Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-10


thing that draws the outlander into the
| Transvaal country.
The Gold Mines.
| In 1884 England had substantially aban'
doned all interests in the republic. About
1885 gold in large deposits was discovered
in tho heart of the Transvaal country
Then came a rush Of outlanders to the gold
mines
In 1889 the gold output had risen to over
| $7,oOO,OOO in 1894 it was about $37 600, 600;
| in 1895, $4,000 coo; in 1896, $57 COO 600; in
| 1898, $4,000 600. The figures are inside Of
| those given by DR.. Englenberg of Pretoria.
To an unusual extent the gold mining in
| that region is the work not of individuals
nor associations of limited means, but Of
great stock companies organized in Eng
/ land, the stock being largely owned by
wealthy and, politically speaking, intiuentiai
Englishmen. 1t is also true that German
and French capitalists are large stockhold-
ers in some of these companies.
Johannesburg.
In 1885 Johannesburg was an insignificant
hamlet, situated about twenty-five miles
south of Pretoria the capital of the Trans
vaai 1t found itself in the center of the
gold bearing ground and rapidly grew in
population until its inhabitants largely out
numbered the 10000 Beers who peopled the
republic. That population is comprised of
about oEe-half Englishmen, the remaining
half being drawn from all nations and
countries. 1t may fairly be considered as
mining town of the type SO familiar to us
on this continent, due allowance being made
for its age. The inhabitants included a
large proportion Of restless, rowing spirits,
not lacking in intelligence and energy, nor
Oyer-GupQlied with respect for the rights of
: Trl4 ~
to ooll upon the Beer farmers OF the Vc'dt
as ignorant antquated and stupid. 1t CALLED
them to be ruled by such a people. Being
the richest by far they paid most Of the
taxes constituting the republics revenues
and still were given no vote as to the dis
position of The public funds That irri-
tGted them, The irritation was not allayed
when they saw their money, instead Of be-
ing expended ON public improvements in the
/ city used IN the construction Of military
posts about it, and commanding it's streets
The guns we're pointed in, not outward.
From discussions in clubs the discomfort
soon passed to military plans to overthrow
the government and in its place erect new
one under British protection. The out
landers provided Themselves with arms and
organized themselves for a revolution. They
arranged for help from the outside.
The Jameson Ruid.
In December 1895, an armed force Of 500
men, for the NEST part on the payrolls Of
Cecil Rhodes British syuth African COM
pEny, invaded the Tranayaa They We're lei
by the companys administrator, They bore
the British flag. They were principally Off
cerei by men holding, or having held, COM
missions in her majeaty's army Their OBJ
jectiye was johannesburg. 1t was agreed
that upon their arrival there the johannes
burgers would rise ana join them But they
proceeded only a short distance before they
we're met and easily defeated by the Beers
and a few days later the Johannesburgers
leid down their arms, II was charged that
members OF the British government knew Of
and did not oppose The plans for the i'm
yPsion, and there are strong reasons for be-
lieylng the charge ia true.
The Canc-to- -Cairo Factor.
Ccineidout but Of course disconnected
with the development Of the gold mines,
came the inspiration and development Of the
idea Of a British empire in Africa. Eng
land holds colonies in South Africa, large ter
ritOrial claims in equatorial Africa and the
control OF the best portion Of northern AlrlcA
including the rich Nile valley, reaching down
almog. 10 the equator. France and Germany
are struggling to increase their holdings
in the same continent National land
grabbing Is here IN fun swing Some Eng
lishmen dream OF vast confederation Of