The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-14
BY RAIL ACROSS SAHARA
Important Improvement Projected by
the French Government.

After Drawing savage tribes and the
horrors OF the desert, the French
Foureau-Lamy. the object of which was
to make d preliminary survey for a rail-
way through the traelsless Sahara, has
reached Air in safety According to the
lates project the trans-Sahara railway
WILL run southeast from Alglers, or
Oran, near the Morocco border, but
southeast utilizing the line from Phil
Ippevile. which runs along the border
of Tunis to Biskra. Biskra Is well
known as a resort for consumptves, lying
at the end of the Atlas Mountains.
The real desert railway says the New
York Herald, Will run from Biskra 10
Tugurt and Wargla, and then almost
due south through the absolutely ard
desert region in the valley Of the dried
up WadI-lgharghar, over the Ttmmo
Mountains. and less important GASES, TO
the group Of cases. Air. Thence il Will
be extended by branch lines TO Lake
Tchad and the Niger. The length Of the
railway through the desert is at least
1850 miles.
The building Of a railway through such
a country where there IS no water, and
the workmen must be transported daily
on the rails just as they are laid. IS
both a dangerous and an expensive un-
dertaking, as was well proved in the
building Of the trans-Caspian railway;
but. on the other hand, the cost Of con-
struction will be greatly reduced because
in the desert no right Of way need be
purchased.
For instance. the railway extending
80 miles from the South Tunisian port.
Sfax. to the phosphate works In Gafso. IN
Southwestern Tunis, although IL ran
a-t TfnN Z
mile. including all material, and yet
il carries at least 100000 tons Of Dhos-
phate a year. -,
miles Of railway Of the trans-Sahara
railroad from Biskra to Air, exclusive
of the branches 70 Lake Tchad and the
Niger. Will be only S6O00,00O. The
securing Of this sum at per cent. In
Paris will be very easy when II IS con-
sjdered how greatly this enterprise viii
add to the value OF the French colonies
in Africa. This railway will actually
put France in possession OF coherent
system OF African colonies such as she
has never had.
Regarded as whole. the Sahara
railway is one OF the finest greatest
and richest projects IN economic and
political results that has ever been con-
ceived When finally completed il Will
reflect no small credit upon the engineer
ing skill and enterprise Of its projectors
and supporters-the French nation. Tho
extent of the French possessions IN
Africa is little recognized. According
to the latest agreements the whole REGION
west of Tongaland, including the basins
Of the Niger and Senegal. Is French, and
all of the territory embraced I'm the
northern bend of the Niger This is
known as the French Soudan. with the
exception of the most westerly portion,
Senegambia.
Like the Niger territories. this region
IS densely populated and capable OF
great commercial DEVELOPMENT. The
French Sahara probably covers 100000
square miles, and senegambia and the
French Soudan close on half a million
square miles. Further south, on the equa-
tor. the French Congo extends from the
coast along the north side OF the Congo
river, north TO Lake Tchad, and east to
the water parting between the Nile and
the Congo. These limits. by arrangements
between France. Germany and the Congo
Free State, are beyond dispute. They in
Guide an area Of $50 600 square miles. The
acknowledged claims of France In Africa
give her the enormous area OF 100000
square miles.