Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-10-26
Dealing with Commercial and In
dustrial Conditions Abroad.
The Present Conditions i'm South At
rica as Seen by n United States
Government mcial-Other
Interesting Items.

been ravaged by war. He says:
During my recent trip through the
Orange River colony and the South
African republic, my attention was
called to the destruction of wire fenc-
ing. For hundreds of miles the fences
are down and twisted SO badly that
they cannot be used again. The wood
en- posts have all been burned for cook
ing purposes and warmth, and, S there
is but little wood in this country, iron
posts must be substituted. The gov
eminent must fence anew along the
lines of railways and the farmers in
the interior must fence also. Flowing
was in progress, but the area is limited
as compared with former years, and.
therefore, no great demand for agri-
cultural implements may be expect
ed, although many have been allowed
to rust and go to ruin. The market for
cereals and products of the soil con-
tinue to be large. By March, 1901, a
renewal of the demand for farming ma
chinery may be looked for. Meat and
live stock will continue to be imported.
There was only three days supply of
fresh meat in johannesburg when I
left there. Although the reoccupation
VI ny thC
business population can hardly be eX-
pected for at least three months, prep
arations are being made at the sea-
ports. much machinery and goods are
stored, awaiting the time of shipment,
and orders are being placed abroad.
The Beers who have returned to their
homes are DESTROYS of getting to work,
but several months must elapse be-
fore things settle down to a normal
basis.
''The imperial government is build
ing railways from Pretoria and Johajn-
nesburg to the Orange River colony
border, and engines and cars will be
needed. Over 1000 freight cars have
been recently ordered by the Cape
colonial railways. A new railway is
being built from Harrismith, in Cape
Colony. to connect with the Orange
River Colony railway, so that there
will be two competing lines from the
seaports in Cape Colony and Natal to
Johannesburg, breaking the monop-
oily of the Netherlands railway in the
South African republic, with it's 900
per cent. profit per year. The new rail
| ways will provide sidings for all the
| mines in johannesburg, these being
very much needed. The bridges over
streams and culyerts have been de-
stroyed, with few exceptions, and tenn
porary structures erected, and devia-
lions of tracks to reach the lower lev
els were made. AS result, demand
for bridge material, such as girders.
ETC., may be expected. Electric and
telegraphic materials and supplies will
| also be wanted. Coal machinery and
household and house-building supplies
will be needed.
''The supply of gold having been ex-
| hausted, the resumption of mining
will bring improvement in every de-
| partment of trade. New enterprises
will spring up and orders to the value
| of millions of pounds sterling will be
placed in the next two years."
B. F. Brandt, an economic expert of
| Russia, who for some years past, at
| ~ the direction of the
Russian ministry of
finance, has carried
on scientific Investigations of that en-
| pire's natural resources, has lately pub
lished a book treating of the metal
lurgic and coal industries of Russia,
/
| in the south. He says:
| Previous to 1885, when the first mining en-
| terprise conducted by foreigners was es-
| tablished, all Russian attempts to exploit
| the iron ore deposits had proven failures
Since 1885, many foreign mining COM
panies IN rapid succession have begun OPP
erations very extensive scale. At
| present, II large foundries are success
| fully at work in southern Russia, only four
of which are owned by Russians. In the
| section 20 extensive eSta hliShmentS
| are working up iron: these have been or
| gained and are owned by foreigners. Ow-
| ing to this influx of outside capital and bust
| ness energy, the iron foundry industry has
| increased fivefold during the last decade.
Quite different is the situation in the
UraI district, where there is hardly any
| foreign capital engaged in mining opera
| lions. though this region has immense de-
| posits of the best quality metals and is rich
| in surface coal.
| A government commission sent to that
region some time ago to study the cause
| of this inertness attributes it to the lack
| of suitable transportation methods between
the iron and coal districts. The commission
| recommends that the government give up
its mining system to private companies,
| which are more apt to conduct mining &C
cording to modern and improved systems.
The above statement has already in
duced foreign promoters to erect a
number of new blasting furnaces and
| foundries in the Ural district, and it
is estimated that next years produc-
ton of foundry iron will reach 92S,000
| tons of 1000 each.
Belgium almost monopolizes the min
ing enterprises which foreigners own
and operate in Russia. Belgian capital,
amounting to over 1900, 900 is invest
ed in 43 mining and metallurgical com
panies operating in Russia.