Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-29
IRRIGATION IN SOUTH AFRICA.
Interview With William Harmon
Hall, Associate of Cecil Rhodes.

Interview With William Hammond
Hall. Associate of Cecil Rhodes.
San Francisco Special to the Globe Democrat.
William Hammond Hail. formerly state
engineer of California, has just returned
from prolonged professional trip to South
Africa, where business brought him into
close relations with Cecil Rhodes. He had
under consideration the water supply of
Johannesburg for mining and domestic use,
ard when he returns to Africa two months
hence he will take with him plans for sew
eral large dams. pumping stations and dis
tributing works., which are TO be erected
under his supervision. He is also engaged
on plans for irrigation works for the Cape
government and for Cecil Rhodes.
Il am to build for Mr.. Rhodes" SAID Mr.
Hall. "a big dam, canal and other works,
to serve fine tract of land he owns In
Buluwayo. When l pointed out to him that
there would not be a sufficient supply from
the natural waters. and that 1T would cost
SO much to bring wafer from another shed
that the enterprise would not pay for many
years. he replied: Never mind that.
want 1t done in order to show what can be
done by irrigation in this country. More
over 1 shall be giving these natives work,
supporting and civilizing them, and setting
a good example to other capitalists and
companies, and this is an object which will
be worth all it will cost me- even if make
nothing
81 think South Africa will take immense
strides within the next few years on the
basis of irrigation developments. The whole
country is dependent on irrigation and the
conditions of rainfall and opportunities for
storage are such as to indicate that irriga-
ton will be very successful. Ali the local
colonial and state governments are actively
interested in the subject. The Cape govern
ment constructs irrigation works and hay-
ing reCoureC the cost by the sale of its
cd 1,xyf he x,<rlyc
over for use to the owners of the lands. 1t
also subsidies or encourages private irri-
cation enterprises in several WAYS but IL
regulates and controls all works, and there
is no such thing as the unlicensed, unre-
stricted grabbing of water and construction
of works which in the United States mas
Gone so much to prevent irrigation develop
ment.
There are magnificent lands for irr1ga-
ton 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 reverse of those of
England and of all the countries which sup
ply Englands markets, South Africa can
always be sure of an ample market with
out competition. High-class, delicate fruits
can be put on the London market within
fifteen days from Cape Colony. and at rea-
sonable cost of transportation
The gold and diamond mining industries
are immense and very impressive. although
their development is only about twelve
years oid California has had a half CEN
tCry of that development under favorable
conditions, and yet We are just now enter
ing upon mCst prosperous era of gold pro-
auction. So it seems to me that South At
RIGA, with time and the removal of restric-
lions and difficulties, must show tremen-
dous mineral resources
South African politics and industrial de-
velopment present one of the most interest
ing fields of study / ever entered. 1t is a
field in which most colossal mistakes have
hax t,lQr
suffered and internal injustices have been
inflicted"