The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-16
SENDING WOMEN TO AFRICA.
The New white Mans Lend in the South
west Part Of the Continent.

atodS5. 900 to assist women and girls who wish
to emiRrate TO the colony OF German South
west Africa. II Is not usual to encourage the
immigration OF white women to any par. Of
Africa. outside OF the British possessions In
the south part OF the continent. and the fnct
that German Southwest Africa Is now the
HON Of far more white men with their wives
and children than all the other German Afri.
can colonies together is an interesting illus.
tration OF the folly OF proclaiminR n region to
be utterly worthless before any one has taken
the trouble to ascertain Its real economic value.
The needs OF an enterprisinR Bremen trader
named LGdeTitz led to the acquisition Of this
territory. which Is nearly twice as large as
Germany. He had settled at AnRra Peauefa.
where no trader had ever thought OF going.
and did a good business selling his wares to
the natives for their ostrich feathers and
skins. He acquired lands and the bay on which
his trading post stood and his venture was
proving very profitable when II occurred 10
him that If some foreign 20 wer should seize the
territory where he operated his interests there
might not be recognized: 80 he wrote to the
German Government asking that his posses.
sions be placed under the protection Of the
fatherland. This letter brought out the Ia
nous telegram Of Prince Bismarck to the Ger
man Consul at Cape Town en- April "a. 1874. or
dering him to place all the acquisitions Of
Trader L1deritz north OF the Orange River
under Germa an protection. This will be re-
membered in history because 1t was the first
move by the German Government TO acquire
possessions In Africa. On Aug. Z the flag was
formally hoisted over Lnderitz Bay. Just about
a month after Germany had proclaimed pro-
tectorates over the Cameroons and Togolsnd.
and this was the beginning Of Germany's col
cny OF Southwest Africa. Six years elapsed
III 49, - r---A ia.
ain fixed the boundaries. inland and to the
north ond south. The sea frontage extends
from the Kunene River on the north to the
Orange River on the south. about $50 miles.
For years German Southwest Africa was the
colonial butt OF ridicule the world over. No
one could see what Germany would ever be
able to make OF this rainless region OF sand and
barrens. The problem has been partly solved.
Half Of the country ia within the tropical zone
and the other half is sub-tropical. but 1t is the
only part Of Africa. except British Rhodesia.
picked uD by any European Government since
the great scramble for colonies began that Is
attracting a considerable number Of immi-
granite. A small but steady stream OF settlers
Is flowing there from Germany. The statistics
as to the number OF European settlers are n vt
very recent. but in 1896 POPS whites we're liv-
ing there. OF whom 9i5 we're women and chill
III 10 u ldNOIhDIc 5llONluk III tOIUItIl-
son with the other German colonies in Africa.
for In 1895 only $50 whites. including very few
women. were living in German East Africa. SS
in Togo. and In 1896 there were only 23O
whites In the Cameroons: and yet IL has been
the fashion In Germany TO laud these colonies
and depreciate German Southwest Africa.
There are certainly good reasons why the more
southerly colony is forging ahead in spite of Its
evil reputation and u~npromising ASPECT.
Along nearly the whole stretch OF coast is a
belt OF sand. ten miles wide on an average. and
behind IL ls a zone OF barren rock-strewn
steppe from forty to fifty miles wide. 1t was
from these two worthless regions that the frst
notions Of Germany's new acquisition were
derived. and they gave it the evil repute that
has chung to the colony. But even the sand
zone where the wind heaps UP the dunes TO a
height Of 100 feet shows some small areas OF
large value. Here and there are guano de-
posits which will not soon be exhausted. The
deposits at Cape Cross. for instance. are esti-
mated to be worth $1,000. 900. The fertilizer
Is OF the best quality and is now being export
ed by the Damaraland Guano Company. None
OF the other German colonies has struck finds
OF such value in so small an area. Then the
fisheries and sealeries in the cool coast waters
are Of great value. These waters come In par!
from the Antarctic current that sweeps up the
coast. ana in part they spring from the cold
dopths Of the sea. They bring to the coast
these rich resources in animal life and also a
comparatively cool and healthful climate. the
only coast OF that character that Germany pos.
sesses in Africa. 1t is easy to see. II We think
a moment. why this coast is almost destitute
Of rain. 1t Is in the region OF the southeast
trade winds. where almost every breath OF all
blows toward and not from the Atlantic. Nj
the rainfall comes clear across Africa from the
Indian Ocean and most Of 1t is precipitateG
before 1t reaches the west coast.
It Is. however. the hinterland behind the sane
and stone wastes Of the coast that makes the
chief value Of the colony. and it took long tc
discover that after all there WAS sometime
worth having in this interior region OF noun
tain and plateau. The tableland rises to owe
5000 feet above the sea and the mountains t
a height Of 5000 and 1000 feet. 1t is to tn
more mountainous region back OF Walfsl
Bay that the larger part OF the immigrants ar,
going. In the valleys they find good soil. bu
as yet little has been done to tap the sources O
underground water. and as rainfall is insufh
cient to raise crops without irrigation excep
In Amboland. the northern district. which |
still chiefly In possession OF the natives. tn
white settlements ara found only around tn
springs where they may get water for thei
fields. Potatoes and other European vegeta
bles are raised and also sugarcane. Tobacco
and cotton. but tillage will ne Ter be the main
stay OF the colony, except in Amboland. Cattl
rnisinR will always be the main business. TIL
natives already have several hundred thou
sand head and the German explorers say tina
the greater part OF THE vast tahleland OF tn
interior may beco me one of the great cattl
producing regions NJ the.world whom the:graz
ing lands are supplemented by artificial wells
ponds and reservoirs. Nothing has yet beef
done in this direction. for the settlements hav
not yet taken up nearly all the land in the val
leys that is already available for grazing with
out artificial waterworks all the year round:o
a part OF the year. Last year. however, meas
ures were adopted for the Improvement OF tn
water supply by the construction Of dams.
Little has been done as yet TO develop tn
discoveries OF gold. copper and lead. whicl
promise an excellent mining future. The OK
ports thus far consist chiefly OF ostrich feath
ers, hides. horns, ivory and wool. Railroad
to connect the coast with the highlands ar
contemplated and must he provided before tn
interior settlements can develop to their fuI