Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-04-17

Almost Five Sixths of This Vast Continent
Covered by European Claimants

NONO'O" ny
The art of annexing Il continent, which
had its first modern example in the occu-
patti N of America by the maritime ma
TORS of Europe, has developed remarkably
within the present century, if we may
Judge from the rapidlty with which the
same nations are taking possession OF
Africa. The annexation of this continent
has progressed as far within twenty years
as that of America did within two CEN
turles. Twenty years ago, the cry of
Africa for the Africans - would have had
some warrant in fact. To-day. Africa
for the Europeans" would better indicate
the situation, since fully fve-sixths of the
whole continent are covered by European
claims.
The districts thus annexed cover five
sIxths Of Africa, only about Two million
square miles remaining undppropridttd,
and this largely made up out of the Libyan
deser, which no one wants. As for the
French Sahara, 1t is much less desert
than is generally supposed. Water seems
to be everywhere present at no great
depth, and an oasis Is easily formed by
the boring of an artesian well. Hundreds
of such fertile spots have been made and
the French engineers are still busy in this
paratlve dimensions of these European
claims to African territory, / may be
briefly stated that England holds about
two million square miles. mostly good
territory; France about two and a half
millions, largely desert; Germany about
one million, mach of it of little value; the
Congo State one million generally availa-
bic; Portugal, half million, much of it
excellent; ard Italy about one-third of a
million, embracing probably much good
land.
Ii it now be asked, what steps are being
taken by European nations towards the
control of their African possessions it may
be answered that these claims as yet exist
largely on paper only,-the keep OF"
warning of the watchdog, that much
is being done to render them actual.
Steamers are nJw navigating the Zambesi
and the Congo, fortified trading posts ex-
list along these rivers, and railroad is be-
ing built from tue mouth of the Congo to
It's navlgable upper reaches. A second
railroad, to run from Mombasr, in British
East Africa to the Victoria Nyanza, was
inaugurated August 26, 1890. Lakes Vic
torla, Nyanza. Tanganyika and Nyassa,
and possibly by railroads between these
lakes. A third and more ambitious pro-
ject is entertained by France, that of
building e railroad from Algeria to Lake
Tchak, across two thousand miles of des-
ert. A route has been selected for this
road which is to start from Constantine
and Biskra in Algeria 1t will, when
built, doubtle3s become the channel of an
extensive commerce, from the old cases
and the new ones that are being formed,
and from the Lake Tchad region of the
Soudan.
These are but preliminary steps towards
the consolidation of the European possess
sions in Africa. Others will follow as
necessity demands them, and the next
quarter of century will probably see the
whole of Africa covered by European
claims, the slave trade extinguished. and
great portion of the Dark Continent"
opened up to trade and tie influence of
civilization, with the possible beginning
of an active European colonization.
and the replacement of the existing
barbarian governments by more en-
lilghtened AM peaceful political condi-
tons.