Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1899-08-17
COUNTY OFFICIAL PAPER.
THURSDAY. AUGUST II. 1899
ENGLAND AND THE rRANsvAAL.

the verge OF war, Soldiers are being
hurried from England to crush the
spunky little nation and Dom Paul Is
preparing to give them a warm re-
ception. Unless the Boer authorities
concede the demands of England that
Joint inquiry be made into the
status of the outlanders, chiefly Eng.
ishmen and Americans, particularly
regarding their right to q voice in
the government, war is sure to come.
The following from an Eastern ex-
change gives an interesting account
of the people of the Transvaal, it's re-
sources and the troubles that have
caused the strained relations now ex-
isting between it and England:
The population of the Transvaal
consists chiefly of native Africans,
but the government of course, ia in
the lands OF the Beers, or descend
ants of the Dutch settlers in that
country. According to the census of
1896 there we're 245, 1897 whites and
G22,5OO blacks in the country. OF the
whites, 137,947 are males, and Of this
number about two-thirds are outsid-
crs or, DIS they are called, uitlanders
or Outianders. Pretoria is the cap.
ital, but Johannesburg, at the heart
Of the great Witwatersrand gold
fields, is the largest town.
The Beers or governing class are
chiefly agriculturists. They love the
soil and care little for developing the
vast wealth in the precious metals of
their country. That is principally
done by the outlanders, who are
heavily taxed, particularly in the ex-
plosives used in mining, without hay
ing any voice i'll the government and
while they are subjected to many
disabilities.
The revenues of the republic in
1897, according to an article in the
Chicago Times-H erald, we're S22, O0O,-
900 and the expenditures about S2l,-
100000. The tax on explosives alone
amounted to $1,500,OOO. During the
past three years the Boer government
has been preparing for war, securing
among other things more than 81. $780,
600 worth Of ammunition. The pub
lie debt OF the republic is a little
over S11.00O,OOO.
The President Of the republic, Paul
Kruger, is q man of remarkable force
OF character and statesmanlike abili-
ties. He has all the sturdiness of his
race combined with simplicity of life
and undaunted courage. The Beers
themselves went into the African will
derness and created a civilized state
far from the great world, surrounded
only by the savage natives and the
primeval wilds Of that distant land.
They wished to live in peace, unmo-
Tested by the strife, the ambition and
cupidity OF their fellow men, content
to cultivate the soil and enjoy the
fruits OF their industry and frugality.
But in IN evil hour for them gold was
discovered in fabulous quantities
within their domain and the usual
rush OF treasure seekers followed.
In 1884 the gold found there amount
ed to only $4,000. In 1891 the pro.
duct was worth S14,444.444; in 1893,
$25,0O0,0O0; in 1897, S6O,OOO,GOO, and
in 1893, S8O,OOoOOO.
With the appearance Of adventur.
ors, mostly from America and Eng.
land to secure tho treasure OF the
mincs, the troubles Of tho Beers be-
gan They saw the danger that their
little state you'd be swamped by
aliens and began to hedge themselves
about with restrictive and crescrin-
tive laws. They made tho acouisition
OF citizenship almost impossible and
instituted oppressive measures with
the view TO discouraging the tide o,
invasion which had set in uuon tbon,
Naturally the outsiders grew roc.
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