The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-01-11
A TRIP TO PRETORIA.
How an American Found Things Look ing

l
 ing.
 During my recent trip through the
 rican republic. my attention was called
 to the destruction of wire fencing, For hundreds of miles the fences are l down and twisted so badly that they
 cannot be used again. The wooden
 posts have all been burned for cooking
 purposes and warmth, and as there Is but little wood in this country iron posts must be substituted. The govern
 ment must fence anew along the lines
 of railways, and the farmers in the in-
 terlor must fence also. Flowing was In progress, but the area Is limited as compared with former years, and there-
 fore no great demand for agricultural
 implements may be expected, 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 will continue to be imported. There was only three days supply of fresh meat in Johannesburg when left there. AL though the reoccupation of Johannes burg by the mining and business popu- lation can hardly be expected for at least three months preparations are be- ing made at the seaports, much ma chinery and goods are stored awaiting the time of shipment, and others are be- ing placed aboard The Boers who h, ous of getting to work, but several months must elapse before things settle down to a normal basis.
 The Imperial government is building railways from Pretoria and Johannes burg to the Orange river colony border, and engines and cars will be needed. Over one thousand freight cars have recently been ordered by the Cape CO., lonial railways. A new railway is be- ing built from Harrismith, in Cape Colony, to connect with the Orange River Colony railway, so that there will be two competing lines from the sea- ports in Cape Colony and Natal to Jo- breaking the monopoly of the Netherlands railway in the South African republic, with its two hundred 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 land culverts have been de- stroyed, with few exceptions, and tenn porary structures erected, and devia- | ions of tracks to reach the lower levels | were made. As a result a demand for | bridge material, such IS girders etc, | nay be expected. Electric and tele- graphic materials and supplies will also De wanted. Coal, machinery and and house building supplies will be needed
 I note that Lord Roberts has appoint d an advisory committed" for the purpose of assisting him in the opening )f Johannesburg to trade and com- nerce, to arrange for the return of the mining population in order that the nain industry of the Rand may resume operation, and to arrange for the mu- ieipal administration. The mines must be opened in order that the indus- ry upon which Johannesburg and 'outh Africa largely depend may be put n operation to support shopkeepers and he general population of such d city. ike all mining towns, Johannesburg ad it's full measure of undesirable in abitants, and it is a question if this 7ill be allowed to return.
 The supply of gold having been ex- austed, the resumption of mining will ring improvement in every department f trade. New enterprises will spring D and orders to the value of millions of ounds sterling will be placed in the ext two years. The manufacturers of ne United States will with effort, get ! leir share. { I found all the banks open in Johan- ! esburll and Pretoria, but, of course, ot doing much business. The stores z ere largely barricaded and the city , oked desolate In few months this