Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-06-14

part OF Frances North African pos
sessions.
AS suggested at the outset. Frances
first work will be means OF communi-
cation. So far there lie not railroad
In all Morocco. There is not even
a wagon road outside OF the cities.
much less any vehicles to travel one.
Transportation in the land OF the
Moors is on the backs OF camels.
mules. donkeys and women. For long
distances camels and mules predomi-
nate. For shorter distances and light
er loads donkets and women are the
cheapest and most convenient
Women Carry FIrewood.
Women bring all the firewood into
Tangier, packing It in bundles on
their backs. often from distance OF
eight or ten miles. The only thanks
they get for their labors is to be
looked down upon by the men, among
whom there Is an ancient and honor
able proverb which says: "A man
wishing advice upon any undertaking
should consult his best ten friends.
II he has not ten friends. let him
consult each of his best i've friends
twice. II he has not I'VE friends, let
him consult his one best friend ten
times. II he has not one best friend
let him consult his wife. and then do
exactly contrary to what she ad-
vises" With French occupation It
may be assumed that women as means
of transportation will gradually be
superseded by better and more hui
name means Indeed. one OF the first
acts OF the French in Casablanca was
to introduce the twowheeled cart and
begin an Improvement of roads In
and about the city making possible
its use.
An east and west railroad through
Morocco between Algeria and the At
lantic ocean is one Of the cherished
French designs, and preliminary sur
veys for this have already been made.
II will go either by way OF Fee or
have a spur connecting with that city.
Its seaboard terminus depends on the
site which is chosen for the creation
of a new Atlantic port
Such a port Is one OF the immedi-
ate necessities for the development
of the country. Not only is El Mogreb
deficient in means OF communication
within her borders, but she is most
aykwardly situated In respect to get
ting goods to or out from the coast.
One hears much about the ports OF
Morocco and the value OF this and
that one, but the truth Is that on her
one thousand miles Of coast, Mediter.
ranean or Atlantic. the country has
not a single first-ciass port Even
Tangier is Indifferent
But It is the western seaboard that
ia particularly unfortunate. II Is
fianked most OF the way by q bar
extending out mile or sosfrom shore
and making II necessary for steam.
ships to lie on at that distance. dis,
charging passengers and cargo BY
means of barges. In some weather II
Is impossible to do this at all. and
after lying on n town for perhaps 9
week. waiting for suitable conditions
the little coasting vessels that ply
these trade routes frequently give II
up and 90 on IF you want to spend
two days In Rabat." It is said. you
| want to allow two months for the
| visit. For It may take you q month
10 get there and another to get away.
Casablanca II not so bad. but It 4.
far from satisfactory. Jetties already
have been constructed on the water
front. which protect the landing o.
small boats. but the steamships which
they discharge must lie a mile OF
more away. beyond the bar. and mus
up anchor and be on In case OF storm
The building of an outer breakwatel
at Casablanca has been considered
hut even II practicable It would still
leave the long transit by barge from
steamship to shore
French engineers have therefore
been studying the coast near by. an,
two possible locations for new por
and the terminus of the east an,
west railroad are In view. Oneris a
Fedhala, twenty miles north Of Casa
blanca. where a channel makes Il
from the ocean and there is a partI,
protected bay which, by the construc
ton of dixie. could be made a SAT
anchorage. A superior place. 1t is be
reved. is one hundred miles turtle
north. Here an inland lake come
within a mile or so OF the seacoasI
By cutting canal and dredging
channel a perfect harbor could be Sc
cured.