Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-05-27

Els miles. and to Pretoria 2so miles.
Between the Vaal and Pretoria, and
only 81 miles southwardly from the
Boer capital. lies the real bone of con-
tention-the gold mines of the Rand.
which have an output more than equal
ing that OF all other geld mines in the
world combined.
1t is only 16 years since gold was
found in South Africa. and 10 since the
first stamp mill was erected at johann
nesburg. and yet from the comparative-
~ small area so far exploited gold TO
the amount of nearly 500. 0o0. 900 has
been already taken out.
These mines belong 10 the uitlanders.
though at present III the clutches OF the
Beers. who have more than iutimated
that in event of the arrival OF the Brit
!sh army all will be destroyed Tho out
put of the Johannesburg mines can be
made to rise 81 100000 annually, and. II
the Beers are unmolested. they can de-
rive n revenue that VIII enable them to
continue their defense for many years
to come-in fact. So long as their cour-
age holds out. But 1t has been assert
ed. and as often denied. that the mines
are already charged with dynamite and
in case the British enter and take pos
grandest blaze of pyrotcchnics ever con
ceived by man.
Speculation is rife as to the pvohabil-
ity of the Beers doing this. for they
could gain nothing by it but revenge
and the satisfaction Of saddlins upon
tho foreign stockholders losses that
would be almost inoonceivahie. But
Kruger ana his burghers have already
shown that patriotism is above every
| thing i'm their estimation and freedom
more to them than gold or gems.
Thirty-seven miles beyond Johannes
burg. more than 1000 miles from Cape
Town. 51l miles from the British port
of Durham and $40 miles from the Por-
tuguese harbor of Delagoa Bay. lies
| the great objective OF all Lord Roberts
efforts-Pretoria. capital city of the
Transvaal. and the probable last Inn
portant stand OF the Beers. 1t has 81
population in time of peace of about
! >. 600. its streets are good. and it is
lighted by electricity and traversed by
surface cars. The most imposing build
ing is the house of parliament. which
cost 81, 900. 600. On the opposite side of
the central square on which it stands
are the law courts. likewise grand and
Of modern design. There are also pub
lie library. n market building erected at
cost of Sl50.000. n museum contain
| ing Il fine collection of African curios
and churches of various denominations.
From natural springs three miles dis
tant the city gets a never failing supply
of pure water and there is Il good sew
| erage system.
While the approach to Pretoria from
Johannesburg ana the south Is compar-
atively level, over Il vast and treeless
plateau. yet on the north. east and west
are rugged mountains, rising from 900
to COCO feet above the city thc general
level of which is 1890 feet above the
sea. The contiguous hills and adjacent
mountains have been fortified To the
/ limit OF engineering ingenuity. The
sides of the hills have Been scarped
their SUBMITS leveled and topped with
domes of masonry Rifle pits. bomb
proofs. intricate lines of Notifications
have been constructed everywhere. an
til there is not kopJe without it,
frowning cannon.
The best engineers OF Europe have
been for - years engaged in making
Pretoria rs nearly impreGnablc as pos
sble. and the result Is TO; all evident
at Il glance. for the main features have
been kept secret. More than $40. 000 00g
has admittedly been expended. and