New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-12

'Us' WIZ an enormous estate with
pE 1ne thousand. with revenues rising
0ie hundred thousands, it was deposed in
court that the owner had been cor,,,,,.,,,.
harassed by creditors, by usurers and that ~,
baiin and the sequestration officers had -
steady guests ar the feudal chateau or W.
hlewo while some nights play ran so high +be-.
that wealthy guests rose from table ut+.-I,-
ruined and done for.
"of that. repeat. there are signs ana ,,,,..
lions. Let me briefly enumerate Soma :,
them. It is expected that the Reichstap +b,.
winter will grant the first appropriation for the
construction OF the Daressalan- Mrogoro rail-
way which viii make good half of the interior
OF German East Africa accessible, and promote
the laying out Of plantations Especially cotton
wonderfully, because ii will give them steady
ana paying market on the coast. In German
southwest Africa several railroads have been
finished within the last twelvemontn. The navi-
gable rivers both in the Cameroons and in Ger
man East Africs. have been regulated recently
In German Southwest Africa immigration has
largely increased. both of Beers from Cape Col
ony and the former free States, and from Ger
many; paying copper mines have been opened up
there, and gold has been found in not incon-
siderable quantities in several places, besides
blue earth mines that promise diamonds and
other precious stones.
But aside from all this. and much more i'm
portant, is the fact that we have started in seri
ously TO raise cotton. vanilla, ramie and other
fbrous plants. Vanilla has been produced in
German East Africa, of quality almost equal
ling that Of Mexico, though yet in small bulk
In the Cameroons-which. so far as soil and
fertility go is the most valuable OF our posses
sions-rapidly increasing crops Of cocoa are
raised, and cocoa Of so fine a quality that it
ranks with the best in the Hamburg market.
But Of largest Importance by far is the cotton
question. For several years it was in the ex
perimental stage, but this year it has emerged
from it The finest cotton so far produced in
German colonies is that Of Togo Con the central
western coast Of Africa, whose product is being
classed OF the Bremen and Hamburg bourses as
fully good middlings,' and Of which some fifty
thousand pounds have reached US this fail But
the cotton Of German East Africa, too sells for
from 20 TO 50 marks a hundredweight. and much
Of it is equal TO the best White Egyptian How
large this years cotton crop is in that colony
cannot be stated yet, but it is considera BILE
and it promises TO be trebled next year, as by
that time many new plantations will be under
way. All along the $50 navigable miles of the
RuhdI River new plantations have been started
In Southwest Africa. especially the district
around Okahandja and along the Swakop River
cotton has been planted as we'll The same is
true Of the Carolines.
'Of course. the propelling force in this has
been the scarcity Of the American cotton crop,
but that Germany has gone into the cotton rais-
ing business to stay is plainly shown by the fact
that the imperial government has identified
itself with the industry. In German East Africa.
J. H. G. Becker, formerly an expert cotton
grower of Hockey, Tex. has been made the
colonial chief inspector of cotton, with head
quarters at Daressalam: and IN Togo, after sew
eral years teaching by graduates from Booker
T. Washingtons cotton department in Tuskegee
Institute the industry has been firmly and
nationally established and an inspectorate Gre
ated. Besides that, however. the Colonial Eco
nornicaI Committee In Berlin now grants a num-
Der Of annual stipends to young German farmers
DESTROYS Of becoming cotton planters in German
colonies, enabling them TO pursue a regular
course al the Agricultural and Mechanical Col
lege Of Texas. supplemented by years prac-
teal training on cotton plantations in that
State, the whole matter being under the super
vision Of the German consul in Galveston.
Thus then within a couple Of years Germany
will have a fine staff Of experts in cotton rails
ing experts trained IN every branch Of theory
and practice and the rest will naturally follow"
The case Of Lieutenant Bilse came before the
publC from the OLneE enc OF the EMPIRE 1IOIli
the frontier Of France from FOrbach. The
young officer had written a novel in this dreary
garrison, where the enmity Of the Francophile
population made social intercourse or other
tional enjoyment impossible for him. IN this
novel he had painted ultra realistic and
strictly truthful picture Of the systematic dissi-
patton and debauches to which his comrades and
his superior officers were reduced in order TO
make the heavy time pass by. Some Of his
portraits were so lifelike that they viii involve
him in a series of duels. he having. besides, al
ready been forced 70 dor his uniform by court
martiars decree for having been unduly indis-
Greet. The one picture and the other curl
ousy aIike-fron a certain point Of view-and
they have furnished the text for scores Of edi-
torial sermons on the moeurs contemporaries,
1t were vain 10 deny the fact that Germanys
pastoral days are irrevocably gone
Two remarkable books are Just out. One
treats of the life OF the late General Won
Kretschman. a general Of infantry, who did
much in 1870 to win the battle OF Vionville, one
Of the bIoodiest and most hotly contested during
the Franco-Gerrnan War. The book is written
and that is the sensational feature Of it-from
her fathers private papers and letters by his
eldest daughter, now Frau Lily Braun, wife Of
q Socialist leader. Her father had dlsoWned
her some years before his death She is. how
ever q decidedly brilliant woman and the book
in the guise she has given it is scoring a sue
cess There are many curious passages in 1t
that will scarcely be relished at the court OF
Berlin. The other book is likewise memoir.
It embodies that portion OF the letters, notes
and diaries from the hand Of the late Admiral
and General Albert Won stOsch which his son,
who fills a responsible position IN the army has
been permitted by his chief 10 publish. There
is many a hiatus in the book. but though at
hest q torso IL is NEVERTHELESS very readable and