The Saint Paul globe., 1903-03-19

PARIS, March 1S.-Frenchmen are
just now congratulating themselves
over the prosperous condition of their
colonies, and from the official state
ments issued IT seems quite rational
that they should do so.
In spite of the current opinion that
the Anglo Saxon race alone is capable
of successful colOniZing, it would seem
that the French have amply demon
strated their capacity in this direction
in recent years. This is particularly
gratifying to so wealthy and proud a
nation as the French, who have been
so long represented as a mOribund peo-
pie that some statiSticians have figured
on their Obliteration from the map Of
Europe.
Figures speak more eloquently than
anything else, and the fact that the
commerce of her colonial empire last
year Increased some $12,000,000 tells
its own story.
The main provinces of this great CO.
lOnial empire are Western Africa,
Madagascar and Indo-C China These
three immense territories, together
with TuniS, form the new empire.
These territories are pacified, prosper
Gus, we'll defended and well admins
tered, contrary to general opinion. 1t
is not such an empire as the Anglo
SaXOnS have built up, for the popu-
native, differing itself altogether from
such colonies as Canada, Australia,
New Zealand, South Africa and other
countries where the population is of
European and mainly British origin.
OF TOnquin, its latest acquisition,
France is naturally proud. The source
Of grave danger and probable interna-
tional complications a few years ago,
this fertile and prosperous country
has, in q few years, been transformed
into a valuable colony
In Western Africa a loan Of $10,000,-
600 is about to be made for the pur-
pose of carrying out works of a sani..
tary character or of general develop
ment. France, in fact, plans for SIM
liar supremacy on the Niger as the
British have established on the Nile
The marshes are to be dried up, and
military port as well as a commer<
cial port established. The basin of
the Niger is to be the center of vast
improvements, and the course of the
Senegal to be deepened and widened.
There will also be railways run from
the Hayes to the Niger and from Kon-
akry to FOnta-Dja jallOn. Then thers
Will be a canal dug joining up the lav
goOn of the Ivory coast with the open
sea.
AS for Frances North African en-
pire, at least it is near enough to her
u.
Although in it's vast area (some fifteen
times that of the mother country the
Sahara and other deserts figure, it is by
no means the barren eXpanSe that it
was at first supposed to be.
The result Of recent expeditions
through this vast territory, leading as
far south as Lake Tchad, show that
within this zone exist high plateaus
where Europeans can, at least for part
of the year, live in tolerable comfort,
and where there are extensive gorges
and canons.
The variety Of vegetable life which
could be made to sustain many f1ocks
and herds, and thereby a much larger
population, greatly surprised the ex-
plorers. Yet it should not have been
matter of doubt that such resouces
did exist In this zone, when it is re-
membered that sufficient fodder for the
camelS which have for ages been cross
ing this territory has been usually
Forthcoming. Timber is found in some
parts of the so-called desert and the
fauna is quite extensive, proving that
means of sustenance for it must ex-
list. Domestic animals, such as goats
and sheep, are common, while enor-
nous crows and Vultures, large flocks
of pigeons, herds of zebus and other
animals were encountered. In some
parts game Is abundant. Water, al
N1S0oAA III pOlLlC SeoSS SCdICe lOr long
distances, is not nearly as rare as has
been believed and would always be
found in sufficient quantities were
properly protected wells provided.
1t is also shown that the population
of this region is by no means entirely
nomadis, many of the oasis forming
the home of a settled population. On
some large pastoral tracts there is a
population of twenty-five persons to
the mile, and the total population is
little less than three million. The car
aVan tracks through this vast eXpanse
form as complete a system of intercom-
munication as has been hitherto found
practicable, but railways will doubtless
be built as they have been by the Brit
ish on the eastern coast.
The curse of the Saharan country
is the Berber or desert nomad whose
whole existence is devoted to extin-
gushing such occasional signs of civil
lization as develop. These murderous
and thieving natives will have to be
eXtermlnated before any distinct ad-
vance can be made in developing the
country.
The explorers reports announce that
cattle raising can be made in some
parts an important industry while in
others cotton and other produce of
warm climates can be grown In the
rocky regions there are believed to ex-
Aob 1lllIJOl loLllI pIlOSpHdl6 peas Wh1ch
would serve to fertilize these vast
tracts. The great necessity of the ter
rltory is artesian wells and these can
be dug successfully as the French have
already proved by experiments at their
military posts.
Not France alone but all the Euro
pean countries having interests in Af-
rica are interested in the building of
the Trans-Saharan railway, which will
doubtless soon become a reality.
The carrying out of this much dis
cussed project would revolutionize
matters throughout the entire extent
of its course. The whistle Of the steam
engine would sound the death knelI of
the desert marauder and enable the
development of all such features as
lead to the civilization of a country.
besides forming a means of TRANSPORT
ing the produce of equatorial Africa
quickly to Europe. At it's southern
terminus on Lake Tchad it would con-
meet with the British Niger the
German Cameroons, the Congo Free
State and eventually with the net
work of railways now being built north
and south. Central Africa could be
reached from London or Paris in less
than week, and by the most direct
route that can be furnished The build
ing OF this road at once is recommend
ed by many persons of standing, who
consider that whefhar II y,o,,c f,o,,o