New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-27
PATLROADING IN THE DESERT.

The steady progress Of the British up the
Nile has been recorded Wady Halfa, Don
pola Abu Hamed and Berber have one after
the other fallen into their hands. Khartouin
and Omdurman will doubtless follow. and the
Father Of Waters. from the delta to the lakes,
be freed from savage thral 1t is great work.
and is being we'll performed But not to the
roldiers alone is credit TO be given. Another
worl; has been proceeding, concurrenty with
theirs OF commensurate value and OF even
more striking interest. 1t is, as is the military
campaign, directed by the Sirdar. But II Is
executed by engineers and artisans. instead OF
soldiers and 1t marks not merely the breaking
down of barbarlsm, but also the upbuilding or
civilization in It's place.
That work is the building of the desert rail-
road which is now nearing Abu Hamed from
Wady Halfa and will one day be pushed on to
fon that from Uganda TO the sea, and finally
to connect with that now creeping mp from the
south, giving an unbroken line from Cape
Town 10 Alexandria. In all that long line there
will be no link more noteworthy than that
across the Nubian Desert. Its appeal to mem-
ory and TO imagination Is irresistible. Ii FOL
lows the very track pursued by the army OF
King Cambyses across that ancient plain IL
makes an iron highway where Said Pacla rode
in n camel-carriage, with ten thousand mon
marching ahead with water-pots TO sprinkle the
desert sands and lay the dust 1t trayerses the
very region in which lsmall Pacha's two thou
sand men vanished utterly from sight and
knowledge railroad. with screaming whistle
and Changing bell. in such country.
Scarcely less noteworthy than the place is
the manner of construction. or course. all Tie
material has TO be brought up from Egypt and
carried forward on the railroad itself as fast
ne it is built. So do all the provisions for the
men There is no living on the country, for
the country is an absolute desert Of rock and
sand Even the water. for drinking and for
the engines had M first 10 be- caTtcd mp from
Wndv IIalfa. though now some ellis have been
successfully sunk in mid-deserf. The result Is
that instead of working simultaneously AT VA
rlorIs points along the line. the men began work
nj one end, and are finishing the road as they
60 along toward the other. There are TWO
thousand Of them NJ work. The train loaded
with material is run 20 the end OF the com
plcted portion Of the road. The men unload ties
end carry them forward and lay them down:
then they carry rails forward and spike tlam
fast; bat long before half the spikes are driven
erd the fshpa'5a holtcd tho train moves for
Vsrd over the new bin of ROAD. and some Of ~"
ma - on lG!l3" more trac, ahead OF II. whi,r
o.h'ia finish die work behind Thus all IL
CT. iou. Of railroad building. from surveying
The ro-tn 10 pG,i'rG on the top-drcssng OF bal
las, TO proceeding together on the same mile
Of road, and the consirucion--rain crecps for
ward ci The rate ~ two nils day.
What it will moan when finished is easy 10
perceive The d'siarcc - ral from Wrly
IIn':a 10 Abu liamc1 will b. 90 miles and 80
Tin" eight hours The distance 10y river IS 200
NILS and the time by camel-train eight day -.
To the army the road Will 10 Of grea, ~ luc
TO peaceful industry and trade. long after the
arny's work is done. It's value will be incalcil.
liable