The San Francisco call., 1898-10-09
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oped faster than other portions of the Dark Continent, because it already has such a splendid start The district in- cludes Cape Colony, Natal, Bechuana- land, Matabele, MashonaIand and other smaller provinces. Cape Colony has been known for centuries Orig inally settled by the Dutch and after ward occupied by the English, there exists in the colony a strong element of political friction which sometimes takes the form of an outbreak. The temporary setback to Cecil Rhodes in the elections of last month is but an- other example of the pertinacity of the Dutch. Farther north, the English are pushing into the vast territory of Rho- desia-
 Almost surrounded by the land of the English and with nearly a half of 1 their populations composed of that na- tlonallty are two independent countries the Transvaal and the Orange Free State. That they will hold aloof from England's control for a number of years Is unquestioned, but that they will be absorbed finally under a protec- torate seems inevitable.
 This then is the condition of the Brit ish star of empire in South Africa. Sit uated almost entirely in the temper ate zone, rich in farming and grazing lands, containing almost fabulous min- eral wealth waiting to be developed. it stands to-day England's greatest Afrf- can colony.
 What progress has Cecil Rhodes made with his railroads, and does that prog ress warrant his claim of a railroad from Cairo to Cape Town? In Egypt the railroad has followed the British advance. In 1896 1t reached Wady Hal ia, distance of 800 miles from Cairo. In 1887 it was pushed forward to Der Der, 300 miles more. The capture of 0ClyIT-y {I,n .J{
 ttnuation of the railroad to that point. The necessi ies of a big army, the im- mediate need of occupying in force the whole of the district, calls for rapid construction. The present railroad in Egypt has been built almost entirely for military purposes, and it's chief characteristic is military utility. After the war has closed the branches of commercial value will be advanced on the foundation already laid down by the army.
 In British East Africa a line has been planned to run from Mombasa, on the coast, to Lake Victoria Already the first hundred miles have been open- ed and trains are running. The who distance to be built is 656 miles, and it is estimated that less than five years will be necessary for finishing the work. Some of the details in the run ming of the trains are interesting. They start and return on alternate days. The journey inland is up grade. and the speed is twelve miles an hour. The prices are in three classes. the first being 3S rupees, the second 19 and the third rupees annas. A feature that may appeal to Americans is the names of the stations Chaugamwe, Samburu, Mali Chumoi. What possibilities for the intelligent brakeman.
 The telegraph is the scout of the railroad system In Africa-its advance agent Along with the iron rail from Cairo to Capetown runs Rhodes plan of a wire line and 1t will be finished in a few years.
 The end of 1897 marked the first real step in Cecil Rhodes plan, when the railroad was extended northward as far as BuluWayo. The financial success of this enterprise has so encouraged Rhodes that he has petitioned the En- glish Government to guarantee the in- terest on the next section, the line from Buluwayo to Lake Tanganyika. This line will proceed northeasterly to Zumbo, passing through the Sanga coal fields. Crossing the Zambesi on a ferry 1t will pass through Northern Rhodesia, opening up new territory white colonization. Finally, it will strike the lower end of Lake Tangan- yika. This new portion will cover distance of 800 miles and the expense of building it will be 62,500,000 The guarantee of the Government would enable the company to obtain the loan at per cent instead of per cent As the line to Buluwayo was paying one from the start, there are good req sons to believe that the Government will not lose money by such a guaran- tee.
 One other great factor will shortly contribute to the development of Africa. This is long distance trans mission of electric power. Already the waterfalls of the Nile at Assuan have ben harnessed and power Is being trans mitted overland to variou- points, ic baiuO HChfad hv frau6-