Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-11-28

fact that the management and equip
ment are derived largely from Hol-
land. They are owned partly by the
Transvaal government and partly by
private parties. Passenger cars on this
line are about half the usual length
and mounted on four wheels. The
freight cars are largely Of steel, IN
which respect this unique line is fur.
ther advanced than the pretentious
railroads Of America. Many steel ties
are in use, and the stations, freight
sheds and engine houses are mostly
of brick or stone. Certainly there is
nothing about the roadway or equip
ment Of the Netherlands railways that
can be criticised, but many extraor-
binary stories are told about the man
agement.
1t is said TO be q regular thing to
have freight lost, damaged or stolen,
and it Is utterly impossible to get any
sort Of recompense or explanation. The
size Of a shipment is no guarantee
against loss. Several big steam boilers
have been lost between Delagoa Bay
and johannesburg, and every effort to
locate them was unsuccessful. Two
carloads Of lumber from Oregon dis
appeared between the same places,
and the consignee went to the railway
officials and claimed damages. They
took their own time in looking up the
matter and then told him that he had
not paid the freight, which amounted,
according to their method Of figuring,
to three times the value Of the lumber.
The unfortunate consignee had no re-
dress and finally and wisely let the
matter drop.
Where lost goods go to may be infer
red from q case which caused much
comment some little time ago. A re-
sponsible trafic official was accused Of
stealing chickens and other things In
transit over the line. He was defend
ed by the company's attorneys and re-
tanned in his position during trial. He
was not convicted. and the chickens
were never found. Whatever may be
said about the Netherlands railways,
however, 1t cannot be alleged that they
do not pay. The dividends have been
about 25 per cent year for some time,
amounting to from 5000 900 to S10,-
000,0 900 per annum. Enormous net
earnings are made in the face of large
expenditures for betterments and no
systematic efforts toward economy.
There are three routes from the coast
to the Transvaal. The shortest Of these
Is that from Delagoa Bay, beginning at
Lourenco Marques, passing 81 miles
across Portuguese territory, and end
ing at Pretoria, the capital Of the
Transvaal. The total length of this
line is 348 miles. The second shortest
route to the Transvaal is from Durham,
the capital Of the British colony Of
Natal. This line passes through Pieter-
maritzburg and runs northwest. skirt
ing the boundary line Of the Orange
Free State and passing through Jo-
hannesburg. The length Of this line
from Durham to Pretoria is 40 miles.
The third route is from Cape Colony,
one branch ending at Port Elizabeth
and another at Cape Town, the capital
of the Colony. By the Port Elizabeth
route the distance is 724 miles. To
Cape Town the distance from Pretoria
10 about 1,100 miles.
AL the South African railways have
q gauge Of 3 feet 6 inches. The Natal
road has the steepest grades and re-
quires heavy engines to draw trains
over the worst sections. Every few
hundred yards there is placed low
post with white arms pointing along
the track in opposite directions. On
one arm is usually marked the word
"levep' and ON the other the figures 81"
to ''30' or whatever ;he grade may be.
The whole line is laid out In these
short stretches of levels and sleeps.
The scenery in many parts of Natal is
strikingly picturesque, and the country
will some day be a tourist resort.
1t Is the material development of AZ
rica, however, in which the railways are
destined to figure most conspicuously,
and it is difficult to comprehend the
possibilities OF the conti-
nent. Rates are high on all African
railways, but 1t seems to make little
difference, as the traffic will bear it.
The officials and employees Of the
Netherlands railways are all Holland
ers or Boers, and none others need ap-
ply. The same spirit OF nationality
prevails on the English colonial lines,
where British blood Is more essential
than character and experience in get
ting and keeping good jobs.
CeCrr HoYT