Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-11-22
me Sahara Desert to Bloom

The Sahara Desert to Bloom
In the recent division OF Africa by
the great powers Of Europe Francois
given the larger part Of the desert OF
Sahara in return for its cession of
the protectorate ofZanzibar to Eng
land. This concession is worth more
to France than it could be to any
other power, partly because it cca-
nects the French dependencies of Al
yiers and lower Guinea, and also
rom the proverbial French DISPOSE
ton to develop greater possibilities
out of a little than can any other
people in Europe. 1t has been said
that French cooks will make great
err variety Of toothsome dishes from
a soup bone than English cooks will
from their pick of the entire beef. 1t
is said that Lord Salisbury has re-
marked rather pointedly on the way
in which he has put France of with
a worthless territory in the place of
Zanzibar, but If this be true, it shows
that his lordship has not kept post
ed as to the possibilities which this
long-desolated region is beginning tn
develop.
The Sahara is not indeed such an
arid plain as has been often supposed.
Water is easily reachedin most parts
by digging to moderate depth. In
many places where the surface seems
entirely dry, if palm trees are plant
ed their roots win strike down and
find water. Wherever water comes
to the surface through the sinking of
artesian wells an oasis is formed,
4 rains increase, and the means are
/, thus prepared for increasing and eX-
e tending vegetation. A steam rail-
! road has already been projected to
1 connect Algeria with the Guinea pos
q sessions of France on the Atlantic. 1t
: will undoubtedly be built within n
0 few wears, and along its line artesian
5 wells will be sunk to supply it with
water, and with this settlements OF
9 civilized people will make the desert
y blossom as the rose.
q The French are excellent farmers
Is in their own country, but their work
c is restricted by excessive subdivision
e of their original homesteads. There
is not room in France for the great
r majority who perfer farm life TO ans
other. Excepting Paris and a few
o. other cities, the population ofFranc'
So is mainly agricultural. But TIN
e, French have never taken kindly t.
colonizing in other lands, and es
pecially where the English languag
prevails. Perhaps in redeeming til
- Sahara desert there will be opportu
- nifty to build in Africa "A new Franc
Is that may make an outlet for the oil
he such as no territory except lowe
70 Canada has ever done before.
~ has been the fortune of earlier Frenc
- settlements on this Continent to ia
ne under the rule of England or til
rs, United States, as Napoleon ceded til
I'M great territory OF Louisiana to tn
is country nearly nineteen years ag'
and the Canadian French settlement
* had fallen under English rule long b
he fore our independence from EnglaT
he was achieved. In Africa, howeve
IN the territory that the French n
now gaining makes that country
greater landholder than any 9th
his in the Continent, and when once I
her claimed, no other country will
mr. likely to dispossess France OF 1t. u
til it's people become able to decla
nc their independence and set up 1
ner themselves.
i'm. -sup.e-a---