Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-19
Impressions of Consul General Stowe
Of Cape Town.
GOODS MAKE THEIR WAY
GIimpses of Cities in the Trans
vaaI.
GREAT STOCKS CARRIED

Africa gives special interest to report
from Consul General Stowe at Cape Town
to the State Department, giving details Of
trip he has made to Pretoria and Jo-
hannesberg in the Transvaal. to the KIM
berley diamond mines and through the Or
ange Free State. His report is most graft
flying in showing that American goods are
In use every hand, the railroads, mines,
farms and houses being equipped with
American products He says also that
American citizens hold many of the leading
positions.
Tine city of Kimberley is 647 miles from
Cape Town-a ride of two days and one
night he says. ut has population of
$4,000 and the greatest diamond mines of
the world. The United States is represented
here by consular agent-Mr. Gardner F..
Williams, who is the general manager of
the mines. l was pleased 10 learn that
many of tn most responsible positions are
held by Americans.
American Machinery Used.
II was not at all surprised to see Ameri-
can machinery here. The immense driving
gear of a pumping engine made in England
had to be sent to Chicago to have cogs cut.
The company is operating an ice plant sent
from Chicago and has three more ordered,
each with a capacity of five tons per day
and 10000 cubic feet of cold storage; and a
complete dynamite plant, with an American
to manage it, is on it's way here from Amer
lea. The 100 miles of narrow gauge railroad
in and around the mines are laid with
American rails, and every tie or sleeper is
made of California redwood, which in this
country is par excellence the best wood for
such a purpose. 1t is also used in many
other ways Three ships from California
have recently arrived with cargoes of the
redwood and Oregon pine. The company
sells it's ice for half cent per pound to ALL
while in Cane Town the Charga is 1 cents
per pound.
"All the water used in and about the city
flows through pipes made in the United
States. l was pulled to Kimberley by an
American locomotive, and there are several
others now in use in Cape Colony. On the
narrow-gauge railroad are thousands of
trucks made of plate iron and holding
about a ton of rock each, pulled in trains
by small engines or by overhead cables
These trucks ought to be made in the
United States and the tenders competed
for.
kimberley and its mines are good Gus
toners of the United States, but ought
to have still more of the trade, and espe-
cally in galvanized corrugated sheet iron
which throughout all South Africa is used
extensively. All the immense buildings of
the mines in Kimberley and Johannesburg
are composed of it, as well as thousands of
dwelling houses barns, warehouses. fences,
etc. The large merchants in all the cities
carry stocks of various lengths. 1t comes
packed in bundles of twelve sheets, with
thick felt between the ends of each sheet
all held together by iron bands.
The Orange Free State.
Leaving Kimberley, a ride of 167 miles
brings one to the borders of the Orange
Free State. Passing through the Orange
Free State to the borders of the South Afri-
can republic a distance of 334 miles, one
sees nothing but the same monotonous land
scape; but more and better farming is no.
ticed and the crops are more diversified. A
large number of American agricultural i'm
plements is sold here through Cape Town
houses; in fact, a great proportion of all
mercha ndise sold throughout South Africa
comes by the large mercantile houses In
Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London
and Durham, who have travellers all over
South Africa. The Orange Free State is
prosperous, though much land is idle. The
people. principally Dutch, welcome all COM
ers, and a residence of only a few years
will admit to citizenship.
The South African Republic
"On the border of the South African re-
public We're held five hours for the ex-
animation Of baggage. We then took the
train of the Netherlands railway, which is
owned, 1t Is said. by Hollanders, and pro-
ceeded to Pretoria, a distance of seventy
seven miles. Pretoria is the capital of the
republic, a small city among hills regularly
laid out, with several handsome public
ter.
The next day I reached Johannesburg
by the Netherlands railway. / never rode
over better roadbed or in more comfort
able cars. They are equipped with all
modern conveniences, and the dining cars
reminded me of home. The cars are all of
iron, even the covering and sides, and in
warm weather, am told, are like a fur
mace; but no better railway equipment as
whole can be found anywhere. Johannes
burg is busy, busting city-the only real
city III South Africa from the standpoint
OF an American. The buildings would do
credit to any city. The streets are wide,
but the motive power of the street rail-
ways consists of horses and mules and as
the Beers believe that the substitution of
other power would stop the sale of forage
and horses, the government will not grant
concession. OF course, an electric road
would open up new territory. Electric lines
should also be built in Kimberley, East
London and Durham The horse cars still
run in these cities, and the length of the
present roads is great.
Johannesburg has been built up by the
gold mining industry, developed by foreign
capital, and American ability has had a
hand in the development for Americans
occupy The very necessary and responsible
positions of managers, consulting engi-
Eeers and superintendent; and 1 was glad
to learn that their ability was recognized
by other countries. Mr.. j. C. Manion the
United States consular agent at Johannes
burg is one of the prominent citizens He
mas Deen the means OF introducing mining
machinery and supplies of all kinds Of
American manufacture, to the value of
millions of dollars.
Durham Winter Resort.
Durham, Natal, is twenty-four hours
ride from Johannesburg, which city 1 left
wearing an overcoat, but at Durham found
warm weather and an abundance of fruit
and flowers. This is a winter resort and
at present the hotels are full of people
from the Transvaal. Durham carries at
present the largest tonnage to the Trans.
vaal, but the value of goods imported via
Cape Town is the highest
Il spent several days in Durham, calling
on the merchants, talking trade and com
pairing prices. One of them said to me: I
recently ordered five tons of hoop iron of
an English manufacturer. After the order
had gone forward, one of your American
statesmen came along and made me price
so per ton less, and gave him an order
for five tons and then tried to have the
English order Cancelled, but the English
house refused, and in their reply stated
that mo one could make and guarantee a
first-class article at the price named and
a test would prove it, When the iron ar
rived tested both, and the American was
several per cent the best
Immense Stocks Carried.
Il could fill several sheets with just such
rrra a<lN1 In rN1A