Evening star., 1914-04-19

for s3.oo".on for the preliminary works.
The main purpose of these irrigation
works. aside from Strengthening the Brit
ish control through agricultural develop
ment. is the cultivation of cotton. Mar
chester has a deep interest in Sudan
The British cotton mills are looking all
over the world. and especially in British
possessions. for means of increased co..
ton facilities. though they no longe-
dream that the time will come when the,
will be independent Of the souther.c
states. Sudan soil has been tested. ard
is said to give very satisfactory results
1t is even claimed that this produces BET
ter cotton than that OF the Egyptian
delta Cotton cultivation. however. Is
still in the experimental stage
American experts from the south have
visited the Sudan. either in the Interest
Of private companies. or for the Egyptian
government. o. the British Cotton Grow
ers Association. They do not controvert
the claim that the soil is capable of pro
ducing a million bales Of good Egyptian
cotton VIXEN the Gezereh irrigation work.
are completed. but the practical men loo,
10 the source of labor as we'll as the soil
4 few years ago an American capitalist
Who had engaged in various successful
operations in Japan and other parts of
the orient had a plan well worked OF;
for cotton cultivation in the Sudan The
capital was ready and the backing of the
British administration in the Sudan Was
assured. but when he came TO look int"
the sources of labor supply the capitalist
held his plan in allegiance Il ls sun III
allegiance.
The Sudanese magnificent blacks as
they are do rot take kindly TO field lahor
or any other kind OF labor. They arc MO
hammedans. and many Of them take the
four wives allowed by the MohaTnedan
religion Each Of the four wires has he
allotted labor. and in this way the Su-
dan black lives in comfort and royal iu'e
ness. The women might be employed N
cotton picking. lust as N the south but
the problem on the whole is too c"uni-
Gated to assume that it can be solved %,
woman's labor Some of the migratory
tribes might settle down as held ianoIeFs
and raise cotton. but before this Is eon"
there must be coaxirg process ps .le
British officials who are administering
Sudan.
Migration of American negroes to Su-
dan instead of to the Gold Coast OF africa
or to Liberia has been suggested. anu
some stud has been given to this pos
sibility. Several years ago number OF
Booker Washington's men did go to the
Sudan Later one of them turned up IT
cairo. He said that he had been the
loneliest man IN all Africa, and he din
not think that there ever would be ans
migration of American negroes TO the
Sudan. Even though they Went ~ :.
body of coloniSts. he was sure tnat thes
would be too homesick to remain
Uncertainty about labor does rot mean
that the irrigation OF the Sudan VIII nos
90 forward, and that some increase IN
population will not be attained. because
since the British officials have reacheu
the conclusion that irrigation Is VITA !.
they will go ahead with retaining Ine
land and finding people to occupy IL but
It is more than probable tha' ehe ia,,. anu
reclamation will advance more rapiul!
than the population in SO far as cotton
cultivating population is in mind
Agricultural development Will not oe re-
stricted entirely to cotton Sudan railway
projects are provided for III the govern.
ment loan bills simultaneously with the
irrigation projects. The general commeree
is certain to be increased. and it is to be
remembered that Sudan is leadmls
source of two commodities when ,ne
world wants badly. These are gum arap-
ic and ivory. In themselves they iufhlst
a considerable basis of commerce senna
is also getting to be an important pFoo
uct. ,,s
The ivory which formerly was shipped
from the far south through British Las
Africa now follows the fouee o
through Sudan.
The railway system now gives an ouue,
through the eastern desert to the Rea
seq and this Red sea commerce has De-
COME very important The new railway
projects in connection with the irrigation
works will increase its importance.
CHARLES NJ. PEPPER.