The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-20

/ rltory on the east coast OF AAIlcd
lying approximately between s
degrees north latitude and degrees
south latitude. The coast line on the
Indian Ocean between these two points.
about 400 miles. forms with italian
Somaliland the eastern limits. Abys-
sinia the northern and the British
Uganda Protectorate, with Lake VIC
toria Nyanza, the western boundary
! German East Africa lies Immediately 70
the south. The Uganda ProtectOrate is
a separate territory politically In view,
however. Of its dependence upon British
East Africa for its most direct COM
munication with the rest OF the world
( and for the transportation of it's i'm
ports and exports il may well be con-
sidered with the East Africa Protector
ate in discussing their commercial pos
sibiIities, writes Special Agent Ray
mond F. Crist, in a report sent from
/ Durham, Natal, to the Department OF
| Commerce and Labor at Washington
The Uganda Protectorate lies west OF
and adjoining British East Africa. ex-
/ tends westward to the Congo State and
south to the portion OF German East
| Africa lying on the western side OF
/ Lake Victoria Nyanza, its northern
| limits being Egypt The approximate
area Of British East Africa is goo. 900
square miles. with an estimated popu-
/ Iation OF 2,50O.0O0. The area Of Uganda
/ is placed at about one-half that. con-
I tanning in the neighborhoOd Of 4, 000. 900
population. The extent OF these pro-
/ tectorates is therefore from the low
coast line Of the Indian Ocean TO the
very heart Of the African Continent,
| and presents most varied climatic con-
ditions, ranging from the ultra torrid
| in the coast belt and in Uganda and
the Lake Victoria Nyanza regions, to
1 the milder climate similar to that OF
the temperate zones, which is to be
/ found in the highlands OF British East
Africa. 1t has been repeatedly stated
by those who have lived in these re-
gions for some years that within one
! days journey by. rail from the coast
| Europeans may permanently reside
with security and rear families in these
/ more propitious upland areas without
the necessity for periodical return to
their home countries for recuperation,
Notwithstanding its tropical situation.
| For the development of it's natural
| resources these climatic advantages
possessed by British East Africa over
Uganda are counteracted in q measure
| by the presence in the first named ter
ritory of a lower order OF natives than
those inhabiting Uganda They are
generally averse TO acquiring material
/ wealth, beyond a few goats and sheep,
| and at most a few head OF cattle With
| these possessions, together with num-
Der Of wives TO till the soil and tend his
| fiocks. native arrives at a position OF
eminence among his people and finds no
further need for labOring. The masses
are apparently content TO satisfy their
few wants by the scantiest development
Of the soil. which readily yields such
grains fruit are necessary for
their sustenance- That il will be many
years before the natives, especially
those OF the lower coast lands, are con-
verted to the idea OF labor as an ad-
vantage and necessity TO life Is the
opinion expressed by all who profess
knowledge OF these people
On the other hand the Uganda tribes
are a thrifty and quite energetic peo-
pie, quick to take on European ways
and ready to work TO the attainment
OF the means for gratifying their new
wants. These qualities will probably
result in eventually forming a black
mans country within its borders Lit
tie has yet been learned OF t. posi-
bilities OF the northern half OF British
East Africa. in which section no new
settlements have been made.
Through the southern half OF this
territory, which has the densest native
and white population. the Uganda Rail-
way passes to the fertile upland region
and Port Florence on Lake Victoria
Nyanza- The construction OF this rail-
,
an excessively costly work. amounting
to about $4,000, 900 (f6.00O, 000), Is a
remarkable engineering feat and has
offered the sole avenue by which the
wealth Of the protectorates, and a large
part of German East Africa as well.
has been enabled TO find it's way TO
the outer world. without IL many OF
the resources OF a vast area far beyond
the limits OF these two protectorates
would still lie dormant and inaccessi-
BILE. The gauge OF the road Is one
meter, and when opened it's equipment
consisted OF 100 locomotives. thirty-fve
OF which were of American construc-
ton. as were also many OF steel bridges
throughout its course. Its length is
5S4 miles. and the time consumed in
travelling from the coast to the lake is
forty hours
BEYOND Port Florence a regular
steamer service in conjunction with the
railway is maintained with Entebbe.
the capital of Uganda. and with the
other British and German ports on the
lake. There is a daily freight service
between Mombasa and the Port Flor
ence terminal, the rates being IS ru-
PEGS per 112 pounds and prOportfonate
rates for lesser or greater weights and
distances. Special rates for carload
lots are also made.
Since the completion of the Uganda
Railway a great increase has been
noted in exports. in quantity. value and
variety, due to the broadening OF the
field from which they could come. The
entire territory surrounding Lake Ny
ANA, including German as we'll as Brit
| ish. yields large quantities of chilies.
groundnuts. ivory. wax and rubber,
which formerly were carried by por-
tiers to the coast for transshipment at
Zanzibar
In addition TO building the Uganda
Railway. the British Government is do
ing much toward laying the foundation
for the development of the resources
of these regions in the near future.
The turbulent Nandi tribes are being
pacified. surveys made along the course
of the railway, conditions defined un-
der which concessions of large tracts
of land may be obtained. the capabili-
ties of the different sections OF the
country studied and meteorological sta
tions established, the reports from
which are used in connection with the
study of soils with a view toward as
certaining the compatibility Of climatic
and other conditions with the growth
of various produce