The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-10-24
RECLAIMED FROM
 THE SAVAGERY
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO A SAVAGE DESPoT RUIED IN SOUTH
 ERIN RHODESIA.
Region Seemed Unlikely to Become
 the Home of White Msn-Many Prosperous Farms and 1 Mines There Now.

New York Sun. ,-
 Only fifteen years ago the savage kihs of the Matabele was sending his armies | far and wide to reduce other tribes and to bring back thousands of slaves 10 ms chief town, Buluwayo. It was this despot who flew into a great passion when missionary told him that God was Hioi0 powerful than he was.
 A little before that time the late Mon tague Kerr, the first white man to cross Mashonaland, wrote to a member or | The Suns staff that he did not beiieve that Matabeleland and Mashonaland would evere become the home of the white race. The whole region was under the rule of Lobengula, all the natives re- sarding him with abject fear, and no part I of the world was more isolated from civil lizng influences.
 Matabeleland and Mashonaland are now known as Southern Rhodesia, and the whole country is under the rule Of the British. There are two primary reasons for the wonderful change which has re- placed pure savagery with hourishing l colonies of farmers and miners.
 One is that Southern Rhodesia is chiefly a great plain lying so high above the sea that the influences of the temperate zone are felt clear to the northern part of it. British farmers with their wives and children are thrviing near Salisbury, work hard and live in good health. though they are nearer to the equator than Cuba. Southern Rhodesia is also highly mineraiized and for many. years to come 1t Is certain to have large min ing development, with gold and coal as the chief features.
 The British South Africa Company has just issued a handsome, pamphlet giving information for intending settlers in Southern Rhodesia. The numerous half tone pictures showing the various aspects of the country are a noteworthy feature
 One picture presents the administra- tors office at Salisbury fin 1891, a low building roofed with thatch. while a com panion picture shows the office ten years later. a very fine. capaclous brick build ing of three stories. architecturally at tractive and large enough to provide of- five room for several hundred persons Among the other pictures are those of the train of six cars which arrives at Bulawayo every day from Cape Town, over 1900 miles away; of the fine build ings and attractive strets in Bulawayo and Salisbury, with young trees bordering the wide sidewalks: the long steel rail- road bridges crossing three of the rivers; several mines, with their buildings and hoistering and other machinery: the fine farm of Bishop Hartzelfs American mis- sion at Umtala. with its well kpet fields and great cluster of buildings. and herds Of fat cattle grazing on the widespread pastures.
 Rhodesia has an area of about 75o. 600 square miles. or much more than twice as much as Texas. The river Zambesi divides 1t into Northern and Southern Rhodesla. the northern territory being as yet little developed while great pro- gress has been made in Southern Rho desia, which has an area of 143 S30 square miles. and Is divided into the two provin- ces of Matabeieland and Mashonaland.
 There are now about 5000 white colo nists in the country, and no one Is in- vited to join them unless he has a snug sum or money. The South Africa Com pany encourages the immigration only of bona fide farmers of good character. with capital Of not less than $2,5O0
 Alter such an immigrant has settled m the country and Is prepared to re. main there, the company refunds to him one-half the cost of second-class passage from Great Britain to Rhodesia for each member of his family. the total reim. oursement not to exceed $500 The fact enat a large number of farmers are already settled there and have been will. Ing to stake considerable capital in inc new land, shows that it offers excellent opportunities for agriculture.
 The climate Is healthful and bracins i, the highlands and children are growth, up tnere as strong and active as in Eng , iahd' The malarial fever which a fey years ago prevailed in the lowlands, fl now rapidly disappearing. owing to th, opening up and draining of the country Medical authorities believe that the dis ease will eventually die out.
 Southern Rhodesia is not included in th, half of South Africa which is deficient i, rainfall Most of the Protectorate ha, ample rain every year for all the need, of agriculture
 Railroads are being built as fast as DOS sible. with the view to developing the re sources Of the country. At present 1,63 miles are in operation, and 564 miles arc Tn course of construction. When these extensions are completed every important mine will be within twenty miles of a railroad. It is now possible to travel bI train from Cape Town to Bulawayo in Matabeleland on to Salisbury and Mash. onaland, and thence direct to the Portu- guese port of Beira on the Indian Ocean.
 There are four principal towns, Salis- bury. the capital of the Protectorate; and umtali in Mashonaland. and Bulawayo ana Gwelo in Matabeieiand. All the nec- essaries and most of the luxuries of civ lliation are now found in these towns. where churches, schools, hotels and clubs | nave been established for several years and even large and attractive parks have been laid out. The largest town is Bula- wayo, with a white population of about 5000 and taxable property valued at near ly $l0,000000.
 | The cost of living is high, chiefly on ac- count of the long distance it is necessary to transport goods. The average cost of board and loding is about $75 a month Of course wages are correspondingly nigh There is usually good demand for skill ed laborers, carpenters, masons, black smiths and others earning from s to $6 a day, but 1t is not advisable for unskilIed laborers or for clerks to go to the coun- try. unless with a promise of employment.
 For long time the development of quartz gold mining was very slow on ac- count of the enormous expense of trans porting heavy machinery from tie south coast by ON teams. The Matabele war of 1883, the rinderpest. which killed most of the cattle and finally the Transvaal war. which almost completely cut of railroad communication with the Cape for many months, were also adverse circumstances. In spite of these facts, the development of the mineral resources has been Sratify- ing. At present BIO stamps are crushing quartz sos stamps are in course of cree tion, and cyanide plants for the treat ment of tailings are in operation. The total gold product for 1892 was 194l7O ounces, and every year since 1898 has wit messed an increase of yield.