The evening times., 1900-10-03
SOUTH AFRICAN CONDITIONS.
Consul General stowe Sends Re-
port to the State Departments.

!
Consul General stowe Sends Re-
port to the State Department..
Consul General, ]. G. Stowe, at Cape
Town. has Forwarded a lengthy report
to the State Department on the indus
trial condition in South Africa. The re-
port, in part. is as follows:
During my recent trip through the
Orange River Colony and the South
african Republic, my attention was call
ed TO the destruction of wire fencing.
For hundreds of miles the fences are
down and twisted so badly that they
cannot be used again. The wooden pests
have all been burned for cooking pur-
poses and warmth. and. as there is but
little wood IN this country. iron posts
must be substituted. The Government
must fence anew along the lines of rail-
ways and the farmers in the interior
must fence also.
PloWlng was in progress. but the area
Is limited as compared >>With former
years, and, therefore, no great demand
for agricultural implements may be ex-
pected. although many have been allowed
TO rust and go to ruin The market for
cereals and products OF the soil will
continue to be large. By March, 1901,
renewal Of the demand for farming
machinery may be looked for. Meat
and live stock VIII continue to be i'm
ported. There was only three days
supply of fresh meat IN Johannesburg
when l left there. Although the reoc
cupation of Johannesburg by the mining
and business population can hardly be
expected for at least three months.
preparations are being made at the sea-
ports. much machinery and good are
stored awaiting the time of shipment,
and orders are being placed abroad.
Beers hay eft IN hai
homes are desirous of getting to work,
but several months must elaspe before
things settle down to normal basis.
The Imperial Government is building
railways from Pretoria and Johannesburg
to the Orange River Coloney border, and
engines and cars will be needed. Over
one thousand freight cars have been re-
Gently ordered By the Cape colonial rail-
ways. a new railway is being built from
Harrismith in Cape Colony to connect
with the Orange River Colony Railway, SO
that there win be two competing lines
from the seaports in Cape Colony and Ma
tai to Johannesburg. breaking the mo-
nopoly OF the Netherlands Railway in the
South African Republic, with its 200 per
cent profit per year. The new railways
will provide sidings for all the mines in
johannesburg, these being very much
needed. The bridges over streams and
cufverts have been destroyed with few
exceptions. and temporary structures
erected, and deviations of tracks to reach
the lower levels were made. AS result
demand for bridge material such as
girders. etc. may be expected. Electric
and telegra phic materials and supplies
VIII also be wanted Coal machinery and
household and house building supplies
will be needed
Il note that Lord Roberts has appoint
ed an advisory committee for the pur-
johannesburg to trade and commerce; to
arrange for the return of the mining popu-
lation in order that the main industry of
the Rand may resume operation; and to
arrange for the municipal adminfStra ton.
The mines must be opened in order that
the industry upon which Johannesburg
and South Africa largely depend may be
put in operation to support shopkeepers
and the general population of such city.
Like all mining towns. Johannesburg had
its fun measure Of undesirable ilhabit-
ants, and it is a question if this element
will be allowed 20 return.
THE supply of gold having been ax-
hausted, the resumption OF mining Will
bring Improvement in every department of
trade. New enterprises will spring up and
orders to the value of millions of pounds
sterling viii be placed in the next two
years. The manufacturers of the United
States viii. with effort, get their share.
Il found all the banks open in Johan-
nesburg and Pretoria, but. Of course. not
doing much business The stores were
largely barricaded and the city looked
desolate- In a few months this beautiful
city, the greatest gold mining locality in
the world. will commence a new era. But
little damage has been done to property.
The mines are in good condition and are
being pumped.
4 trust that our manufacturers and
producers who desire TO export will take
advantage of the openings in South Afri-
ca. We dc not want exhibitions of Ameri-
can products or elaborate catalogues or
price lists; we want hustlars such as
the Unite States produces-men to com q
and study the market. ascertain its
needs and wants and bring samples with
them. South Africa is an importing coun-
try, and it has gold and diamonds and
copper to pay for its purchases
In the United States, the daily paper
is the best medium Of advertising. and, as
there are no trade papers published here
as al home, the daily Or weekly papers
would be a good medium by which to bring
our products to the attention of the con-
sumeTs.