The Republican journal., 1904-07-07
IN SOUTH AFRICA.
What two Stockton Boys are Doing There

What two Stockton Boys are Doing There.
Richard P. Heagan and James Mar
den of Stockton Springs are in Johan-
nesburg, South Africa. Mr.. Marden is
at work as carpenter and Mr.. Heagan
runs steam drill in the mines. Mr..
Heagan has been in South Africa be-
fore, but Mr.. Marden went there for
the first time abont months ago. Mr..
Heagan came home from South Africa
during the war there, and while here
! entertained friends by telling much of
interest in regard to the country and its
inhabitants. He also had many photo
graphs, showing views of the principal
towns and photographs of the natives,
giving an idea of their habits and Gus
toms. After visit at home he went
to West Africa in the interests of a
Chicago company, but found the eli
mate so hot and unhealthy that the re-
turn home was very welcome trip
After another visit here Mr.. Heagan
returned to South Africa and soon
after sent for his cousin, Mr.. Marden,
to come to johannesburg.
Mr. Marden had pleasant voyage,
except that he had mistake made in
checking his trunk in Boston and
went on his way with trunk belonging
to Searsport lady, while she brought
his trunk to Searsport. In England
her trunk was sent back and meantime
his own trunk had been sent on its
way, but he did not receive it until
sometime after his arrival.
Both men write entertaining letters
to friends in regard to the far away
land in which they are living. In a
recent letter Mr.. Heagen gives the fol-
lowing interesting description: 80
| hannesburg has not recovered from
the effects of the war. AS yet there
is one great difficulty to overcome and
that is the unskilled labor question.
We are looking every day for the sigma
ture to the Chinese bill which was
voted on in Parliament some three
months ago by large majority in
favor of the Chinese coming to the
Transvaal We all look to see the
| Chinese here soon and some of the
mines have quarters for them in readi-
ness. Not more than one third of the
mines are at work just now and the
bullion output for March was $1,000
OF. valued at SIS per ounce. There
are good many new properties that
have been tloated since the war,
most of them for 100000 to 5,OOO,-
900 pounds sterling. The Consolidat-
ed Gold Fields Company has 2oO,-
100000 pounds and the Rand Mines
27o,000,000 pounds. These are the larg-
est companies and there are good
many now that will run from 20, 900, 900
pounds to 100000 pounds. 1t is esti-
mated that over one billion pounds are
invested here in gold mining alone, say
ing nothing about the diamond mines.
The company that am with at present
has 5000 acres in mining claims. We
all look forward to see good times here
once more, if not but for short time,
as there will be big boom in the share
market, and then it is look out, get out
and stay out, for good. When things
are running full force here it will take
100000 boys, or Kaffirs, and the same
number of Chinese, if they come, and
$4,000 white men to run the proper
ties, so you can see this will not be
| likely to be an idle place for some time
to come. The population of Johannes
burg is now about 175,0OO whites, to
say nothing of the blacks, of which
there are good many tribes. We got
quite a scare here some two months
ago as the bubonic plague broke out
in the coolie location, but the au-
thorities now have the disease pretty
well wiped out. This disease came
from India and seems to cling to this
class of people, owing to their filthy
habits, but will spread among the white
race just as bad if it once gets started.
But in this country where there are
great gold and diamond mines there
are many other things as set backs,
especially in the farming line. There
are several diseases that cattle get, and
locusts come once in awhile and wipe
out all OF the crops. Horses get sick
when they eat the grass here in the
frosty time of year, and hogs get the
measles and hens will be thriving one
day and dead the next. am paying
81 per dozen for eggs now and we are
glad to get them at that price. Folks
in Stockton Springs would think them
selves pretty lucky to get that price for
eggs"
The many friends of MI. Heagan and
Mr.. Marden wish them success and
hope to hear that they will soon be on
their way back to the Pine Tree State.