The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-14

or It's developments were inevitable. The government set up in 1898 in the wake of the invading army found it. self planted on a ruin. Political insti- tutions there were none; society was chaos. The new government had to be everything, and to do everything The most ardent individualist could not have wished to confine it's functions to the maintenance of public order and the raising of revenue. The govern ment, before 1t had time to turn round, found itself embarked in business of the most varied kind.
 A Government That Does Things
 It was landowner, householder, pur- Veyor or food and clothing, storekeep- 1 CT, railway manager, importer, retail trader, agriculturist and tourist agent If It wanted steamers to ply on the rivers 1t had to build and man them :: IT 1t desired to foster trade in the coun- try 1t was obliged to supply the means of transport, if not actually to buy and Sell the goods itself. And these things It could do with a free hand; for there were lew vested interests which it need De afrald to traverse, and no prickly hedges of prejudice or public opinion 10 par the way against bold experi- ments.
 "The Soudan government believes-I i"'pPoSS II udS ilhu IO DeI6Ve-ln the public ownership of public services and or various other commodities. It builds and runs all the railways for the excellent reason that if 1t did not there would be no railways at all. It found Itself in possession of fleet of gun boats and despatch vessels. and it uses them not only to carry mails and of nclals, but also to transport passengers and the goods of the general trader It lets out steamers for hire, and com | petes with Messrs. Cook in providing Tor pleasure parties on the Upper Nile. "lf you want to do the equatorial region comfortably, and combine lit- tie shooting with a glimpse of primi- tive Africa. you can apply to the com | mander-in- chief of the Soudan navy who will be willing to lend you, at a moderate price, one of the government steamers with crew complete. The government owns the ferries, which are the only means of communication between the three sister towns of the Blue and White Niles.
 Tt refused the offer of a company to build the tramways between Khar- toum and Omdurman-in Egypt the tramways and the light railways are in private hands-and built the line itself and operates it. Another company would have liked to supply the town with water. but the government would not have that either. and preferred to be its own water board. It also pro- vides electric lighting. though whether private enterprise would have been 1 willing to take up this business I dc not know
 Three things the Soudan needs above others, however. according to MT Low
 if 1t is to become rich and prosperous
 Better communications. more water
 and abundant labor. Given these thingi
 and with It's fertile and varied soil. 1t, fine climate and its vitalizing sunshine it will export great quantities of grail and cotton"
 1 Apart from his observations on Ian, and people. Mir. Low has some word
 about the occupation and the occupiers
 We are not popular in Egypt. Fear
 ed we may be by some; respecteds doubt not, by many others; but rean