The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-29

acre for money ront, and X plant
1t to cotton several times as much
more. i am now using steam pumps
and am importing steam plows; and
1t may be that 1 shall some time have
cotton factory and ginning estab-
iishment right here"
Leigh Hunts Grcnt Plantation.
One OF the most daring cotton plant.
ing enterprises to be found In the
whole Nile valley has been started by
an American. refer to Mr.. Leigh Hunt,
who, in connection with Mr.. sloat Fan.
sett and others, made a big fortune In
gold mines In Korea. Mr.. Hunt has a
concession OF something like 10000
acres bordering the Nile, Just opposite
flows into the main stream. The Atbarn
brings down almost all the mud which
the Nile spreads over Egypt. and
these lands are so situated that they
can be easily irrigated.
Mr.. Hunt has imported number Ut
steam pumps. and Is gradually putting
water on to the land. He has built q
house there which has cost something
like $4,000. and understand that he
has spent something like 100000 In
the development OF his property.
Ills lands lie near the Junction o.
the Cape to Cairo Road which runs
from Alexandria south. to Khartun,
and the Nile and Red Sea Railway.
which connects that road with Port
Sudan on the Red Sea. This Will give
him two outlets for his cotton. He can
either send 1t to the Red Sea across
the Nubian Desert by short railway
haul OF about 400 miles or down to
tho Mediterranean over the Cape to
cairo route. a distance OF considerably
more than 1000 miles. The probability
is that II will all go to the Red Sea
and thence by steamship to Europe or
the United States.
AS vet the experiment Is not far
enough advanced to be pronounced an
unoualified success Mr.. Hunt has had
trouble with his labor, with his ma
chinery. and with insect pests. and es-
pecially the locusts, which have eaten
UP large part OF his crops. Ihese
difficulties can be overcome. ana the
land promises to be worth great for
tune understand that 1t was given
him by the government at low rate
In consideration of his developing It.
lit will cost with it's improvements
only a few dollars per acre, and when
the water Is put upon 1t, 1t should be
worth more than 5000 per acre. and II
will then rent for enough to pay
good interest on that sum. Thirty
thousand acres at 5000 per acre means
| Sc 100000, and this. I am assured. Is
mot an overestimate of its probable
value, IL 1t can be brought under Gull
tivation.
met Mr. Hunt in New York shortly
before left for Africa. He then hoped
| tn be in Egypt at the time OF my visit
and asked mo to call upon him at his
plantation. He met with an accident
| however, which kept him in the United
States longer than he had Intended.
asked him some questions about hi.
plantations then, but he had little tC
say. He is modest in talking about
himself, and the information I have
given here is not from him. I find tina,
he has the respect and esteem OF every
one here. and the general opinion |:
| that he will succeed. I am told he IL
large owner of lands in the suburb.
of Khartum. About three or four year!
ago he bought sixty acres Just outside
! the town, paying 500 or $3.50 per acre
| for 1t. The total cost was unde,
$4,000. That land is rapidly increas
| irg In value. and Is said to be now
worth anywhere from one.quarter t,
one-half million dollars. Angelo Cap
alto tells me that he is authorized I,
offer Mr.. Hunt 100000 for 1t as
whole. but, he adds. Mr. Hunt will
probably keep 1t and develop 1t upo,
, his own lines as new addition to tn,
city OF Khartum.
Selling Cotton In Omdurman.
Speaking of the cotton OF the Sudan
! l visited an odd street in Omdurmal