New-York tribune., 1902-05-12
THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFRICA.
COMMERCIAL IMPORTANCE OF THE DARK
CONTINENT

CONTINENT
Washington, May II (SpeciaD.-'Commercial
Africa in 1901" is the title of a monograph which
will be published by the Treasury Bureau of Sta
ustfcs in its forthcoming issue of the monthly sum-
mary. 1t presents an elaborate study of the pres
ent commercial conditions in Africa, the growing
demands OF that great continent, and the market
offered for American goods in it's various sections
AFRICA occupies fourth place in the list of the
grand divisions of the world in its consuming power
In relation 10 International commerce, the imports
Of the grand divisions being the latest available
date in round figures Europe. $500 900 600: North
America 600 O00 Asa $500 900 900; Africa $3.50
COo00; South America. s375.O00 900. and Oceania
sS5 OF this total of 81 600 the United
states supplies per cent in the of Africa 10
per cent Of the imports of South America 10 per
cent OF those of Asia and Oceana II per cent Of
those of Europe and 40 per cent of the imports of
North American countries exclusive of the United
States
Within the memory of this generation the name
Of Africa was the synonyme for mystery. both to
history and condition. Physically. the African
continent is in many respects unique Five thou
sand miles in extreme length and more than four
thousand miles il breadth. its is greater than
that Of any other continent except Asia the latest
estimate being llS7600 square miles and its popu-
lation variously estimated at from 125O0OOo0 TO
175o"o,ooo. Its coast formation is peculiar in the
absence Of deep indentations. bays or harbors and
the small number of waterways which offer en-
trance 10 its interior The fact that the greater
part Of the interior is elevated tableand ex-
tending on all sides to within a short distance Of
the coast renders access to the interior by the few
large streams difficult. 1t the points where the
rivers pass from the elevated plateau of the in
terror to the lowands of the coast the falls or
rapids which there exist prevent navigation and
result travel to the interior by water developed
more slowly in Africa than in any other continent
When these conditions clearly established
however and
means of transporting steamers in small pieces
upon the backs of men through the forests around
the falls and rapids for scores and even hundreds
Of miles and putting them together set afioat the
steamers which penetrate thousands of miles into
the interior and develop facts never before known
which could not have been developed by land ex-
ploration in the tropical climates and jungles for
many generations.
Africa has within the last few years become the
"hinterIand" of Europe Seven European nations
now control territories in Africa, Of them hav-
ing areas equal in each to about the entire
land area Of the United States, while a few small
territories remain independent States Begin
ming at the northeast Egypt and Tripoli are nomi-
nally at least tributaries of Turkey, though the
Egyptian Government, which was given large lati-
tude by that of Turkey, has of late years formed
such relations with Great Britain that. In financial
matters at least, her guidance is recognized;
west, Algeria. French; then Morocco on the ex-
treme northwest independent government and
an absolute despotism: next, on the SOUTH Spain's
territory Rio de QIo; then the Senegal territories
the Sahara Desert with her ageTa be5 poP
OF small divisions controlled by England, along the
Togoland. controlled by the Germans; Dahomey, a
French protectorate the Niger territory one-third
land; CAMERON, controlled by Germany; French
auspices Of the King Of Belgium, and occupying the
very heart Of equatorial africa; then Portuguese
finally, in the march down the Atlantic side. Cape
Colony British; Following up the eastern side
Africa and west of this the great territory known
as .Rhodesa"; then German Africa, which ex
tends almost to the equator; north Of these British
East Africa, fronting on the Indian Ocean, and
which was recovered from the Mahd by the joint
operation OF British and Egyptian troops. and the
next north, upon the coast, Italian territory and
small tract opposite the entrance to the Red Sea
west OF the entrance to the Red Sea, the inde-
pendent kingdom of .Abyssinia
Commercially. the development of Africa keeps
pace with its devel9pment in transportation min
offers method Of prompt and inexpensive trans
portation, or wherever the presence of valuable
merce quickly develops. The business of ports ad-
ob fr 70 the & gFeat ah9 q goq % mines & o
years. The imports of Cape Colony, through which
passes a large proportion of the merchandise for
grown from SIS 100000 in 1894 to slOOOOOOOO in 1900
siderable quantity of goods in transit for the in
terror have likewise Increased considerably, and
sderably nearer to the gold and diamond mines
marked increase the Importation of goods in
transit for the gold fields in 1897 at Portuguese
ports alone having been about S15 00O000 in value
The total foreign commerce of Africa is esti-
mated al $7000O00OO of which about s4300000O0 rep
imports and s270O000 900 exports. OF the
ports, especially those from the south. large
share is gold and diamonds in the tropical regions
ivory. rubber palm nuts and gums; in the north
the exports are chiefly products of agriculture cot
ton, coffee cacao, spices. dates. etc
OF the total recorded imports into Africa I'm the
latest available year. aggregating 900, Sl5
$500 In British territory. s92 004 900 into
French territory s77,7S7o o01 into Turkish territory,
$40 Portuguese s. 1886 coo German. and 81 22
into the Congo Free State OF this Importation of
s429. .46 900 about per cent was furnished by the
United States it's total exports to all Africa being
in the fiscal year 1900 S9,469,s49 and in 1901
S25.54261S.
in the last few years and seems but beginning OF
a great system which must contribute to the rapid
development civilization ard enlightenment of the
Dark Continent. Railroads already extend north
from Cape Colony about fifteen hundred miles, and
south from Cairo about twelve hundred miles. thus
making twenty-seven hundred miles of the Cape
Cairo railroad complete. while the intermediate
distance is about three thousand miles.