Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-09-04
AUTOMOBILES IN AFRICA.
Congo Free State Building Automobile
Road From Congo to Nile.

automobile department This distinct
branch of the service was organized
more than a year ago when the gov
eminent was formulating its plans for
the building of system of automobile
freight roads, the forerunners of rail-
roads in regions where the steam en-
CINE may not be seen for many years
to come. The first report of the auto
mobile department has just been issued
and the following facts relating to one
of the roads are taken from this official
paper.
The road on which work is being
most rapidly pushed and on the COM
pleted portion of which freight is now
being transported, will be the longest
and most important Of these enter
prises. 1t will connect the Congo with
the Nile at Rejaf, only Il short distance
south of GondokorO, which is now
reached regularly by passenger and
freight steamers from khartoum.
When the freight road is completed, in
about two years, the upper Congo will
have automobile, steamboat and rail
connections with the Mediterranean as
we'll as steam transportation to the
mouth of the Congo and Europe. The
great point gained will he facility for
the development of the rich and largely
populated northeastern part of the
State which is now accessible only by
means of the slow and costly carrier
service.
About GOO miles up the Congo above
Stanley pool the river receives on its
northern bank the large Itimbiri tribu-
tary which steamers can ascend for
about 200 miles to Buta. This is the
starting point Of the automobile road
The section between Buta and Hambili
on the Wclle Makua, the upper part OF
the largest Congo tributary, is 12O miles
long and its construction Is now lar
advanced. Above Bambli there are
some long stretches OF navigation
where the loaded automobiles will be
carried on small steamers, but the
length Of freight road connecting these
stretches in the territory of the Welie
will be about 100 miles. From the Welle
Makua northeast to Rejaf on the Nile
the road will be 80 miles long. The
total length of the freight road will
thus be $50 miles
The attitude Of the natives along the
Wcllc Makua toward the advancing en-
terprise is highly gratifying to the au-
thori:ies Recent travellers in this
region. and especially the representa-
tive of the Liverpool School of Tropical
Hygiene. have told us Of the large pop
ulation OF this northern part of the
State which has not been invaded by
the rubber collector, and Of the hearty
welcome The people have extended to
the whites. The chiefs complain. how
ever, that the carrier service between
the Eclgian posts takes too many men
from their usual pursuits. and the
whole region is happy over the fact
that the freight road will entirely do
away with the caravans Of pcrters
carrying loads on their backs for hun
dreds of miles The natives are 50
pleased with the idea that they are
offering themselves in large numbers
for the work of construction.
ManZali. the most important chief IF
this section, on his own initiative, has
offered to provide from his tribe all the |
men needed to build the road in his
country. He says that if the whites
will survey and stake out the line, bul'd
the bridges. provide superintendent to
see that the work is properly done ana
pay his subjects the usual price Tor
work by the day. the whites need not
bother themselves with the question OF
labor supply. He will provide the men
and take them from the villages near
where the road is being built. so that
the expense Of transporting men long
way from their home will be saved.
His proposal has been accepted. A
considerable part of the line will extend
through heavy tropical forests. where
road construction is difficult. The sec
ton now completed, covering part Of
the way between the Itimbiri and
Welle Makua, involved the hardest
problems of road construction in dense
forests, and no part of the line Is eX-
pected to present greater dlthcultles.
The entire road will be first-class for
the heavy hauling intended, and perfect
drainage is being provided at every
point A cheap and common roadway
would simply mean failure.
For some years the government has
been experimenting with two or three
types of automible freight carriers.
A well-knOwn English machine was
finally rejected. chiefly on account of
its excessive weight. and the Gold
schmidt wagon. Of Belgium, especially
built for tropical service. has been
adopted and is said to be satisfactory
in all respects. The only change in it
which the report recommends is that
certain Congo instead of European
woods be used in the construction of
the machines now building for the
service.
AS fast as the road is completed the
wagons are hauling material and sup
phi. $ 20 the road head, giving the ma
chimes and roadbed = thorough test.
The loaded wagons travel ut the rate
Of ten to twelve miles an hour. and it
is expected that this will be tho aver
age speed between the Congo and the
Nile.