Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-01-02
GREAT SHOW PLACE IN AFRICA.
Victoria Falls to Be Made an Attrac-
ton for Tourists.

New York Sun.-The great Victoria
falls OF the Zambesi are to be made
one OF the show places OF the earth.
They are 1000 miles inland from
Cape Town, yet so many tourists are
already visiting the falls, now that the
railroad is completed, that a smah
hotel, fitted with electric lights and
ice chambers and electric fans to coun-
teract the effects of the tropical heat,
has been opened. This is only tenn
porary convenience, for a big hotel
is now building.
1t is the intention to keep the falls
as free from distractions and every
thing unsightly as possible. The site
of the town that is springing up is
about three miles from the falls. The
railroad will cross the gorge a few
hundred yards below them on the steel
suspension bridge now building, but
from no point where the falls can be
viewed can the railroad be seen. The
policy is to preserve unimpaired the
beauty of the falls and their surround
ings.
wonder Of nature are obtained on the
south side of the Zambesi, and along
this shore of the river the Park OF
Peace is now being laid out. In this
park good roads will lead to every
point Of vantage along the river bank,
where the various aspects of the falls
may be seen to the best advantage,
10 fo 10y ho+ n
not be observed in their entirety from
any point, but the major attractions
are in view from the southern bank.
The only building permitted in the
park will be the large hotel five stories
in height, which the railroad company
is now putting up. 1t will be complet
ed in time for the meeting OF the Brit
ish association for the Advancement or
science which will be there in a few
months, the first body of scientific men
to meet in central Africa.
On the north side OF the river but
some distance from the falls, another
park is being laid out with geological
gardens grounds for sports and other
attractions. This park will be a pop
uldI IGSOII, Willie CuS GdIh VI H0dCS
will be more quiet and especially in
tended for the display of many species
of central African flora. 1t will.cost a
| pretty penny to go to these falls ana
the expense OF living there few days
or weeks will be no small item. An
attraction SO far removed from com
mon routes of travel could not draw
many visitors if it were not superlative
in it's quality but it is contended that
nothing in the line of water falls
equals the beauty and grandeur OF Vic
| toria falls.
Being over mile wide and 400 feet
high, they are twice as broad and two
and a half times as high as Niagara
falls, the greatest water power in the
world is centered there, for engineers
say that during the flood season al
least 35,000,000 horse power represents
the quantity of power continually
pouring over the mighty cataracts.
1t is curious fact that the least
water pours over the falls when the
rainy season is in full progress there
and when the falls are in flood the
country around them is as dry as a
bone. This shows the bigness of the
Zambesi. By the time the flood wat
ers Of the upper river get down to the
falls the rainy season has ended in
that region.