New-York tribune., 1900-04-01

clear the river Of these vegetable distractions
which not only check the passage OF vessels
but an enormous diminution of the vol
ume of water which Egyot would otherwise
receive from the flow of the great river that
makes its prosperity.
ECONOMIC QUESTIONS INVOLVED
The military problem being for the moment in
abeyance, though can say when some
native tribe may not create disturbances that
will need TO be repressed by force ii is the eco
nomic questions connected with the Nile Valley
that now recur 10 minds. What are these
territories worth. and what can be done with
them? They differ very much in value. Round
khartoum itself and for good long way 10 the
west Of II, the country is so dry that crops can
be raised only by irrigation from the river. Just
as in Nubia and Egypt Large tracts-indeed
most of kordofan-are described being Writ
ually desert. Further the southwest in
the district of the regular equatorial rains the
land is more productive and consequently better
peopled while TO the east and south of Fashoda
the country lying between the Nile and the from
tiers of Abyssinia, and stretching south 10 Lake
Rudolph, is believed 10 be- for 1t mostly
explored, very arid and incapable of improve
ment. Along the Nile there is of course. plenty
or water 70 be had from the river. but the level
plain which borders the stream is swanlpy and
malarious. The poverty Of the land keeps the
population small in proportion 10 the area. while
round and west of Khartoum the savage rule OF
the Mahdi and his successors. with the practice
of slave raidng had almost externinated llanv
Of the tribes. Accordingly. the people
too few To cultivate the land available.
which might quickly be made available. for cul-
tivatiOn. What minerals there may be is yet
scarcely Known but the character or the rocks
does not so far seem promising. The climate is
too dry for large forests. and hitherto the trade
OF the country has consisted chiefly in ostrich
feathers, gums. kinds of rare wood
and ivory. The supply of this last article has
greatly decreased with the reduction in the
number of wild elephants. and IL will probably
soon altogether vanish. Cotton and many other
tropical crops, including the tropical cereals,
might doubtless he raised. there any near
market or We're there any cheap 10 the
sea But the populati is too small to create a
market, and there means OF cOmmuniCa-
ton except the river-whose navigation is diff
cult and interrupted (below Khartouml by rap
ns-and camel caravans. The nearest port Is
Suakim. on the Red Sea, separated by a desert
OF TWO hundred and fifty miles from the Nile at
Berber
THE MARKET PROSPECTS OF THE sOUDAN
Such being the internal resources Of the coun- /
try. what prospect does It offer as a possible
market for British goods? Evidently a slender
one. The inhabitants few. they are poor |
they have hardly any wants beyond food and
strips OF cotton cloth 10 wrap round
them. and they have hardly any products where
with 10 pay for the satisfaction OF their wants
In time. and under wise and peace upholdinS !
government they will increase in number |
They will acquire habits OF industry. Railways /
will be made. and irrigation works will bring
millions OF under tiliage But this must /
require either long lapse OF time else the !
expenditure Of vast sums OF money 10 clear the
river 10 construct irrigation canals. 20 build /
railways. AT present the prospect is not suffi- /
cently attractive 10 draw in private European
capital England Will not spend her own public [
money. least OF all now. when she has costly /
war 10 pay for Egypt, hampered as her fnan-
cial arrangements are by the control OF the Eu-
ropean Powers. cannot spare much out Of her
revenues.
There is therefore little reason 20 expect any
great industrial or commercial development IN
these regions for long while come; certainly [
much less than that OF which tropical islands /
like the Philippines susceptible. on the |
other hand. the political conditions are at
present disquieting. Abyssna Is always a
doubtful factor. especially as Russia Is believed
20 have still some influence there. But the over
throw OF Mahdism has for the time discouraged |
Mussulnan fanaticism. and the tribes OF the /
upper Nile Valley far less warlike than the /
Bugwaras who followed the MahdL Perhaps. |
therefore, the chief political Importance which /
the acquisition Of the Soudan for the moment
possesses il 10 be found In the fact that II has
fastened the English down In Egypt more hrnly
than ever before. And their position IN Egypt
ID a very significant part OF tho game or gen
eral European politics
Io0ooo, GSNl&U6-