Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-01-18
SHY ENGl|SHMEN
WAIT FOR AMERICANS TO TEST
LONDON TUNNELS.
AFRAID TO INVEST HEAVILY,
Criticism of War Department in Not
Using 1idian Troops for
Africa.

New York. Jan. 1s.-A despatch to the
tribune from London says
The details Of the purchase of the
Baker street and Waterloo railway by
syndicate of Chicago and Cleveland
capitalists, headed by ex-Congressman
johnson, are drawn mainly from out
siders who have refused to buy the pro-
jected line and are not considered
worthy. The property has evidently
been hawked about and the transactions
are not closed. The passage of a second
metropolitan transit scheme under the
control of American capitalists is re-
sarded with Indifference by investors
here. The transit problem is so complex
and the cost of construction of the var.-
Gus deep level enterprises is so heavy
that the assistance of American engi-
nters and capitalists is Welcomed While
the metropolitan and district railways
have been driven by competition to sub
stitute electric traction for steam, it is
not yet certain that the operation of
electric railways at deep levels is profit
able or that radical changes in the sys-
TEN of hauling trains may not be
requisite. The traction SYSTEM both the
central and London and Waterloo and
city, may be considered tentative, sine"
the strain upon rolling stock and per-
hlanent way is excessive, and the eN-
rense of repairs from wear are ln-
usually heavy. English investors are
not yet convinced that electric railways
are good paying properties and are will
ing to have AAmerican capitalists take
as lareg share of the risk as they like.
Although English public opinion is
steadily veering round toward the view
taken in America on the Nicaragua canal
question, there is no getting away from
the fact that Senator Morgan's pro-
posals are not reished in this country.
The Post admits the value of the inter-
oceanic canal for the commerce of the
United States and thinks that the mat
ter might have been arranged long ago,
as foreign countries would readily con-
cede to America a predominant voice
in the settlement of the question. This
paper. however, which caters especially
for the aristOcratic classes, finds fault
with the American system of dealing
with international questions.
Recruiting for the yeOmanry required
for service in South Africa, has started
off actively and 5000 men will be easily
obtained at five shillings per diem for
any period. This force of good riders
ana IldIkSutell II precisely w nat Is ICcu-
ed for the fox hunting now going on in
the Dutch territories. but complaint is
made by military that the call for volun-
teers ought to have been made a long
time before the yeomanry is recruited,
properly horsed and ready to embarl,
TO- the Cape. Foresight has not been a
characteristic trait of the present gov
eminent in ordering the details of the
campaign. Military critics cannot I'M
delstand Why the 10000 seasoned troops
ROW in India have not been ordered to
South Africa to take the places of war
worn and exhausted battalions. An eX-
change of this kind could easily be eff
fected and would not be expensive. The
air is fun of criticism that the elections
Were ordered in good time.