Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-19
THE HEART OF AFRICA
RAILROAD ACROSS CONTINENT
HAS CAPTURED FANCY.
Special Cablegram to The star.

Special Cablegram to The star.
CAIRO February 19.-And now it is a
railroad from east to west through the
heart of Africa which has captured the
fancy of the various nations interested in
African trade and development. With the
Cape to Cairo railway from north to south
an established fact, and with the opening
of the Nile-Red Sea railway it begins to
look as though the things that were re-
garded as among the impossibilities of yes
terday are the actuaIities of today, and that
If history repeats itself the establishment
of a trunk line between the Red sea and
the Atlantic ocean would be accomplished
in the not far distant future. Thus, the
last great stretch of territory uutraversed
by steam railway outside of the territories
bordering on the polar regions at least viii
be opened to the worlds civilization.
Certainly, this idea has received quite an
impetus by the opening of what might be-
come the first link in the chain-the first
division of an East and West African rail-
road. The idea of a railway from the Red
sea to the Nile, however, is no new con-
ception. ItflOated fer a moment through the
restless head and the scneming brain OF
Ishmail Fasha. But it will be most gener-
ally remembered as an alternative route
discussed, but not adopted for the prosecU-
tons of the British campaigns in the Sou
dan. Its possibilities were thus canyassed
about the time of Lord Wolseley's relief
expedition but Lord Wolseley himself
chose to adhere to an advance up the Nile.
Thus, in this one respect. at least, trade ana
the railroad followed the flag.
Built by the British.
1t is of interest to note in this connection
that the British have built this railroad, 312
miles in length, in less than sixteen months.
Practically every ton of material for the
Nile-Rea Sea line had to be brought from
England or from countries no less distant
The native labor employed was of the
rudest description, particularly in the early
stages of the work. Suaktm was made the
basis of operations, and the whole of the
sea-borne material used in construction
passed through that port Work was to
have begun in August, 1904, but, owing
to the labor difficulties experienced from
the Bedouin Arabe at first employed no
real start was made before October, 1904.
Counting, therefore, to the date of the in
auguTation, the laying of the railroad has
occupied just about sixteen months I'm
pediments to progress were manifold. In
summer the intense heat tried the en-
durance of the hardest Englishnen and
the other Europeans supervising the ma
tive labor. In the autumn and winter sea-
sons torrential rains caused washouts and
the wholesale sweeping away of rails and
bridges. But with that zeal which has
made the building of railroads one of the
latter day wonders Of the world, no mat
ter what the section, no matter what the
country, the constructors pushed on,
triumphing over every obstacle.
The influence Of the new railway on the
economic development of the Soudan may
be slower than many predict, but 1t win be
none the less certain and beneficent The
railway exists chiefly chained for the
produce of more fertile regions, themselves
served by a gradually extending system OF
lines, such as are now being laid from
Abu Ham1d to the Dongoia province; the
lines to Kassala and from Al Obeid to Al
Duyem on the Nile, which are in eontem-
piation. and which are certain to be built,
now that the main line is completed.
Among the things that are certain TO be
carried over the main line from the Nile
to the sea may be mentioned gum arabic
cotton and cereals from Arabia