Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-05-10
nInEnLE0NTEIN.
Interesting Facts Apropos of Gen. Robert
Triumulnl Entry.

Interesting Facts Apropos or ueh' n"po'''
Triumphal Entry.
London Fall Mall Gazette,
It seems now opportune to. give a
| short description of Bloemfontein,
with the geography of which our troops
| will shortly be familiar.
Bloemfoptein, the capital OF the
| Orange Free State, is situated on the
great trunk line Of raj from Cane Town
to Pretoi ia, and is $50 miles distant
from the former.
sNThe fountain Of flowers Bloom.
| fonteIn) is a quiet, English looking
town. bosomed in green trees, and nest
ling under the shadow of small rocky
eminence, surrounded by low hills,
rising 70 an elevation Of only $50 feet.
1t is yeritable oasis of green in
a wilderness Of wide sweeping plains,
stretching away westward to the far-otf
| plains of Southern Bechuanaland and
the dreary Kalahari Desert.
Bloemfontein is really the only town
of any importance In the Free State,
though its population numbers but
5000, of whom 1900 are whites. 1t
has an air of Arcad;an simplicity, duo
to the primitive habits Of the surround
| ing farming element, and though o
PROSPEROUS center, has never developed
any of the features Of modern civiliza.
| ton.
The town is laid out in the usual
| Dutch square formation, with the
market place in the center, and on a
| hill to the south is Bloemfontein' only
fort, strangely enough built by US In
days gone by IN 1897 its armament was
restricted to couple of Maxim guns
The public buildings are very hand
some, and mostly built of white free
stone, plentiful in the neighborhood,
and red brick, The finest of these in
| the Raadzaal, or House of Parliament,
erected during the last few years. 1t
boasts domed tower, Doric columns,
and cost $50, 900. Ii is most tastefully
furnished, and hears comparison with
any similar building in our own
colonies. The old Raadzaal is now oc
cupied by the various government de-
partments, and is well-built editice
OF two stories.
The religious element is strong in
Bloemfontein. There are several Dutcl,
Reformed churches. the principal oil
which has two spires, while the Protest
ant Episcopalians and the Roman
Catholics each possess cathedral. The
Wesleyans, too, are in great force, as
in the case throughout our possessions
in South Africa. ...
The Orange Free State capital is o
great educational center, and has fine
college presented bya Sir George Grey,
and know as the Grey College. The
town hall and post and telegraph Offices
are pleasing and substantial buildings,
and beyond the old Raadzaal on 9
gentle slope is the fashionable residen.
tial quarter. with pretty villas peepiEe
out amid foliage. Unlike the rGsidency
at Pretoria, President Steyn's house ii
q very imposing structure of white
stone, which cost 916,000.
The English element in Bloemfonleir
is very considerable, many Of the resi-
dents being attracted by its reputation
as q health resort for those suffering
from pulmonary complaints. In spit,
of the tiresome journey by coacf
previous to the opening of the railwa,
health seekers for many years past
Standing as it does 4, 5lS feet above SOL
level, its climate is bracing and th,
winter is dry and severe.
Bloemfontein's water supply is a
| preSent uerlfeu Iou luo louubhlu, VIII
large reserve supply in dams, and II
1888 scheme was suggested for supply
ing the town from the Modder Rive
at an estimated cost of $50, 600.
, Bloemfontein supports no fewer thai
four newspapers, of which the chief i
the Friend Of the Free State. There ar
several hotels and boarding houses, bu
living is dear despite the simplicity o
the inhabitants, and domestic labor |
very hard indeed to obtain.
THE district of which Bloemfonteil
, is the center is the most important il
the Orange Free State, and include
Bloemfontein and the villages of Red
dersburg, Brandfort. Bethany an,
Dewetsdorp. Bloemfontein itself is 0
| miles from Kimberley, l05 miles iron
Colesberg, 400 miles from Durham an,
440 miles from Port Elizabeth.