The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-11-28
TRANSYAAL And RHODESIA.
The Wonderful Development Of Recent Years in South
Africa.
e here before return.

ming some of these here before return
ing.
THE agricultural resources of the |
parts of Africa which I saw have been |
an agreeable surprise to me. The |
whole country is necessarily dependent !
on irrigation, for great developments !
and reliable water supplies are to be :
had only by storage. Opportunities for
storage are numerous and remarkably |
favorable, and the rainfall affords suf-
ficient run-off to assure many great /
supplies | should not be surprised to
see South Africa taking immense
strides within the next very few
years, upon the basis of irrigation de-
velopment.
"All of the local colonial and state
governments are actively interested in
the subject, especially that Of the cape
The colonial government is construct
ing some works and is projecting a
number of others of considerable I'M
portance W1ich will probably be car
ried out. AS consulting engineer of the
irrigation works and policy, etc, 10
the Cape government, I examined
number of works and sites, and am
now having plans made for works
there according to my designs At least
one large masonry dam and several
canals and smaller structures ere to be
built at once.
Il have seen magnificent lands for
! irrigation in Cape colOny-rich, deep
soils like Riverside and Redlands-
which will raise any crop or growth
which Southern California will produce.
! There are some disadvantages to horti-
I culture in South Africa, as a whole,
which we have not in California-as,
( for instance, inopportune rains and
hailstorms Fine grapes are spoiled,
! other delicate fruits ruined, ETC., in
some places, and perhaps generally
much more often than with us.
AGRICULTURAL ADVANTAGES.
But the country has its peculiar adj
vantages also. For instance, high
! class, delicate fruits can be put into
the London market within Is days from
Cape colony by returning passenger
steamers. which have practically no
other freight at the time of year, name
ly, the London winter, when they can
not possibly be furnished cheap enough
/ for the general market from any other
part of the world. The Cape colony
/ seasons Gre the reverse to those of
/ England. and. Of all the countries
which supply its markets, it can reach
/ them within q reasonable time and at
reasonable cost Of transport.
''Lucerne or alfalfa is grown in per-
lection, and can be grown in profu-
sion in Cape colony and elsewhere in
NOGlli &AlIICct. anu put mo meat. IL
/ IS now the base OF ostrich farming, a
very profitable and immense industry
there. When it comes to simply rails
ing living out of small piece of ir-
rigated land, many parts OF South Al
RIGA Will support great populations.
THE Cape government constructs ir-
risatiCn works, and will turn them over
Cor use to the owners of lands served
by them, having recouped the invested
capital cost by sale Of its own lands
served by the works. When it does
not already own the lands, it con-
dennis them at fair rates for dry, bar
rem lands, and afterwards sells at the
enhanced values due to irrigation.
These operations are carried out by the
department of public works, which is
directly under a commissioner, who is
one of the cabinet ministers or mem
berS Of government.
TT also subsidies or encourages pri-
vate irrigation enterprise in several
ways but it regulates and controls all
works, and there is no such thing as
the unlicensed, unrestricted appropria-
ton of grabbing of water and con-
struction of works, which in our coun-
try has done so very much to ruin ir-
rigation development as an industry
and restrict the extension of irrigation
itself
Mr.. Rhodes is looking into a like
policy of development in Bechuanaland
and Rhodesia, and l am to build for
him 100-foot-high dam and d canal
and other works during the coming
year to serve g fine tract he owns near
Buluwayo. He is carrying out this
work at his own private cost When
1 pointed out to him that it probably
would not have water supply sufficient
, from its natural shed, he said. Can
you bring water into it from some
other shed?' Receiving my reply in the
affirmative, he said, Well, [ want it
} done But, Mr.. Rhodes, it will cost
a great deal, and probably as an in
. vestment will not pay you for many
years to come / reasoned. Never
mind that, he said, I want to show
what can be done by irrigation in this
} country, and how much it will cost and
| how it ought to be done. If you can
r make the work a success, and not
spend any more than is necessary to
effect these ends, I want it done More
over, l will be giving these natives
2 work, supporting them, civilizing them
= setting other capitalists and compan-
t les a good example, and that is an
t object which is worth all it will cost
S me, even If 1 make nothing
: What do 1 think of Rhodes? Well
!, that is not fair question to ask me- II
4 [ didn't approve of him 1 couldn't af-
~ - soy So AieNNllAt5 DScl HIS SueSl
and having been very politely and hos
i pitably treated. II I expressed an ap-
e proving or admiring opinion, you would
: lay it to self-interest. Mr.. Rhodes is g
, genial host, most agreeable conpan.
T ion in travel a most entertaining per
e sonality, a thinker and reasoner. ar
: original, a maa of brains and power
f and magnetism. But, then, [ suppose
e the world knows all about this without
e my Door evidence.
e 1T seems to me that the incident
= have just told you about the dam
: should give you some light on one phase
/ of his character. Have we any men il
. America who would build a very large
, and expensive irrigation work out OF
: their private fortunes, without hope al
: profit, for the public good? Well