The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-26
THE UGANDA railway.
WONDER N Err OF: THE. AGE Al; !.
Queer Features Of Travel OH
England's Trunk Line to
Central Africa.
LIONS EAT PASSENGERS
How Road Was Built and How
American Bridges Surprised
John Bull.
MS EAI PASSENGERS.
tNaibobo. British East Africa.

Travelling by railway through the
swilds. OF Central Africa! Streaming for
Of miles among zebras, gnus.
ostriches and glraffes Rolling along
through jungles which the rhinoceros
,launts and where tho lion and leo
pard wait for their prey.
These arc some Of my experiences
the Uganda Railway from Mombasa to
Nairobi!
Ten years ago it took a month to
cover. the distance between tho two
points. and the whole way was on foot.
I made 1t In less than twcnty-four
hours, and that in a comfortable car.
The railroad fare was $40. and had!
fairly good meals on the way. The
distance is over 800 miles, and It *,
just about half the length of t.,e rail-
road. Leaving here shall continue my
journey ovec 1t on to Lake Victoria,
and shall land 'on that lake not far
from the source of the Nile.
The Uganda Railway.
This gives you some Idea OF tile
Uganda Railway. which the British
The road begins at the Indian Ocean
and 1t climbs over some OF the rough
est parts Of the African continent be-
fore It ends at Victoria, the greatest
fresh water lake OF tho world. Leav-
ing the seacoast. the rise of tho road
is almost continuous until 1t reaches
the high plains Of British East Africa.
Heresa Nairobis l am more than q mile
above tho sea, and, about fifteen milos
further on at the station OF Kilsuyu,
the road reaches anfaltitude 100 feet
above that Of Mount Washington. From
there the climb Is steady to point a
mile and q half above the sea, and
then there is a great drop into a vide
ditch-like#valley 1000 feet deep. Cross
Ing this valley the road again rises
until 1t is far higher than any noun
tain In the United States east OF tho
Rockies. It attalns an elevation OF
$500 feet, and then falls down to Lake
Victoria. which Is just about as high
as the highest OF the Alleshenies,
The road was built by the British
government In less than five years, and
las cost altogether over $25, 00o.0 900. It
has a gauge OF forty inches, rails
which weigh fifty pounds to the yard,
and It's tracks are well laid and we'll
ballasted. Last year something like
40, 900 tons OF goods anu 10000 pas
sengers were carried over 1t, and Its
earnings were about $500. 1000 more than
Its operating expenses. E IT, does not.
yet pay any interest on the capital
invested, {butplL56lSl OF enormous value
in tho way of opening 4up, developing
and protecting the country.
I'wcnty-scvcn American Bridges.
Among the most Interesting fea-
lures OF the road are It's American
bridges. They cross all the great
ravlnes between here and Lake Vic
}tnria. and every steel bar aVd every
bolt and $rlvet In them were made by
American worlSnen In American fac:
tories and taken out here and put up
under the suporintendence OF Arneri-
can workman. The way It happened
was owing to John Bulls desire to have
the work done quickly and eheaply, and
at the same time substantially. While
lhe had been laying the tracks from
here 10 the sea, our bridge companies
lad surprised the English by putting
up the steel yinduct across the Athara
River IN the Egyptian Sudan,S Within
u much shorter time and far more.
.cheaply than the best British builders
could possibly A. do Therefore, when
the British government asked for bids
continued on second @rugc.) v iS