Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-09-01
TRANSVhAL Aid WAR.
Expert Engineer Tells Of South
African Republics Affairs.
GRIEVANCES OF UITLANDERs.

vnnI. Describes the Conditions Tint
lie Thinks Nothing Short of War
Cnn Cure - Three Questions That
Engngc Diplomatic Attention.
j. W. Rcgan. an expert mining en-
glncer who for the past year and
half las been A!ahiu. s.. careful study
Of the mining and governmental condi-
tious of the Transvaal, is now in New
York city. The prospect of war with
England, MI Rcgau said recently 20
New York Times reporter, at the
time he left Johannesburg a few
weeks ago was, according to the ma
tive Beers, very slight. 1t was expect
ed by them that IA compromise would
be reached. The foreign element, how
ever, earnestly hoped that it will come,
for in it they see future prosperity.
american sympathy may he nat
urally with the young republic" said
Mr.. Ecgau, but republic as applied
to the Trnnsyaal, is missioner.
"Chior Justice Kotze. recently dcpos-
ed, told 'Oou Paul when asked about
a certain matter, that it WAS uuconsti-
tutional, wlercupou Dom paur
promptly cut oil his official head and
placed on the bench an Innocent old
individual named GrrErrorSEy, whose
idea Of the proper administration Of
justice was to be In line with the pres
ldent With the departure Of Kotze
there departed all hope Of justice upon
the part Of the u!tiaudcr
/ There are three questions that en-
/ gage diplomatic attention that of
franchise, probably the most impor-
taut; the question Of dynamite and the
/ railways.
Until quite recently man to hold
/ office must have resided in the Trans
| yaal for Ii years aud BE NJ the same
! time member Of the Dutch church.
The uitlandcrs, who have created the
wealth of the republic, are paying 80
! per cent Of the taxes and are practical-
/ ly without representation.
/ The uitlanders hope for reforms
through the franchise. Last prpS!den-
tial election, in the WitSwatcr Rand, in
which the censns shows a white pupu-
lation OF about $4,000 the returns
showed but 1903 votes east.
"Iu regard to dynamite. il has been
the policy of the government; 10 grant
/ an exclusive franchise 70 a Holland
and German syndicate to MAKO dyna-
/ mite, the Importation being Illegal
/ They demand for it ~ shiliugs ease.
An American firm offered 10 lay il
down in the TransvaaI in unlimited
/ quantities at 10 Shillugs case Of 30
pounds. The mining industry uses
about 100000 cases annually. That
means a loss Of $3.UuOUO0 to the miD-
ers. The profit is too low to warrant
working many low grade ore mines.
The Netherlands Halfway company
holds the exclusive right 10 build and
I construe~ railways and also to fix its
own rates. 1t charges from $ TO 10
cents per mile per ton for freight Most
Of the mining machinery IS brought
from Chicago. Tie haul from Yer
niguing to Johannesburg, distance Of
about 60 or 10 miles, Is more expensive
than the freight rates from Chicago TO
New York, about 900 miles.
There are about SS 600 blacks there.
They walk from 800 to 500 mikes TO
reach the mines. They are forced to
a l.i,tl Of II, ~ ',l,,y t,l
lar and wear It, in addition to paying
the government 30 cents Il month. II
they lose the dog collar or fail to pay
the monthly tax, they are usually given
/ 10 laSheS and imprisoned Il couple Of
months. The lash Is called Il SIAM
box, pronounced 'shambuck, and
there is no mule whip made half so
| severe.
"The goldiclds Of the Transvaal are
not found In rich deposits, as is
thought. but their value lies in the
great quantity Of low grade, free mill
ing ore, with an average Of 5000 ger
ton. The cost OF production is about 50
per ton. Capital is at present wary,
but if Englnnd succeeds in getting the
reforms. the big rushcs to the gold
fields of California in 1S49 and to Colo
RADIO later would be nothing in COM
parison. SO sure are the present mines
in their output that in England those
who have control Of trust money and
estates are investing in them.
"Although the Beers do not antici-
pate war, yet while on my way home
l spent several weeks in England. and
from what | could learn there, active
preparations are being made for war
with the Transvaal. 1t is the universal
opinion of those best posted and those
having Mt heart the best wishes for the
ultimate success of the Transvaal as a
republic. that nothing short Of war
with England will remedy the situa.
ton"