Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-28
AFRICA DEVELOPING FAST
Notable Evidence OF Progress All
over the Dark Con-
tinent.

About fifteen months ago a few head OF
the fine woolled sheep of Australia were
introduced on the high plateau Of the Brit
ish East Africa protectorate. This is prob
ably the first attempt to grow merino sheep
almost directly on the equator. 1t Is said
by the British survey in that region that
the experiment bids fair to be successful.
This simply means that the elevation OF
about 5000 feet at which the sheep are liv-
ing gives the proper climatic conditions not
otherwise obtainable in that latitude.
1t is an old saying that the unexpected
always happens in Africa. The remark
formerly applied to the unpleasant things
that were constantly occurring. 1t Is still
used, but 1t relates now to the realization
OF hopes and plans that TIL recently seemed
visionary and impracticable.
Africa is the theater now Of the greatest
work Of reclamation the world ever saw. It
is too near us and too vast TO be seen as
yet in proper perspective. Few understand
| that the attitude of the world toward At
| RIGA has completely changed in the last five
! years There are three reasons why the
money and strength OF the civilized world
are now being poured out in greater volume
| than ever before. They will bring about
| transformation covering the continent.
One is that the great advance in tropical
| hygiene and the studies Of scientific men
| on the ground have proved that there are
| large and widely distributed areas OF the
richest soil and the finest grazing lands
that are well adapted for occupancy by
! white farmers. The next year or two will
I see the invitation given to the European
peasantry who can command a very little
capital to settle in various parts Of Africa,
and conditions win be made practicable for
them during the first years OF pioneer
1 struggle. II Is found, too that the oppor-
tunities for developing large plantation en-
terprises are illimitable. and that no other
continent can AFFORD better conditions in
this line as soon as adequate transportation
is provided. In many regions as large as
some Of the European states the best Of soil
is found to a depth Of several feet
1t IL also found that the natives can be
induced to do their full share in this
work OF transformation. Hundreds OF
thousands OF them are now in the service
OF the whites. They are doing the rough
work of building the roads and railways
stringing the telegraphs. manning the
steamboats,. burning the lime, making the
brick, putting up the houses, and con
structing the furniture from hardwoods
which they make into lumber. Hundreds OF
trade schools maintained by governments
and missionary societies. are scattered
from the Atlantic to the Indian ocean and
are turning out effective, skila labor
Hundreds Of native women, whose fathers
were cannibals, are busy with sewing ma
chimes, turning out garments for the army
of laborers. The white man thinks ant
plans; the native. under his guidance
, turns his ideas into concrete form.
The third fact that is pushing all thes,
, enterprises forward with tremendous en-
, ergy is the mineral wealth, OF which new
fields are being constantly discovered
There are vast coal fields not yet reached
/ by transportation; the gold of German
t East Africa, the gold and vast copper re
sources Of the Congo state are still un
touched; the iron, as widely distribute,
as in any OF the continents. is stlll smelte,
and wrought only by the native smith.
! Africa has been regarded as the poo
sister among the continents. The MGR
= IT is studied in detail the more magnif
r cent its resources appear Native labo
l is abundant, and it can, be trained and dis
4 ciplined. The nineteenth century reveals
) Africa: the twentieth will open its splen
. did resources for the good OF its inhab
s itants and The whole world.
!, These are the reasons why the raiiwa,
. from Freetown Ia now In operation q
miles inland. the Germans are extendin
r their track half-mile day from Dares
Salam, the Congo state has some 2,O0O mile
Of new track In construction, the Cap
i 10 Cairo line Is operating for 1900 mile
I north Of Cape Town and will reach tn
- Congo state this year. And these railroad
are only a part OF the vast enterprise
d whose progress is remarkable and that wi
T some day make Africa a potent factor
: the world OF anairs,-New York sun