The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-21
IRRIGATION IN SOUTH AFRICA.
An American EnEfneer's Idea or tho Great
Work Cecil Rhodes 10 DoinG.

Work Cecil Rhodes 10 Doing.
SAN Francisco. Nov. 20.-William Hammond
Hall. formerly State Engineer of California. has
Just returned from a prolonged professional trip
in South Africa, where business brought him into
close relations with Cecil Rhodes. He had un.
der consideration the water supply of Johannes
burg for mining and domestic use, and when he
returns to Africa two months hence he will take
with him plans for several large dams, pumpinR
stations and distributing works, which are to be
erected under his supervision. He is also Cd
gagged on plans for irrigation works for the Cape
Government and for Cecil Rhodes.
IT am to build for Mr.. Rhodes said Mr..
Hall, "a big dam, canal and other works. to
serve a fine tract of land he owns IN B%uluwayo.
When l pointed out to him that there would not
be a sufficient supply from the natural water
shed, and that it would cost 30 much to bring
water from another shed that the enterprise
would not pay for many years. he replied:
"'Never mind that. I want 1t donei in order to
show what can be done , BY irritation in this
giving these natives work. supporting and civ.
other capitalists and companies, and that is an
object which will DO worth ali it will cost me
"Idon't think my judgment Of Mr.. Rhodes has
been pre3udiced by my association with him.
% nua ! i fou Am nGi ns'P p hsti %GSu midYf baiid HsT large we amy
expensive Irrigation work out Of their private
fortunes; WITHOUT hope Of profit. for the public
all the time. He seems to me also to manage
the native question with admirable tact and
Colony through Bechuanaiand one thousand
miles or 30 in length. has been largely financed
He is also supplying, most Of the money for the
telegraph line, which is being pushed porthward
try Of Central Africa to join the Egyptian tele-
graph IN the Soudan:
strides sn Within nG the next atf few YEARS wir t on The e% 6nsis Of
dependsnt on irrigation. and the Conditions Of
rainfall and opportunities for storage are such
as to indicate that irrigation will be very sue
c~essful.. All the local, colonial and State COY
crnments are actively interested In the subject.
The Cape Government constructs irrigation
works; and having rccouped the cost by the
them over for use to the owners of the lands. It
also subsidies or encourages private irrigation
Controls ali works. and there IS no such thing as
the unlicensed, unrestricted grabbing Of water
and construction of works which in the United
State6 has done SO much to prevent irrigation
development.
There nre magnificent lands for irrigation in
South Africa, rich. deep soils which will raise
any crop of fruits or grains, which Southern
California can produce. As the seasons are the
tries which supply EnRland's markets. South
Africa can always be sure OF an ample market
can be- put on the london market Within fifteen
days from Cape Colony, and at reasonable cost
OF transportation.
THE gold and diamond mining industries are
immense and very impressive. although their
development is only about twelve years old.
California has had n half century of that devel-
opment under favorable conditions, and yet we
arc Just now entering upon a most prosperous
era of gold production. So 1t seems to me that
South Africa, with time and the removal OF re-
strictions and difficulties, must show tremen.
Transvaal and Rhodesia and other parts of
South Africa are known to be mineralized in the
same general way as this State Is, and the
development OF, the mineral belt there ia
likely to pass through the same experience
as here. The gold output OF the Rand is not
falling of, but is steadily increasing. notwith'
standing the hsmpering conditions. There are
fifteen dividend-paying mines on the Johannes
burg Rand. but there are probably four times
fifteen which could be made to pay dividends II
the conditions were as favorable as they are In
the United States.
South African politics and industrial deyol
opment present one Of the most interesting
fields Of study / ever entered, 1t is a field In
which most colossal mistakes have been made
immense sacrifices have been suffered, and in
fernal injustices have been inflicted"