The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-06-16
TO Be
. farm Country
-
Great Inland Elmpirt Of Brit
ish Capable of Raising
Grain and Cattle.

Cairo. Egypt, June let is an un-
doubted fact that the inland empire
which Great Britain possesses in the
Soudan is capable CT grain and cotton
productions to an enormous extent,
and the gigantic task of developins
mediately. The territory va wrested
from the terrible sway Of the Maid,
Just fourteen and a half years ago.
1t seems but yesterday that the world
rang with the news that Kitchener
had overthrown the khalifa at On
duran and had entered Khartoum, and
that even in the midst of the Joy felt
at this triumphant vengeance exacted
for the death Of General Gordon, car
nest m%isgivings were expressed in the
most competent circles as to the rear
practical utility Of retaking this vast
territory which, in view of its past
history, was like to become a white
elephant to both the British and the
Egyptian governments.
1t mattered little that the vital
purport Of the reconquest was the
settling OF. Egypt's southern frontier
once and for all n the permanent
assurance of her water supply since
the presence Of the French in the
neighhorhood Of Pashedt had rendered
the possession Of the upper Nile a
question Of life or death to Egypt. The
problem that gave food for such anx-
tous thought was what wss to be done
with the useless 1000, 900 square miles
which. by reason of the diversity OF
the race and language Of their in
habitants, were expected to constitute
in he future, as they had done in
the past, an endless drain on men,
money and material.
Yet so successfully have Sir Regi-
maid Wingate and his subordinates
tackled their task, and SO wonderfully
has this territory responded to the
magic touch Of the pacifer and the
admknistrator. that not only do per-
feet peace and order reign throughout
the entire length and breadth Of the
lsnd put the revenues and natural re-
sources have undergone such a re-
markable expansion that the Soudan
liz this year dispensing with the an
nual grant for civil expenditure made
to her ever since her reconquest by
Egypt to enable her to make both ends
meet. The customs dues on goods
the soudan. which were previously
collected at the Egyptian ports and
retained by the Egyptian government,
Will henceforth be credited to the
soudan government. For 1913 these
dues are estimated at $425.0O0. II
is. indeed. highly probable that the
soudan accounts will show a SUBJ
stantial surplus as the result Of the
working Of the year 1918.
Exports Production.
In 1899. 1.1b0 tons Of cotton were
exported from tho Soudan, and In
1912 1874 tons. This useless terri.
tory has turned out to be one Of the
most valuable possessions that the
British nation has ever held. valuable
because At contains resources that are
indispensable to Great Britain in gen
eral and to Lancashire in particular.
In the first place the soudan 8 I.
sesses wheat growing possibilities that
are Of prime Importance to a nation
which for it, food supply IL depend
ent on foreign and more distant
sources. Sir William Garstin, in hic
various reports. has made frequent
reference to the great suitability Of
large tracts Of the Soudan for cereal