The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-02
CENTRAL AFRICA'S FIRST ROAD.
A scotchman's Gift, II Has Done Much to
Develop the Region.

James Stevenson, a wealthy ScotchInani
gave S25 900 TO build a road between the
| north end Of Lake Nyassa and the south
end Of Lake Tanganyika In Central Africa
| about twenty-five years ago. He was con-
WINGED that nothing would help more to
develop Africa than good highways.
It took two years to build the road and
it was well built. Its length is I'll miles.
Apart from its great usefulness the white
men there AVE always said that It has been
a powerful oivilizing agency.
1t has helped to accustom the natives OF
that densely peopled region to work for
the whites, and to use calico and other
European articles. The work Of construc-
ton was the first instance on a large scale
OF the utilization Of native labor in Central
Africa. Many trained laborers now live
along the road and are engaged in transport
service between the two great lakes,
This highway Is known as the stevenson
road. Mr.. Chrapkoysh, an official in the
German service, who recently. travelled
over the road has written an interesting
account Of it.
He says that though nothing, has been
done to maintain the road built twenty
FIVE years ago. II is still, with the single ex-
ceptfon OF the road between Victoria Nyanza
and T~anganyika, the best highway in Gen.
trail Africa. AS nothing has been done to
maintain the road it Is now covered with
grass, but travellers say this is really an
advantage as the vegetation has helped to
keep the road from washing, and it is also
better for the feet Of the carriers h dis
like to walk on those stretches where there
is no grass, for it lie as hard as stone and
hurts their feet.
The usefulness Of the road lie proved
by the fact that porters carrying sixty
pounds on their backs make an average
OF twenty miles a day while the usual
Journey is only ten miles. The road passes
entirely through British territory, and the
Government has erected a station every
twenty miles where caravans may spend
the night.
There is provision at each station to
put all the freight under cover, comfortable
brick and concrete holnses' afford eGceliene
conditions for a good nights rest and there
are cook houses where the meals Of the
caravans are prepared. One Of the neigh
boring chiefs is held responsible for the
cleanliness and good order of each station.
He receives a monthly salary of a few
shillings from the Government and a few
yards OF calico from each caravan passing
over the route.
The road was intended and is we'll adapted
for the use OF wagons, but unfortunately
the South African oxen that were brought
into the country did not thrive there and
the experiment OF using them was given
up. As long as oxen were used large
wagons loaded with 5000 pounds Of freight
and drawn by sixteen oxen made an
average Of fourteen miles a day from one
lake to the other.
When the oxen proved a failure, small
carts hauled by the natives and carrying
about 1000 pounds Of freight were intro
duced. but IL was finally decided that
transport on the backs Of men who receive
only from FIVE TO seven shillings a month
was cheaper. and now vehicles are seldom
seen on the road.