Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-14

hours, and that the ordinary everyday
passage is twenty-seven hours. Winter
vegetables and tropical fruits are now sent
by the shpload to Marseille, and thence
distributed to all the cities of France, and
even to Paris and London. The time to
Paris is less than forty hours.
Algeria in 1908.
But first let me tell you something about
Algeria. 1t is one of the best countries in
Africa. Wate:ed by the moisture from the
Mediterranean winds it has rich soil and
one of the most delightful climates on the
face of the globe. 1t is land of noun
tains and valleys, backed by the sandy
plateaus of the Desert of Sahara. Its area
is about four times as large AS that of
Pennsylvania, and its population comprises
about. four millions, of whom three hun
dred thousand are French.
The natives are Berbers and Arabs with
an admiXture of Moors. Turks and negroes.
The Berbers belong to the same race as our
own. They farmers and very indus
trious. The French use them as laborers,
and with their aid are setting out vineyards,
olive groves and orange orchards.
They also cultivate the soil for them
selves. raising rich crops of wheat and
other cereals.
one of the chief exports of Algeria is figs,
of which 81. 900 pounds are exported in a
year, and another is dates which come
from the date palms scattered over the
country, and especially throughout the
GASES of the Sahara
In Algeria the French have materially
improved the condition of the people. They
have established primary schools in every
part of the country and also schools of
There are 100. 600 students in the primary
schools, about 5000 in the high schools and
a large number in the colleges. About ST.
OO00GO is now being annually spent edu-
cation.
Africa's French Metropolis
The capital of Algeria is Africa's French
metropolis. 1t is the city of Algiers, con-
tanning about 100000 people, being consider
ably smaller than Tunis, but far more impor-
tant in commerce and trade. The French
have spent millions of dollars on the harbor
and in beautifying the city. A long pier has
been built so that the largest steamers
can come in without danger. Great ware
houses have been constructed. and there
are fine hotels and good business buildings.
The town has street cars and electric lights.
and altogether the lower parts of it look
more like Paris than Africa. The same
condition prevails at Oran. the chief port
of western Algeria, and at Constantine a
thriving city in the east, each having it's
French quarter.
Adjoining Algeria is Tunisia, which is now
under the protection of France. 1t has an
African hey as it's nominal ruler but it is
the French governor who tells him how to
act and handles the cash. A great many
improvements are being made there since
the French took charge of the country. The
canal which has been built connecting the
city of. Tunis directly with the sea has
greatly\ improved commerce. and today
there are large wharves along the banks of
the canal, equipped with modern lifting en-
gines cranes and port railways. Tunis is
the biggest city on the African seaboard
and its trade is with all parts of the Medt-
terranean sea, and especially Europe. 1t is
connected by railway with Algiers and Oran
and by caravan with all parts of the Sa-
hara.
The population of Tunisia is almost two
millions. consisting chiefly of Bedouin
Arabs Berbers and about 10000 Jews. There
are also 10000 Frenchmen and Sc, 600 other
foreigners. of whom 81 coo are Italians.
The French have been doing much to de-
yelop education there. They have estab-