lis flag. II next recognized the
Congo Free State and King Leopold ~ it,
sovereign.
AT the Berlin Conference, Mcssrs san.
ford and Kasson, in expressing the idea ON
which Stanley had laid great stress,
pointed out the necessity for the consiruc.
ton Of n railroad TO bind together the two
nayigablo parts OF the Congo-,hat is, be-
tween Matilda and Stanley Pool Mr.. san.
ford said that It's construction aud opera
ton should belong 10 the most important
contiguous State. article 4 Of tho Nayi.
CATION act Of the Congo considers the rail.
road which shall effect the junction Of the
two nayigablo sections OF the Congo as a
dependency Of that rivcr.)
''The Congo Commercial and industrial
Company, founded on December ~, 1856,
at Brussels, with Belgian capital. devoted
one million 10 the sending Of an cxpcdi-
ton OF engineers who were 10 select the
best route for the railroad which was 10
join the sea 10 Stanley Pool-or, rather.
running over the entire section rendered
unnayigable by the catnracls between
Maiadi and Lcopoldyillc.
"This expedition has now concluded IL
work, the most practicable aud cheapest
route has been selected, and the estimates
aud plans have been made. The route
selected Is 263l miles long (i26 kilomc.
tcrs). and 40 easy Of construction that II
could be completed In four years, and
would not cost over 81, 100000 including
interest, contingent expenses, cost OF ma.
tcrial and preliminary running expenses.
According 10 careful calculations mado
tho running expenses would amount TO
about /, 200 0OOf yearly. by adding $780,
0O0i capital al D per cent. We find that the
total yearly expenses would amount TO
2,i50, O0Oi.
"Thc present traffic between tho two
sections -Matadi aud Stanley Pool-costs
$500, OO0f per year. And IL is only limited
by the lack Of human carriers and oNofbit.
ant prices, which make the transportation
OF certain merchandise, especially rubber.
which Is found there in largo quantities,
impmciicablc. The interest ON the capi.
tai, IL will be- seen, Is thus assured from
the start, even II there were no develop.
mcni In the traffic tor the first four yeats,
which Is altogether improbable when We
consider the Immense commercial move.
mcnt toward that region and the establish.
moEt Of numerous European commercial
houses
"gurhermorc tho Congo FREQ State
grants 10 tho company u subsidy Oi ~ per
cent. OF ils receipts from export duty.
This 20 por cent. now amounts ~ 2S0O0i
yearly, and II will certainly increase with
great rapidiiy when railroad traffic is cs-
iablishcd.
again. the State grants TO tho COM
pany, besides zono Of 200 meters on
either side Of tho line, 800 Hectares lover
/ ., 200 French acrcsl Of ground for every
| kilomCtor Of road constructed aud opcr.
atcd, which represents $4,000 lcciafos
| lover !, 2S0, 900 ncrcsl, which tho company
/ can select whenever Il may choose.
1.-TWO other societies were also formed
al Brussels-the SOciote Anonymo Beige
pour lc Commerce du llaut Congo lcapi.
| ial l,200,0OOi aud the Compagnio DIES
Magnsins Gcnomux. Tho frat Is 10 do.
yclop the wealth Of the Upper Congo aud
mako Il available for and facilitate IT, be-.
/ ing placed on European or other markets
on soon as the railroad IN the cataract 70.
gion shall have supplied II with the meana
Of transporting II 70 the coast.
"Considoring that by simply construct.
| ing a comparatively Insignificant railroad
Of only 203l miles In length tho rich aud
fertile regions Of nearly an entire cont.
nent, almost wholly undeyolopcd, could
DO opened up 10 the commerce Of the
world; that with NO little more than 1920
miles Of nayRnble watcrcourscs could bc
utili1cd-rouios running through a terri
tory Of two aud half million kilometcrs
| with population estimated by Stanley III
10000, 600, all Of which IL now useless, un
developed, and will continue 10 DO utilized
only for slave traffic until a railroad Il
built in the cataract region considering
all this, II would be n crime against hu
manity aud civilization not 10 construct
such n road.
"Thc Belgian Government, sensible oI
the immense future Of such an enterprise
will propose 10 Parliament 10 vote 10000
OO0i toward its achievement Private
Belgian capital, much Of which has
already been devoted 10 defray expenses Of
exploration, etc, will also DO largely In.
vested In the railroad. But King Leopold, "