Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-06-24
READY-MADE CITY.
Built Of Galvanized Iron in British
East Africa.

One of the oldest of towns has
just risen to political distinction.
Nairohi, a European settlement on the
high plateau of east tropical Africa,
has been made capital of the British
East Africa Protectorate.
Mombasa. on the Indian Ocean, is
still the most important town COM
| mercially in the Protectorate for it's
development on European lines is
| advanced and it is the leading sea
port along the coast north of Zanzi-
bar. The great advantage of Mai
robi as the seat of government is
that 1t has central position in the
Protectorate, being 32S miles from
Mombasa. and 80 from Port Flor
ence on Victoria Nyanza. and it is
| on the edge Of the lofty region
where British farmers are now set
Ting and developing NV homes.
The nickname of '"Tin City" and
Zine City" are applied to Nairubi
by the white men who have visited it.
There is not a wooden building in
| the place.
Every building was constructed of
galvanized iron, which was brought
from Europe in sheets ready to be
| fastened together to form the walls,
roofs and partitions of houses. The
| town came into existence by the flat
| Of Sir George Whitehousc the chief
engineer Of the Uganda Railroad
Grumblng Britons who think he
| might have chosen 4 more pictur-
csquc site for the town agree that
Sir George is a good engineer, but
he has 1rtjS ti
white tents were scattered over the
plain where the town now stands
when ono morning Sir George an
| n"unccd to his breakfast:
"On this SPOT we are going To have
q large settlement. Here will be the
cntr"p"t Of tile Uganda Railroad.
Here will be the machine shops and
here Will live hundreds of our coun-
trymcn and thousands Of Indian and
native Workmcn.'
Everybody was surprised. People
asked the chief why he had selected
this place on the vast Masia plateau
where they was not an inha hitant or
tree. Why did he not choose for
the site of his town one of the wood
cd ridges within sight of the plateau?
He would have plenty Of elbow room
on the fiat plateau, but it offered no
other advantages
well" said Sir George. 81 have
been thinking Of this matter for a
long time and the town will be built
on the plain.
"Thcrc is rot room for it on the
surrounding ridges. It's situation is
first rate for our purposes. 1t il
nigh and beautiful, and the railroad
official with their families can live
| III this region i'll good health. while
they W"ulG probably die at Nom
hasa or Port Florence.
This spot is right on the edge Of
the territories occupied by the Ma
| sal and the Kuluyu. ana here better
than in any other place we can man
age these two turbulent tribes. The
land rises rapidly to the North. and
there is the fertile region to which
we are going to invite British farm
| erS''
"Nairobi Creek runs across the site
and supplies tie best of waters. The
! name Of tho settlement will lie Nal
| rob-. The homes Of the officials will
| hc built on these surrounding ridges.
but all other employees of the rail
| road, with all the shops and other
| interests of the place, will be in
| the town.
| :" the place has developed at a
| great rate. In December last jts
| population consisted Of 1852 persons
| of whom 162 were Europeans.-Ncw
| York Sun.