Wichita eagle., 1890-02-21
SCENES In SOUTH AFRICA.
WONDERFUL TOWNS GROWN UP IN
ITS GOLD CENTER.

Old. Yet 1t Rivals the Chief Towns of
| England-A Coach Journey of Three
| Hundred Miles.
| johannesburg is reached by a coach jour
ney from Kimberley Of more than 800 miles.
The coach service is a the hands of two con-
coaches used are after the Cobb pattern, each
| coach carrying twelve inside and from six to
| nine outside passengers, besides mails and
| luggage They run daily, completing the
| journey in three days and two nights, and
| are usually full of passengers, both on the up
and down journey. The fare either way is
e12 12s., which. with the additional charges
for extra luggage, twenty-five pounds only
being allowed. and extra charged at the rate
of penny per pound, and the charges for
the mails, leaves a very handsome profit for
the contractors.
The coaches are dragged by horses OF
mules, and finer cattle are not to be found in
this colony than those employed in this ser
vice. Fresh horses are taken on every hour
or hour and a half, and the teams run only
one stage per day, thus giving them every
chance of being kept in good condition. The
roads in dry weather are good and easily
traversed After rain they are in some parts
heavy.
SEEN ON TIE WAY.
The country through which they travel is
in the highest degree monotonous, not a tree
nor bush not a river nor hill, 10 be seen
for miles, except when some old farm house
stands out from the surrounding baroness
with a circle of dropping willows around it.
There are only two places of Importance on
the whole route-Klerksdorp and Potchef-
strom. The former consists of an old village
with a few scattered houses covered by
clumps Of trees, and new township, which
is the growth of day and has sprung up in
consequence of the gold discoveries recently
made there. Already several pretentious
stone houses have been erected. A neat and
commodious exchange occupies a prominent
site. Churches, schools and court house
are in course of construction, and several
large and commodious hotels offer accommo-
dation to the chance traveller. The chief ho-
tel, called the Palace, would do credit to
many an older established town. At this ho-
tel the coach stops to rest the passengers for
the night, and, as a result of the enormous
traffic passing through the Transvaal, it is
difficult to get bed.
The town of Potchefstrom was the old cap
ital of the Transvaal and was the seat of gov
ernment until it was removed to Pretoria.
Like all Dutch towns of old standing, the
houses are built in the midst of lovely gar
dens thickly planted with trees, which also
grow luxuriantly in the roadways and lend
charm and a freshness to the scene quite ex-
hilarating to those who have been journeying
for hours on the bare veldt.
This town, too, has felt the influence of the
gold fever. Gold fields have been discovered
in its neighborhood, and in consequence the
town is full of prospectors, diggers and spec
ulators, ready to pick up the first good thing
they can find. Between Potchefstrom and
johannesburg there is nothing worthy OF
note. As one approaches the latter city the
face Of the country undergoes a gradual
change, becoming more undulating and hilly,
till all at once the famous Ell Dorado bursts
upon the view, stretching along the base of
low ridge of hills, along whose sides the smok-
ing tunnels betray the busy work that is going
on in unearthing golden treasures
The city of johannesburg is surprise to
all One hears often its praises sung and its
streets and buildings pronounced indescriba-
BILE, but this rs set down to exaggeration aris-
ing out of the enthusiasm of the speakers. No
one expects to find broad and regular streets
with noble piles of buildings erected on both
sides-buildings and streets rivaling in size
and style of architecture those of some of the
chief towns of England. The principal busi-
ness street, Commissioner street, extends for
nearly two miles. 1t contains some of the
finest buildings of the city--the new club, the
Bank of Africa, the new Exchange buildings,
two large hotels, and several two and three
storied erections occupying whole blocks and
intended solely for business and for Offices for
the hundreds of brokers and spectators who
find occupation there. All the empty spaces
are being rapidly filed up with buildings of
brick and stone, and the chief sound that is
heard above the shouting of the brokers on
'Change is the noise of the bricklayer's trowel
and the clink of the stonecutter's chisel
THE WONDERFUL TOWN.
The town proper is almost entirely occupied |
with business premises; the inhabitants have |
had to betake themselves to the outskirts to |
find suitable residences. Consequently, on |
the slopes of the hills on one side and at the |
of the city. several townships |
have sprung up The principal of these is |
an estate belonging to the |
water company. which has been artistically |
laid out in allotments, on which substantial !
and picturesque residences have been erected, |
and this forms the Belgravia of Johannes
burg.
The CITY boasts of an existence of only two /
and half or three years, and already it
possesses an ample supply of water laid on by
pipes in the houses and conducted through |
the principal streets from the reservoir on
the hill above Doornfontein, to which it is
pumped up from several springs at a consid-
srable distance from each other in the lower
ands. AS vet the streets are in darkness at
night depending for light on the oil lamps OF
the host of canteens 10 be found in every
street. But a gas company has been formed.
One of the pal features OF Johannes
burg is the number of large open spaces that
cave been provided for market squares and
recreation grounds. The principal of these
S in the center of the city. This forms the
market square proper. Every morning it Is
illed with OK wagons laden with produce, |
which the farmers bring in from all parts Of
he Transyaai and even from Natal, the
cape colony and the Free state. to be sold to
he highest bidder The market house, i
arge brick building, covers the center Of this
ouare, consisting OF the market house proper,
large hall about 200 feet long and 100 feet
,road, and surrounded by coffee stalls
All the materials used in the buildings, all
he doors and windows. the wood and the
ron have been imported from England and
America, aud have been transported on OK
wagons over 800 miles before reaching their
estimation Tire price of labor Il higher thar
n any other part Of the world, and many
have had TO be overcome before
rick or a stone could be laid in the city.
Perhaps the euterprising merchants Of New
York NAV also see that there Is here vast