The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-28
SHOW CITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
The Berea One of the Prettiest Residen-
tial spots I'm the World.


Durham Letter in the London Telegraph.
The show city of South Africa is, be-
You'd all question, Durham. FOR beauty
of situation il recalls Naples, Tor GOOD
government ii has no superior IN SANTA
ton 1t has no equal. The port STANDS
on a sandy and marshy plain, IN parts
not above sea level, yet so enectually
has the leveling and draining been done
that malaria is almost unknown. A pure
water supply has been provided ana n
refuse destructor of the latest pattern
erected, sewage is disposed Of so as 10
pollute neither air nor water, mouse
drains are all ventilated, the best style
Of apparatus being provided by the
town and enforced, and. finally every
measure that modern science has sug-
gested to safeguard public health -
adopted The roadways are kept nearly
as even as a ships deck and almost as
clean. As a result the death rate OF a
subtropical city, nearer the torrld zone
than Cairo. Alexandria. Memphis or
New Orleans. is rs per 1000 per annum
There is nothing like 1t in a similar lati-
tude in the wide world.
Durham is a marvellous illustration Oh
the value of corporate property rightly
used. Its suburban land belongs TO the
town. The British government gave to
the eolonists belt of high ground,
known as the Berea, which half enclrcies
the port, and on whose wooded slopes
Africa are built Year by year. this es-
tate grows in value, and nearly every
penny of the 'unearned increment goes
to the benefit of the community instead
of finding it's way into the pocket OF
some lord of the soil. More correctly.
the increment goes to those who do earn
it, and the town gets its water, electric
light and power, sanitation, puplc
Notwithstanding a fine town nail,
with a noble organ and first-ciasS sun
day evening concerts for the peopie-l1s
museum, parks. baths. library and a
magnificent esplanade on the pay. Tor
next to nothing. a ridiculous rate OF
2h pence in the pound meets all re-
quirements. The management of the
public estate is on the whole most praise
worthy.
The Bereas is the prettiest residential
spot | have ever seen, not excepting
Euclid avenue at Cleveland Ohio. 1t
overlooks the port; the bay and the In
dian ocean, as Hampstead and High
gate overlook London. Parallel roads,
kept like lawn, run along the 'front.',
and on these, terrace-like, facing to-
ward the sea- one above another, are
built hundreds of tasteful, detached
houses in varied styles, inclosed in their
own grounds. empowered in trees, en-
cnctured in tropical foliage plants and
garlanded in flowers. Tropical and tenn
perate vegetation seem to combine;
mere IS Bfltisn OAK OF pine, tHefe
tree fern, palm, a bamboo, cactus.
while of flowers a profusion of lilies. be-
gonias, Verbenas. petunias. geraniums
and innumerable colored Towering
grasses grow wild. In brief. Natal is
for beauty the pearl of South Africa
Durham the pride of Natal and the Berea
the boast of Durham. You pay for this
plant luxuriance by an oppressively hot
summer. but the winter climate, from
May to October, approaches perfection
There are compensations for these hot
ATTITUDES and one is that people become
Infatuated to live in the open. l at
tended an evening party where ladies
| in the gauziest low diaphanous dresses
| sat in doorways and at open window:
| in a current that would. as sailors say
| take the teeth out of a hand saw, bu
! with no fear of eatafTh. You can bt
| gloriously imprudent with the mercury
| at 50 degrees in the shade.